Hours of Operation:

and

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Next Date:  Friday, April 4

First Baptist Church

493 Main Street, Malden

Volunteers needed:

4pm for food prep

5pm for food service

5:30 - 7pm for clean-up

Bakers also needed

Contact Tony Lopes for details:

978 710 6927

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stew

chili

hash

canned meats

(chicken, turkey

ham, Spam

chicken a-la-king, etc.)

Last week, the groundhog saw its shadow and I groaned - spring delayed by six weeks.  I so desparately wanted spring to be here NOW!  In thinking about this, I realized that though I may not enjoy the cold and cannot wait until those first daffodils appear, I really do not want to rush time.  I want to savor each day we are given, good or bad, and end each day knowing I have taken something away from it.

This year has flown by already; it began for Good Shepherd on a rough note, with Rev. Scottie announcing her leave of absence and our trying to formulate a plan.  Believe it or not, we are nearing the halfway point of her approved leave, though her return date is still not known.  I can only speak for myself, but when all of this began in January, three months seemed an eternity and I questioned how we could do this.  There have been some difficult days, but I am trying to learn as we go forward.  We have all seen how spectacular we are.  The love and support we have for one another cannot be topped.  The dedication we have to the church is unbelievable.  

One parishioner shared her thoughts with me.  She told me that though she was sad Scottie was facing this struggle, she thought God had used this as a way to strengthen Good Shepherd.  I think we have all had conversations we may not have had otherwise; some may have used this as a way to identify and fight their own demons.  We have met and learned from other clergy whom we may not have met otherwise.  We have identified strengths we did not know we had, and also identified areas upon which we can improve.  We are seeing ourselves through a different lens and focusing differently, seeing our picture in a new way.  As Scottie takes her time for her own needs we should continue to learn each day.

So, in theory, I will thank the groundhog for slowing things down (well, maybe!).  Appreciate the day you are given, see things in  a new way and look forward but do not rush things.  You might just miss something special!

Linda Hank

We are delighted to announce that Church of the Good Shepherd has a new website!  The site was designed by Kristian LeBlanc.  A huge thanks to Kristian for the time and leadership she has volunteered to this project.  The website address remains the same:  www.goodshepherdreading.org. Check it out!

Kristian and Valerie LeBlanc are the co-chairs of our new Communications Committee, which also includes Peter Gorman, Warren Poor, and Bob Stasonis.  This new committee will be looking at the most effective way to keep parishioners informed and to spread the news throughout our community about our activities through the website, social media, newspapers, etc.  We thank each of these individuals for volunteering their time to this initiative.

For more information about the website or the Communications Committee, please contact Kristian at kristianweatherly@gmail.com.

At the dinner, we plan to have a jar, pen and paper available for anyone to commit in writing to what they would like to give up for Lent (anonymous, of course).  This is a great time to renew those New Year's Resolutions which may have slipped away.

If you still have your palms from last year's Palm Sunday service, please bring them to the dinner.  We will be burning these palms to be used as the ashes during the Ash Wednesday Services on March 5.  Services that day will be at 12:00 noon and 7:00 pm.

More information will be forthcoming regarding Lenten events.

The Episcopal Churches of the fifth Middlesex State Senate district (Wakefield, Reading, Stoneham, Malden, Melrose, and part of Winchester) and Episcopal City Mission are sponsoring this event for voters to meet the candidates running for former state senator Katherine Clark's seat.  The candidates are:

After a short reception with light refreshments, the formal program will begin at 7:30pm.  The evening will include opening statements from the candidates, followed by structured discussion around specific questions.  The list of topics is not final yet, but the current working list is:  the district as a whole and what is driving each candidate to seek this wider office; jobs for those who have the hardest time finding work; and the judicial system, with a focus on pending gun control legislation.  In addition, the audience will be encouraged to come to the mike and offer a topic for discussion by the candidates -- the goal in this segment is to have the candidates talk to each other and not give prepared speeches.

Come and bring a friend!  The evening will take place at Parish of the Epiphany, 70 Church Street, Winchester, 781-729-1922.