Good Shepherd Update Thursday March 25th, 2010

Dear Good Shepherd,

Good Morning. This is the first Update posted exclusively on the new website. Take some time and explore the site. There are so many more resources and so much more information packed into this site than in past ones. Be sure to check out the new photo gallery. Each image represents an entire gallery of photographs that you can enlarge and view. The homepage (the first page that pops up when you get to the site) boasts a video library for quick video updates. There is a new page for podcasts on which I’ve started publishing daily (well…weekdays…at least that’s the goal) podcasts. The present series is a study of the Ten Commandments. You can listen to Wednesday’s and Thursday’s podcasts here. There is a new sermon’s page which boasts both video and text.

You will also find descriptions of our bible studies, beliefs, Sunday School classes, the Shepherd’s Bowl, outreach programs, a much more comprehensive links page complete with direct links to our denomination, diocese, bible study resources, blogs, classic Christian works, and much more. Along with the new website has come a new Good Shepherd facebook page which you can join and receive daily links, news and updates. In any case, explore and enjoy.

To me this whole thing is just like Christmas.

Here’s the Update:

Palm Sunday is this Sunday. Palm Sunday is the celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem as King. He was greeted by crowds who waved palm branches as a sign of celebration and in recognition of the truth of his claims. And Palm Sunday is preparation for the remembrance of Jesus’ subsequent rejection by the government, religious authorities, and people. In keeping with the gospel accounts of the week before Jesus’ crucifixion, the liturgy for the day starts out like a party and ends on a somber note. Also traditional on Palm Sunday is the reading of Passion narrative…the New Testament account of Jesus’ scourging and death. The reading of the Passion is the turning point in the service. The congregation participates in the retelling by playing the part of the crowd at Jesus’ trial and crying out “Crucify Him” when Pilate asks what to do with Jesus. This reminds us that through our sin, we are all party to Jesus’ crucifixion. It also, hopefully, will call to mind the amazing grace and love of God—that at the very moment humanity’s hatred for God reached its climax, his love was most fully revealed in his willing sacrifice on our behalf. 

Baptism on Easter Sunday: On Easter morning Nori Martin, Samantha’s daughter, will be baptized. What a great day to welcome her into the visible Body of Christ.

Celebration of the Last Supper: All the levels of Sunday School will gather together in the Parish Hall this Sunday to ‘celebrate’ the Last Supper during the Sunday School hour (9:15-10:15). We will sit together eating pita bread and drinking apple/grape juice and talk together about all that God has done for us through his Son Jesus. This is a really lovely time every year and a good moment to invite friends. Please plan on coming yourselves and bringing any school age children you know and love with you.

Adult Education: Spiritual Disciplines…Simplicity: Because of the Last Supper reenactment going on downstairs, the adult education class will meet in the Sanctuary. We’ll finish our talk about the spiritual discipline of Simplicity, grounding the discipline in scripture and discussing ways to live for Christ in a postmodern, fragmented, consumerist culture.

Speaking of Spiritual Disciplines...Dr. RC Sproul is in the middle of an excellent 5 part series on Christian basics: Bible Study, Prayer, Worship, Service…etc…if you are on the worship committee especially be sure to listen to Dr. Sproul’s discussion of worship. You can listen to all of the broadcasts here.

Solemn Communion: It is my intention to offer Solemn Communion class the last part of May and into June. If you are interested for your child (2nd grade and up) please let me know (revakennedy at hotmail dot com) and I will be in touch with you. I would like to have a parent meeting to let you know more about the program Sunday April 11, after the 10:30 service in the church sanctuary.

Prayer Shawl Ministry: Do you knit?  Crochet?  Want to learn?  Then join us the third Saturday of the month at 11:00 am in the church library as we create shawls or other items for those in need.  For more information, contact Julie Liddle at 723-1344 or liddlejulia at ymail dot com.

Thank you to everyone who participated or worked at the Clam Chowder sale in any way. The proceeds go to the pastor’s discretionary fund which is used to help parishioners in need.

The series of Healing services has come to an end. Wednesday evening prayer will continue after Easter with the new addition of a once a month (at least) healing service. More about this will be coming out later.

Choir Practice: tonight at 7pm

Duty Roster: Team Galatians is scheduled for this Sunday…the team captain is Pauline King who is out of town, so if you have any questions, you might call Chris Jones.

Beginners’ Bible Study is tonight after the Shepherd’s Bowl at 6:30pm in the parish hall. We’ll continue in John 6. If you’re new to the Christian faith and/or have never seriously attempted to study the bible this study is for you. All are invited.

The First Light Bible Study meets every Tuesday night in the parish hall beginning at 6:30pm. They are currently studying Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians. All are welcome.

The Tuesday Morning Bible Study: meets at 9am every Tuesday morning. They are presently engaged in what has been a two year study of all the New Testament letters. They have been working backwards from Jude to Romans and, presently, they are in 2nd Corinthians. All are invited.

Men’s Bible Study and Breakfast: Charles Hadley is scheduled to cook. Click here to see the entire cooking schedule for April and the first week in May. We’re continuing to talk about Absolom’s rebellion this week. Men’s Bible Study meets at 6.30am

Women’s Bible Study: Please join us Saturday Mornings at 10AM as we continue to study a most amazing Old Testament book——Isaiah. Lent is an appropriate season to study this “evangelical prophet” who wrote so eloquently of redemption and of our Messiah (from Carmen)

Systematic Theology: will meet at 3:30pm as usual in the parish hall on Saturday. We’ll continue our discussion of the Doctrine of Providence—this week we’ll talk about the relationship between God’s providence and evil. 

Reminder: Beginning in May: New Member classes A series of three new/interested members class will be held on three successive Saturdays in May (the 8th, 15th, and 22nd) These classes will be designed to help new members and interested guests integrate and participate at Good Shepherd. You will learn about Anglicanism in general and about Good Shepherd in particular. If you are not new but still interested, you are welcome to come as well.

Here is last week’s sermon: The Vineyard of the Lord. Here’s the video:

You can read the text here

This Sunday’s sermon (Anne is preaching) will be based on Philippians 3:8-14

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Okay, here, once again, is the Holy Week Schedule:

Holy Week Schedule 2010:

Palm Sunday (Sunday March 28th )
Holy Week is the week Christians remember and celebrate the last week of Jesus’ life. That week began with Jesus’ triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem. By this time, Jesus was famous. Everyone knew him and most people believed that he was the messiah, the coming savior of Israel. So when they heard he was coming they all rushed out waving palm branches and crying “Hosanna in Highest! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Five days later the very same people who greeted Jesus with shouts of “Hosanna” screamed for his death with cries of “Crucify Him!” Palm Sunday Services at Good Shepherd will be held at 8:00am and 10:30am. They will begin with the blessing of the Palms. Then the blessed palms will be passed out to everyone in the congregation and we’ll process into the church like Jesus’ processed into Jerusalem (except for the donkey). During the service The Passion will be read and narrated.

Tenebrae (Wednesday March 31st)
Tenebrae means “shadows” in Latin. The worship service called “Tenebrae” is an ancient rite of the Church. It is a service of word, light and sound. When you arrive for worship you will see two groups of candles lit on the altar. As readings are read the candles on the altar will be gradually extinguished until the very end of the service when the last candle left lit is removed from the worship space and the whole sanctuary is left in darkness. At that point a loud crash will shatter the silence of the sanctuary. Then, after a moment, the last candle is returned to the sanctuary and the worshippers depart in silence. The gradual darkening of the sanctuary and the crashing noise symbolizes the apparent victory of death, darkness, and chaos over Jesus Christ on the cross. The final candle being removed and returned, symbolizes the truth that through Jesus’ death, God gained victory over all the powers of evil. The Light was not overcome. The service of Tenebrae will be held at 7:00pm on Wednesday of Holy Week.

Maundy Thursday (April 1st)
Maundy Thursday communion celebrates the humility of Jesus. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s and yet on the night before he died, during the Last Supper, he knelt down and one by one washed his disciples’ feet. He did this to show his disciples and to show you and me how to serve one another with humility and love, being willing even to stoop to the most menial tasks. There will be a covered dish (pot-luck) supper in the parish hall followed by the Maundy Thursday worship service which will include foot washing. Maundy Thursday is the last chance for communion until the Great Vigil. The service will begin at 7:00pm following the covered dish dinner that begins at 5:30pm

Good Friday: The Passion (April 2nd)
Jesus died on a Friday. At about 3pm on Friday of Holy Week he lifted his eyes up to heaven from the cross and breathed out his last. “It is finished” he said. He was not only referring to his life, but he was also referring to the great battle between God and sin, death, and Satan. On the cross of Jesus Christ, God defeated the powers that corrupt and destroy his creation and his creatures. By and through Jesus’ death on the cross, everyone who believes is forgiven their sins and granted an eternal relationship with God. Good Friday Services will be held at noon and 7pm. At noon we’ll say “the Hours” which are prayers that mark the time of day when Jesus hung on the cross. At 7pm, we’ll walk the stations of the cross which are prayers through which we remember the passion of Christ and his burial. There will be a sermon at both services.

The Easter Vigil (Saturday April 3rd)
Along with Tenebrae, the Easter Vigil is one of the most ancient services of the Church. It is the most important service of the entire year and it is the first service of Easter. The service begins in total darkness—the lights of the sanctuary are out and not a candle is burning. Then a fire is lit in a firepot the center of the nave and from that flame all the candles in the sanctuary are lit and the hand-candles in the congregation. Then come readings and psalms, said and sung, by singers and by the whole congregation. The sermon follows and then the first Communion of Easter. The Great Vigil begins at 8:00pm in the sanctuary.

Easter Day: (Sunday April 4th)
This is the day Christians celebrate and proclaim the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. There will be flowers and smells and bells. And, possibly, an Easter Egg huntafterwards. Service times are 8:00am and 10:30am Easter Morning.

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