Hours of Operation:

and

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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

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100% juice boxes

shampoo

toothpaste

soap

laundry and dish detergent

 

 

 

One of my favorite passages of scripture is from the end of the Book of Hebrews.   It reads in part, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us...." The last time our lectionary included that reading was the Wednesday of Holy Week.  The preacher at an early morning worship service at one of our neighboring parishes chose that text for her reflection that day, and she observed that one reason that passage had struck her so strongly was because the Boston Marathon was then only a few days away.  She went on to describe how much she admires friends and acquaintances of hers who were training for the marathon, and how powerful it is to think of a life of faith as a long distance race.

 

My brother was an avid long distance runner until a back injury necessitated him finding other athletic pursuits, and my younger son runs cross country.  I know from watching them that long distance running requires stamina, built over time, and that distance runners have to be willing to train every day, in all kinds of weather and under all conditions.  Running, particularly competitive running, requires athletes to push themselves, to be disciplined and determined, sometimes in the face of discomfort or even pain.  It probably should not be surprising then that the writer of Hebrews would use running a race as a metaphor for a life in Christ.  (Indeed, there are a number of passages in scripture using this metaphor.)

 

On my first Sunday back at Good Shepherd, I was talking with Spencer Dalby, and I was delighted--and extremely impressed--to learn that Spencer qualified for and completed the 2014 Boston Marathon.  He told me (and I'm repeating his wise words with permission), "I had to do a lot of training and work hard to be able to run that race, but I was able to finish the marathon.  And I was thinking today that you're in a kind of race too, and you're just at the beginning.  But you can do it."  It was such a hopeful and lovely thing to say, and it inspired me to copy the passage from Hebrews, and to read it often. 

 

We all face difficulties, struggle, and pain.  And each of us gets to choose how we will respond.  The good news is that it is possible to let go of the things that weigh us down, and as the writer of Hebrews puts it, to "lay aside the sin that clings so closely."  We are not alone, and we don't have to try to do this alone.  We are surrounded by a "great a cloud of witnesses," those people in our lives and our history whose faith endured, and whose courage did not fail.  The passage from Hebrews goes on to say that we can look to Jesus "the pioneer and perfecter of our faith."

 

No matter what challenges our lives bring, we can remember that Jesus promised us we will be given what we need.  Even suffering can be transformed or at least faced squarely and with integrity as we claim God's love and grace.  We need not lose heart, because we can trust that God will give us the strength we need, and that all will be well, here and hereafter.

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.  You can find much more information about El Hogar (including service teams) at www.elhogar.org.

There is a new team from the Burlington, MA Rotary Club at El Hogar this week.   If you are interested in seeing what a team does while at El Hogar, visit www.rotarymay2014.blogspot.com to check out their daily blog and photos.

Do you have a vacuum cleaner that you could donate to the church?  An upright is preferable. Your contribution would be tax-deductible, and much appreciated.  Please contact Elaine Grosso with any questions at ecgrosso@ieee.org.

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.