Hours of Operation:

and

*****

Next Date:  Friday, July 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

*****

 

100% juice boxes

shampoo

toothpaste

soap

laundry and dish detergent

 

 

It is not possible to put into words the joy I felt last Sunday, being back at Good Shepherd, and serving on the altar.  This week in the office, it has been pure joy to greet folks and to claim hugs, and to reconnect with Eileen, and with all the volunteers who make our church such a vibrant community.  As I went about my work this week, part of a verse from Psalm 30 kept springing to mind: "Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning." 

 

When the wardens and vestry chose May 11 as my first Sunday back at Good Shepherd, I knew that it would be Mothers' Day, but it wasn't until I checked the readings appointed for the day that I realized that Sunday was Good Shepherd Sunday as well; it occurred to me, not for the first time, that it truly does seem that there are no coincidences.  Carol, as usual, carefully and prayerfully chose the hymns for the day, and she included a hymn setting of the 23rd Psalm that she knows I love for the Processional.  As Roger and I walked in behind our choir and assisting ministers, I was struck by the words of one verse of that beautiful paraphrase of the psalm: "Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me, and on his shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me."  That is just how these four months past feel to me, and how it feels to be back among you again.

 

Roger Nelson preached on Sunday.  His sermon was wonderful (or, as one parishioner put it at coffee hour, "spot on"), and I am repeating or paraphrasing some of his reflections.  I knew well that our parish leadership and staff are superb, but these past few months, they have risen to an enormous challenge with grace, love, and generosity. 

 

Our senior warden, Linda Hank, has exercised skills and gifts she may not even have known she has, lovingly tending to our parish and donating countless hours to serving this congregation.  Not only her leadership skills, but her writing and communications, her theological reflections, and her pastoral care for all of us were truly amazing.  Roger has always been a valued colleague and friend, but words really aren't adequate to describe his gentleness and courage, and his faithful and strong leadership, and to express my gratitude for the work he has done at Good Shepherd in the last four months. 

 

The vestry has met in four months more often and for more hours than any of them thought they would be spending in the course of an entire year--and they have been faced with challenges and difficult decisions, which they handled with skill, prayer, and grace.  The diocese and our national pension fund helped to provide support, with the presence and attention of our Canon to the Ordinary, Mally Lloyd, and with financial support in the form of a grant for a consultant to assist us in working on issues related to my return and in insurance payments to help the parish to compensate Roger while continuing to pay my salary.

 

In these past months, I know that there has been pain and that the parish has faced challenges.  You have done that with honesty, and with real courage, but most of all, you have done that the way you always do things here: with love for one another and for God.  People have risen to this challenge with such generosity and have taken on new initiatives and responsibilities.  Exciting things are happening here, and people seem engaged and involved in the life of our parish community.  Roger said this on Sunday, and I want to echo him most firmly: I hope you will keep this up and that together we can do new and wonderful things. 

 

While I have been away, please know that I have been trying to use the time to set myself on a firm foundation and to do everything I can to find my way to a lasting and healthy recovery.  I cannot tell you how grateful I am that our parish allowed me to take this time, and that you all respected my and my family's need for privacy and for time for healing.  Please know that I have felt all of your love and your prayers, and I will be grateful every day of my life for all of the cards, letters, notes, and care.  Your support for me and for my family have been overwhelming, and over and over again, I remembered Mary Vincent's wise words: "That's just how we roll at The Shepherd."

 

Easter is not just one day, but it is an entire season, a time of new beginnings and fresh starts.  Indeed, while Easter is a fifty day season in our liturgical calendar, it really is an invitation to live our lives in the light of Christ and the promise of resurrection.  Truly I feel as if we have been given a new beginning, and I am so grateful to be a part of that.  On Sunday, as Roger said the dismissal, I can't remember when those words have so resonated:  "Let us go forth rejoicing in the power of the Spirit!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!"

Good Shepherd will be making its first service trip to El Hogar in Honduras the week of 

October 18-25, 2014.  A week at El Hogar can be a life-changing experience.  Anyone interested in joining the team, or just finding out more about it, is invited to attend an informational meeting on Wednesday, May 28th from 7:30-9:00 pm in the lounge.  Liz Kinchen, Executive Director of El Hogar Ministries in North America, will be present along with Rev. Scottie and Eileen Marks to offer details of the trip and answer questions about the trip and about El Hogar.  

El Hogar provides a loving home and education for 250 abandoned and hopelessly poor children in Honduras.  There are four campuses:  an elementary school for children in grades 1-6, and three upper school campuses (a tech school and a farm school for boys, and a home for high school girls near the private school that they attend).  Our team will visit all the campuses, but we will stay in the volunteer house at the elementary school in Tegucigalpa.  You can find much more information about El Hogar (including service teams) at www.elhogar.org.

 Rev. Scottie and friend (2010)        Eileen Marks with Cesar, the boy                                                                          her family sponsors (2013)

Can you give Good Shepherd eight hours of your time in 2014?  

We need another cleaner to help us out for the rest of this year.  

Each congregation in our diocese is preparing a Book of Remembrance to be presented to Bishop Tom this summer.  Please look for our book in the lounge on Sundays (or in the office during the week), and use it to record and share your thoughts about his ministry and/or prayers for him.