Welcome! We are happy to share the news that Ken and Kit Donovan welcomed their daughter, Maria on March 4. As is the custom, we’ve set up a Take Them a Meal page. Due to a stomach bug, the family wasn’t ready to accept meals until now, but now that they’re all feeling better would greatly appreciate the help.
Above all else, please keep the family in your prayers.
Potluck Please come downstairs to the parish hall for a potluck lunch after the 10:30 service.
Easter Flowers If you would like to donate to the Easter Flower Fund to beautify the chancel, please make a separate contribution marked “Easter Flowers” between now and Thursday, April 2nd. There are slips in this Sunday’s bulletins to include when you drop cash or a check in the offering plate, or you can give by Breeze or Paypal. You can also text your offering to (607) 882-6551.
For each $10 given, you are invited, at the conclusion of the 10:30 Service on Easter Day to take a potted flower home for your own celebration.
Some Holy Week Notes
All bible studies are cancelled during Holy Week and Easter week. All studies will resume after April 12th.
Morning prayer will continue through holy week, and pause for the week after Easter resuming on April 12th.
Please check with your home group leaders to find out information on meeting schedules.
Traditionally, the week after Easter, the clergy take the week off. During this week, please try not to contact any of them unless it is an emergency. The office will be open and happily humming away, so do reach out if you need anything.
Make a Joyful Sound! During Easter Vigils in the distant past, it was a tradition for the congregation to ring bells at certain points in the service. We would like to reintroduce that tradition of congregational bell ringing during parts of our Easter Vigil service this year. The bells are rung from the moment the resurrection is announced during the service, through the song that follows, and then any time the word ‘Alleluia’ is said or sung for the remainder of the service. Anyone attending the Easter Vigil service is welcome to bring small bells to ring at this time. Please consider bringing the type of bell that you wouldn’t mind another person ringing right beside or behind you, as the idea is to make a unique and joyous sound during specific parts of the service.
2026 Potluck Schedule
This year, we’re going to change things up a bit, and line the potlucks up with feast days rather than the first Sunday of the month. Most feast days have some sort of food associated with them, so we thought it would be fun to take our inspiration from that when possible.
March 29 – Palm Sunday, general potluck
April 26 – Good Shepherd Sunday, Cinnamon Rolls, Meat pies
May 24 – Pentecost, Fowl (chicken, turkey, etc.)
August TBD – Church picnic
September 27 – Michaelmas, Harvest theme & Pie and Cookie Competition
October 25 – Reformation, European foods
November 22 – Christ the King, Chili & Cornbread Cookoff
December 13 – St. Lucia, Soup & Stew
January 10, 2027 – Epiphany, International Foods (Game Day)
There will be no potlucks for June & July
Sunday Worship and Holy Eucharist
The 8am service This service includes readings from the Bible, a sermon, offering, confession, and communion. There is no music during this service. The 8am service is not currently being live-streamed.
The 10:30am service This is a full traditional Anglican service of Holy Eucharist, including music, readings from the Bible, a sermon, confession, and communion. This service is available for livestream on our Facebook page. You can download a PDF copy of this week’s service bulletin here.
This Sunday’s lectionary readings will be (Palm Sunday): Isa 52:13—53:12, Psalm 22:1-11, II Corinthians 10:1-6, Matt (26:36-75) 27:1-54 (55-66)
Next Sunday’s lectionary readings will be (Easter Sunday): Ex 14:10-14,21-31, Ps 118:14-17,22-24, Col 3:1-4, Matt 28:1-10
How to Give You’ll also notice that there are links in the offertory section to take you out to two different means of giving electronically. You can give online through Breeze or you can text a donation through Breeze at 607-882-6551. Good Shepherd also has a PayPal account. As always, thank you for your great generosity and kind support.
Catching Up…
Last Sunday’s Sermon Last week, Matt preached on II Corinthians 9:10-15. You can watch his sermon here.
You can catch up on older sermons here.
Adult Christian Education Last week’s Christian Education class can be listened to or viewed here.
The Cranmer Fellows Podcast (CFP) explores pastoral ministry and theology from an Anglican perspective. CFP is a project that Jon and Matt have undertaken in order to 1) encapsulate the pastoral training Matt has given men over the years into an accessible resource and 2) serve as a door to, we pray, a future program to train more people for ministry. Though geared toward the pastor, ministry leader, and pastor-in-training, what Jon and Matt talk about is applicable to all Christians.
Here is a link where you can listen to previous episodes. https://anchor.fm/thecranmerfellowspodcast.
You can subscribe to CFP on all major platforms.
Ongoing Ministries
Intercessor Ministry On Sunday at both the 8 and the 10:30, you may notice a person standing at the side altar rail as you come forward to receive Communion. That person is part of the Prayer Ministry, people trained to pray for any anxieties or troubles you may have. If you would like prayer for any reason, please feel free to stop as you pass.
Audio-Video Team Are you a technologically capable person who would like to serve the church with your gifts? Good Shepherd is adding a volunteer team to run sound and the livestream for the 10:30 Sunday service. If this is a ministry that interests you, please reach out to Jon.
Morning Prayer meets online by Zoom at 7am Monday through Friday. The liturgy and readings are available at www.dailyoffice2019.com. Join the parish email list and look for a weekly email invitation in your inbox.
Evening Prayer meets online by Zoom at 7pm Monday through Friday. The liturgy and readings are available at www.dailyoffice2019.com. Join the parish email list and look for a weekly email invitation in your inbox.
Tuesday Morning Bible Study meets at 9:05 am in the Parish Hall to walk through the bible, verse by verse. It meets in person and is available online by livestream. They are currently studying the book of Proverbs.
Home Groups meet weekly around the Binghamton area. They study the readings for the Sunday coming up, pray, and build relationships. Check in with Jonathan or Joe Kovac to get connected.
Shepherd’s Bowl Community Dinner Good Shepherd offers a free nutritious meal to the people of Good Shepherd and the wider community on Thursday evenings from 5:30-6:30. If you are able, this is a great time to get to know others and enjoy a delicious meal.
Thursday Evening Bible Study meets directly after Shepherd’s Bowl in the sacristy and will be studying Esther. They meet at 6:15pm. Everyone is welcome. Please see Jon Groves or Warren Musselman for more information.
Friday Morning Men’s Bible Study meets at 6:30 am for breakfast, study, and prayer. If you are interested, please email or text Matt or Jonathan, or contact the church office. This class is currently in the Book of Genesis.
Women’s Bible Study meets at 5:15pm on Wednesdays in the Parish Hall. They are currently studying the book of Ezra.
Holy Group Squad (Young Adult Ministry) Post high-school aged people meet together Sunday evenings (6pm) in the Sacristy for book studies and conversation.
The Mary & Martha Guild is Good Shepherds women’s group. It meets the 3rd Saturday of the month. Women of all ages in the church are invited to come and enjoy each other’s company, a light lunch, and the month’s scheduled program or project. The guild also helps coordinate and run funeral luncheons and other events throughout the year. Join the email list and keep informed about upcoming meetings and events by contacting the church office or talking to Jenn Fowler.
Good Shepherd Youth Group meets Sundays at 6pm in the choir loft. This is an engaging context for kids to grow in:
1) Knowledge of scripture and doctrine
2) Faithfulness to Christ
3) Service to others
Good Shepherd Food Pantry is available for anyone who can use a bit of help. Families, young adults, seniors, all are welcome to use it. The pantry is located just off the kitchen, stop by and take what you need. We are completely supported by donations from the congregation, so please consider picking up a few items to drop in the basket in the lobby whenever you can.
Current food pantry needs: spaghetti sauce, canned fruit, & canned proteins.
| The Staff of Church of the Good Shepherd | The Vestry of the Good Shepherd |
| Rector: The Rev. Canon Matthew Kennedy Assistant Rector: The Rev. Jonathan Groves Director of Liturgics: Anne Kennedy Director of Children’s Ministry: Anna Dreher Director of Music: Michael Berman Admin. Assistant to Matt Kennedy: Stephanie Warner Janitor: Mike Roseboom | Sr. Warden: Scott Pineau Jr. Warden: Bryan Hill Treasurer: Greg Myer Daniel Self Kariah Manwaring Chris Jones Bill Lane Paisley Orton |
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