Other People's Children

“There’s no such thing as other people’s children.” I first heard this quote, which was penned by Glennon Doyle, in a presentation in a parish in Dallas. The priest taught us about the ordering of our loves and what it looks like to love our children well. At church, she argued, there is no such thing is other people’s children. The nurture, welcome, and care of the children in our pews is a responsibility we all share. Children are never “someone else’s problem.” They are everyone’s blessing. And because they are a gift to all of us, all of us owe a great deal to them. Afterall, each time a child is baptized, we vow to do all in our power to support them in their life in Christ. But what does that work actually look like?

Like most things in the Church, our work ought to be a reflection of our beliefs. So, we must begin there: What do we believe about children?

First, we believe that every child is born with an understanding and experience of God. They are not blank slates onto which we must write an understanding of Christ. Rather, they already have an intimate experience and understanding of the divine, they simply lack the language with which to explore it. Consider these words from William Wordsworth’s “Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood”:

“Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:

The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,

                      Hath had elsewhere its setting,

                         And cometh from afar:

                      Not in entire forgetfulness,

                      And not in utter nakedness,

But trailing clouds of glory do we come

                      From God, who is our home:

Heaven lies about us in our infancy!”

If children really do “trail clouds of glory,” if they really do know something of God which you and I may have forgotten, then we must listen to them. We must take their prayer and their spirituality seriously. We have a lot to learn from the youngest saints in our midst – from their capacity to wonder, their appreciation of mystery, their unflagging curiosity. Perhaps this is what Jesus means when he teaches us in the Gospels, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:3-4).

Our task, then, is to support children in their ongoing spiritual life. In that work, we share a few responsibilities:

First, we must honor children’s spirituality. When we talk about children’s spirituality, we are talking about God’s way of being with children and children’s way of being with God. Of course, God created all of us to be in relationship with him. That relationship is not dependent upon intellect or understanding. It does not wait for a certain maturity. It is a gift from the moment of our creation. And because children live and move and have their being a little differently adults do, their spirituality looks different than ours does. In fact, it often looks like play. Children’s work and growth begins play.

Second, we must give them a language with which to explore their relationship with God. We do this both in the liturgy and in Sunday School. The curriculum we use is Godly Play, which is the Church’s best tool in supporting children’s spirituality. We will talk more about Godly Play in the coming weeks. For now, let’s think about supporting children in worship.

We have already established that children’s way of being with God looks a little differently ours does. Their prayer, their worship, and even their listening does not always look like “good behavior” in church. They will wiggle. They will make noise. They will play in the pew. But do not dismiss the work they are doing. They are engaging with the sights and sounds and smells of worship in their own way. The liturgy is forming them in ways we cannot always understand.

Imagine that you see a new family visiting us for the first time. They have a squirming child who is making noise. The parents seem worried that they are disturbing those around them. What might you do to let them know that they are welcome? Perhaps you might…

·      Smile at them. It sounds simple, but taking a few moments to even silently let a new family know that you are glad to see them goes a long way.

·      Invite them to sit with you. This gesture sends a message, loud and clear, that this new family is not disturbing us in any way. And, you might even be able to help guide them through the service, should they need it.

·      Offer them a “busy bag” – a new cloth sack in the Narthex with a coloring sheet, crayons, and items for quiet play. The ushers can help you find a busy bag.

·      Show them the “soft space.” Ideally, we want children to sit close to the front so that they can see what is happening at the altar. Seeing the beauty of worship unfold helps them engage. But that isn’t always possible. The soft space gives children and families a little room to breathe without judgment.  

Of course, there is more we can do. In the coming weeks, I look forward to brainstorming with you about new ways we can welcome children well, honor their unique spirituality, and learn from their wonder, love, and play.

A New Chapter for College Ministry

What do we owe to each other?

This question recently entered the zeitgeist in the popular television show The Good Place. (If you haven’t seen it yet, I heartily recommend it!) In the series, one character attempts to turn another into a “good person” using T.M. Scanlon’s book What We Owe to Each Other. In it, Scanlon asks, “What is morality? How do we understand it?”

Of course, the Christian answers these questions differently than does the philosopher.

We, the Church, believe that we owe quite a bit to one another. When we were baptized, we took solemn vows to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to respect the dignity of every human being. Dignity is not something earned with age. Dignity is a given, at every stage of life for each and every human being. But what does it look like to respect the dignity of young people? Over the next several weeks in these reflections, I will think with you about this question. Today, we will focus on loving our college students well.

First, know this: we host the only Episcopal campus ministry which serves the 7 colleges and universities in our area. The harvest is plentiful, and we appear to be the laborers called into the field. But what does a vibrant campus ministry look like? How do we serve them well, using the resources we already have?

We begin by opening as many doors to the church as we can.

Beginning on September 13th, we will launch a new service. On Sunday nights at 5:00 p.m., we will have Sung Mass, especially for students in our area. The mass will be just as you know – our rich customs and traditions will not be watered down. Instead, they will be offered at a time which is accessible for young people.

Mass will be supported by a volunteer choir. Anyone who might be interested in singing can arrive at 4:15 for a brief rehearsal before the liturgy. No commitment, just a chance to serve. This gives our young people a chance to try on a new ministry without the burden of a long-term commitment.

After Mass, we will gather for a meal in the Retreat House or the Rectory. (On Sunday evenings, the dining halls are closed. Who can say no to a tasty free meal?) Form the bedrock of this service and meal, we will build a community of students who will enjoy social events, outreach projects, and formation activities.

This community will be called The Canterbury House, which is the title given to most (if not all) Episcopal campus ministries across the country.

How can you support this new ministry? You can…

·      cook or sponsor a meal. A break from the dining halls goes a long way! You can make a dish your family loves or you could give money toward simple catering from a restaurant like Chipotle.

·      serve at mass. We will need two lay ministers for this service every Sunday. In time, I hope that the students will fill these spots, but we will need some help as we get this service off the ground.

·      sing. You are welcome to join this pick-up choir any Sunday.

·      spread the word. Share the news of this new service with a flyer which you can pick up on Sunday.

·      pray. Pray for all those young people who will come to know and love the Lord in our midst.

Of course, this service is not restricted to college students. (We aren’t checking Student ID’s at the door!) If you miss the morning Masses for any reason, you are welcome to join us in the evening. (If, say, you pop down the shore for a weekend getaway, you still have a chance to go to church!) This service is especially for, but not restricted to, students.

 The Vestry, Alden, and I are excited about this growing ministry. Together, we are trying something new. We don’t yet know how it will grow or where the Spirit will lead us. We will learn as we go. But at every step, we will work to give our best to our young people.

I pray that the young adults who will join us this fall will encounter the love of God in this place. I pray that they will feel honored and respected as important members of the household of God. I pray that they will be enriched by us as I know we will be by them.

Salve Regina

What is all the fuss about?

Tonight, we will gather in the church with two neighboring parishes. Our fabulous choir will man their stations in the stalls – almost one month before the new choral season begins. We will process to the Shrine of Our Lady, singing in her honor. The chancel will be adorned with flowers. A festive potluck, with wine and cake, will follow Mass. But why all the fuss? What makes this night so special?

The Ever-Blessed Virgin Mary is the first human being whose life was transformed by Jesus directly. God chose a lowly, likely illiterate, teenage girl – with no husband! – to be his mother. She was not coerced. She was not forced. Rather, with the faith and courage of a child, she answers the call of God. Looking up at the angel, she says, “Be in unto to me according to thy word.” In other words, “Yes.”

It’s entirely likely that Mary did not understand exactly what she was agreeing to do. She had no way of knowing that this “yes” would take her to the foot of the cross, where she would watch her son give his life for the sake of the world. But when we give our “yes” to God, we need not worry about where the road might lead us. Each step prepares us for the next. The God who loves us, who makes us worthy to stand before him, makes us ready to do the work he has set before us. You might call it sanctification.

And the exaltation of this lowly girl from a back-water village is nothing short of miraculous. Today, we celebrate her as the Queen of Heaven, who sits at the right hand of God himself. In Ancient Israel, the person who could most effectively influence the king was not his wife (likely to her chagrin!) but his mother. If you, a subject of the king, wanted something from him, you would ask his mother to ask him for you. She was the chief intercessor. We see an example in the First Book of Kings:

1 Kings 2 19 So Bathshe′ba went to King Solomon, to speak to him on behalf of Adoni′jah. And the king rose to meet her, and bowed down to her; then he sat on his throne, and had a seat brought for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right. 20 Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you.”

This is not unlike what we imagine when we pray to Mary. (Remember, pray does not mean worship! To pray is simply to ask.) We ask Mary to pray for us because we believe that Jesus listens to his mother. She has his ear, so to speak. And, as Solomon bows down before his mother Bathsheba, so too Jesus honors his mother. If he honors her, surely we should too.  

We trust that she receives that gift because, of course, she is alive! No matter what you believe about the end of Mary’s earthly days, we all trust that she is very much alive with God in heavenly glory. When we sing or say, “Hail Mary!” we greet her with joy. It’s like saying, “Hey Mary! Glad to see ya!”

So tonight, we greet the Blessed Mother with joy. We thank her for her service to God and to humanity. We honor her for her example. We rest in the succor of her prayers for us. And with her, we worship her son.

See you tonight!

For Love of a Dog

I adopted Tank in a Walmart parking lot on the far side of Dallas. It was June of 2020, just two weeks before I was ordained a priest. She was small, shaking with fear, uncertain about the strange, excited lady in the mask and baseball cap. The rescue had found her in a junkyard, in a litter of dying puppies. She has seen a lot about which I will never know. Our first night together, she cowered in the corner of my apartment for hours. When it was finally time to go to bed, I slept on the couch in the living room so that she would not have be alone. In the middle of the night, I felt her climb, so very slowly, up onto the couch and fall asleep on my feet. In that moment, I knew we would be alright.

Loving rescue dogs has taught me more about my vocation as a priest than I ever could have anticipated. Tank taught me to slow down, to practice patience, to meet her where she is, to be grateful for every little success we find together. But to do this, I had to prove to her that I am a safe person, that I am worthy of her trust. Trust is not a given, it is earned slowly and spent so quickly.

At almost every point in the Church’s two-thousand-year history, we have not proven ourselves to be an institution worthy of people’s trust. From the Crusades to the “Prosperity Gospel,” we have exploited our power and manipulated our people. In short, we have been human.

But if the Church lived and died because of human sin, it would have collapsed in the dust hundreds of years ago. A priest I love once told me that the best evidence for the existence of God is the continued life of the Church. There but for the grace of God go we…

We believe that the Church is a mysterious, divine institution. Because it is the Body of the God who rose from the grave, it will never truly die. We have all the time we need to learn to walk in love.

Most of the pain caused by the Church happens in the gap between who we are called to be and who we actually are. Folks walk through the doors of any parish hoping to find grace and kindness and forgiveness, only to be heartbroken by the very sins from which they sought refuge.

In the midst of our own sinfulness, how do we, the Church, earn the trust of those whom the Church has hurt? How do we show the world that we are a safe place? Most simply, we love them. We love them with the same grace and kindness and patience with which we love a rescue dog, earning their trust little by little, day by day.

Tank learned to love her life with every walk, every Ritz cracker, every afternoon nap in the sun. It happened in little, ordinary moments – so small, you could miss them if you aren’t watching. Perhaps that is how folks come to love church, too – in the little ordinary moments of our life together.

We will never know what our newcomers might have seen before they walked through our doors. We will never understand the particular scars in their hearts. But we can listen to them, without an agenda. We can love them with a warm cup of coffee and a beautiful mass and a chance to serve together.

It’s been six years since I adopted Tank. About a year ago, I knew that she was ready for a dog of her own. And now she is teaching Obie what I taught her – how to rest in the knowledge that he is loved and safe without condition. It’s funny how love begets love.

Old Stories

Two weeks ago, I went to see the Odyssey at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute. The showing was sold out, and the theater was electric with excitement. Before the movie began, I heard folks whispering about how “real” everything would be. Christopher Nolan used a puppet for the cyclops, sent his actors trekking up hills to film scenes, joined them on boats thrashing around on the sea. Very few computer-generated images were used. As the lights dimmed, I was delighted to be surrounded by people excited to watch a 2,800-year-old story told by real people in real places dealing with real objects.

Of course, you and I live our lives anchored by an ancient story which is older than time itself. Every day at Morning and Evening Prayer, and every Sunday at mass, we hear the stories of our spiritual ancestors as they search for God in a broken, fallen world. We hear those stories told by them, according to their own understanding. We pray using their words, reaching for the same God they knew. The longer we steep ourselves in these ancient stories, two essential truths become clear: our forebears are not so different from us, and we have a lot to learn from them.

We like to imagine that humanity is constantly improving, on a never-flagging upward trajectory, better with every passing decade. But the truth is, we gain and lose wisdom all the time. Yes, there are gifts of modernity for which I would never trade. And, our ancestors knew so much that humanity has forgotten.

In his essay “On the Reading of Old Books,” C.S. Lewis writes this: “Every age has its own outlook. It is specially good at seeing certain truths and specially liable to make certain mistakes. We all, therefore, need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period. And that means the old books.”

Which is to say, perhaps one of the wonderful gifts ancient stories gives us is perspective. Old stories call into question that which you and I presume to be true. They challenge our presumptions. And, they help us open our eyes to realities of the present moment to which we have become blind.

Lewis reminds us that the blindness of our own time will become all too clear to those who come after us. They will read our writings, study our films, watch our TikToks (God, help us), and think, “How could they possibly have believed that?” I hope that our descendants will look to us with grace, forgiving our blindness, listening for the wisdom we do not know we carry.

Our best wisdom is found in the ancient story we tell, which is unfolding even now, the story which began “in the beginning” and will carry us to the “fullness of time.” And how do we tell this mysterious story? Like Christopher Nolan, we tell it with real people, in a real sacred space, worshipping with real bread and wine and incense and fire.

Perhaps the excitement around the Odyssey has shown us that we are stewards of something for which the world is so hungry. Perhaps we find ourselves in a cultural moment primed to receive the very gift we enjoy every day at Good Shepherd. Perhaps this is just the time to extend the invitation to experience the greatest story ever told.

The Unspoken Message

One of my earliest memories begins in a Godly Play circle. I was probably three years old, in a little Episcopal school between Dallas and Fort Worth. We had just heard the Baptism story, during which a candle is lit for each child. “Remember the day of your baptism,” the storyteller said. I’m not sure if I had been baptized when I heard that story for the first time. But I do remember the adults turning off the overhead lights so that we could enjoy the glow of the candles, even just for a moment. In that quiet moment, I wondered about all that might be happening in that room which my eyes could not see.

I was in the first generation of children formed in Godly Play. The curriculum has been a gift to me at every stage of my life whether I was sitting in the circle a child or an adult creating a Godly Play program in a church I served. I marvel at all the ways in which it continues to teach me, even still.

The genius of Godly Play is not in the beautiful, deceptively simple words used to tell the stories of our faith. Nor is it in the playful wonder which opens the door to a joyful relationship with God. I think the best wisdom in Godly Play is found in its attention to the “unspoken message.”

Everything we do, and every space we occupy, communicates a message to those around us. Consider our beautiful church. What do the ancient architectural forms, the delicate stained glass, the careful carvings tell us about what we believe happens inside that room? If we sold our buildings and moved our worship to a drop-ceiling storefront, what would that tell you about our beliefs? What would it communicate about our priorities? Sometimes, an unspoken message screams loud and clear. Godly Play reminds us that all of us, and especially children, are sensitive to the unspoken messages we give them. We are always listening for the unspoken messages around us.

As we continue to prepare for the fall, I encourage you to consider the unspoken messages we want to communicate. Perhaps those might include sentiments like – You are welcome here… Our parish is a safe place to explore your doubts and questions… Your children are treasured here… Good Shepherd is stepping into a bright and exciting future. The question becomes: how might we communicate these unspoken messages?

Perhaps this wisdom is at the heart of the aphorism attributed to St. Francis: “Preach the gospel. If necessary, use words.” Of course, words are necessary. But they only ring true when they are spoken by one whose very life preaches the gospel in service and prayer and generosity. Those we encounter will only believe our spoken messages when they are supported by our unspoken messages.

By our works, we will show the world our faith.

A Dirty Word

I wonder if you have ever had this experience: sitting at a party or at dinner with friends, you hear someone mention religion. Someone tells the story of their grandmother’s faith, beloved to her but so very rigid. Someone else shares a story of the nuns who taught them in Catholic school and their proclivities for discipline. But you find yourself full of stories of another kind – of a church you love, where you have found friends you never thought you’d make, which has kindled in you a hope which is nothing short of divine. But you choose not to share them. What will everyone think? How might they see you differently? Might they mistake you for one of those Christians?

Many of us have lived this moment like Groundhog Day. I certainly have. And our silence has been understandable. None of us wants to be mistaken for someone who will exclude another because of their identity, who will use the Bible as a weapon, who will try to “save” the person sitting next to us on an airplane. But of course, there is another way.

Our way of being Christian is a gift both to us, and to those we serve. We trust that God gives us gifts in order that we might give them again in love and gratitude. And how do we share the gift of the church? Through the work of Evangelism.

There’s the dirty word. Evangelism.

But it should not be a word from which we recoil! We can practice Evangelism (as Jesus commands us to) in a way which is gentle and kind, which reveals to the world something of the heart of God. Good evangelism is generous and humble and elegant. It is a ministry we can do together.  

One way we will do this is by putting energy into our online presence. Our social media and our website are like a digital front porch. Most people searching for a new church home do so online. They “church shop” through livestreams. In the last six months, our website has been visited more than 16,000 times! Our Facebook page has more than 2,000 followers. The potential is extraordinary.

One easy thing you can do to support this work is to follow our Facebook and our new Instagram account. Like posts, comment on them, share them. Take photos (especially of happy human faces) and share them with us. Think of each picture and video as a window into our wonderful, vibrant, growing community. Every one helps us tell the beautiful story of the Church of the Good Shepherd. And, this is only just the beginning…

In a committee meeting this week, someone shared that they have lived in the area for more than a decade and work around the corner but only recently learned that Good Shepherd is here. I’m sure her experience is not unique. We have a lot of good evangelism to do!

And as we renew these efforts, trust that our parish is a gift for which so many hope. In our neighborhood alone, I wonder how many people yearn for a way of being Christian which engages the mind as well as the heart. I wonder how many ache for beautiful worship in which their souls can rest. I wonder how many yearn for a place where they can belong, without exception. Perhaps you remember hoping like this.  

So let’s share this beautiful gift.

Mthr. Maddie

How Should We Begin?

Let me say first that I am overjoyed to be with you. You and I have awaited this time for months, and I am delighted that our ministry together has finally begun. There is so much good work to be done! From my very first encounter with Good Shepherd, I have been moved and excited by all that God has done, and all that God will do, in your midst. The resurrection is alive in you! I am so grateful to join your beloved community.

You may know that I grew up, and later served as a priest, in a parish which weathered many of the same challenges that Good Shepherd has experienced. In the years of recovery after schism, I remember feeling like we were holding onto something precious and fragile. With every change – each new priest who joined the staff, every new challenge before us –  I worried that we might lose the essence of what made our parish so special, what made it feel like home. Perhaps you might be wondering some of those same things as we step into the future.

And so, I thought that I would share with you some things that I might like to know if I were in your shoes:  

First, I believe that all clergy are called to be stewards. When we come to a new parish, we are entrusted with the gift of the community’s identity, liturgy, customs, and culture. We are not called to change those things and mold them into our own image. Rather, we are called to love them, to nurture them, and to help them grow, in order that we might pass them on to the saints who will come after us. I will do my very best to be a good steward of the remarkable gift which is the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Second, in my discernment process with the vestry and advisory committee, I was most excited by your passion for growth. I will never forget the first time I prayed Morning Prayer here in April, hearing the officiant pray for all those yet unknown to us whom God will draw here and for the growth of ministry here for the sake of the Gospel. It brought tears to my eyes. Your prayers reveal a faithful commitment to follow Jesus’ command to go and make disciples of all. Together, you and I will live out Christ’s Great Commission. We will continue to grow this parish. We will welcome new members and expand our ministries. We will serve our neighbors with love and compassion. We will raise up leaders for the Church and for the world. We will love our children well. All the while, we will remain faithful to our Anglo-Catholic identity.

And so, the question remains, how should we begin this work?  

 I will begin by listening. To serve you well, I ought to know you well. To that end, I would like to invite you to dinner! Beginning later this month, I will host a series of small group pot-luck dinners in the Rectory. I have scheduled a few evenings to get us started, and I will certainly add more as we need them. You can sign up at the links below or by emailing me directly. And, as the Prayer Book says, “all may… none must.”

The first round of dinners will be:

Tuesday July 28 at 6:15 pm

Tuesday August 4 at 6:15 pm

Saturday August 8 at 6:15 pm

Wednesday August 12 at 6:15 pm

Thursday August 27 at 6:15 pm

I am excited to hear your hopes and dreams and ideas about how God might be calling us to serve. I am look forward to our first Sunday together. And, I cannot wait to see all that God will do through you in the season ahead.

See you in Church!

Mthr. Maddie

FROM OUR BISHOP

A letter from the Bishop of Pennsylvania, the Rt. Revd. Daniel P. Gutierrez, directed to the parishes of our diocese about the observation of Independence Day

My Siblings in Christ,

As we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country's founding, I am reflecting on the fact that Philadelphia is the birthplace not only of the United States but also of the Episcopal Church.

Our ancestors in faith in this diocese were leaders during that time of turmoil and uncertainty. Now, that leadership falls to us as we endeavor to live as disciples of Christ in this present moment in the life of our country, one that is marked by political division, upheaval, and war.

So, during this time of both celebration and uncertainty, I am calling on our diocese to join our voices together as one in prayer for this nation on Sunday, July 5, 2026.

On July 5, I am directing that every parish in the diocese use the readings appointed by the Book of Common Prayer for Independence Day, and to pray the Collect “For the Nation.” (See below.) These readings and Collect will replace the Proper for the 6th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9).

This direction comes out of deep prayer and consideration. From Deuteronomy’s call to “love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt,” to Jesus’ subversive and counter-cultural command in the Sermon on the Mount to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” the witness of Scripture speaks directly to our hearts, our communities, and to the very soul of our nation.

Please join me in solemn and humble prayer for our nation, for those who are marginalized and hurting, for God’s peace and love to reign in this world, and for God’s will to be done here and on all the earth as it is in heaven.

In Christ,
Bishop Daniel

Collect
Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Readings

Deuteronomy 10:17-21
Hebrews 11:8-16
Matthew 5:43-48
Psalm 145 or 145:1-9

From the Treasurer and Vestry Liaison for Finance

Becoming Whole

For many years, the Church has frequently been compared to a hospital, a place where one is made whole. This topic arose in one of our formation discussions during the past two weeks and may offer insights as we prepare for Mthr. Madeleine Hill’s arrival in July. In the first of our coffee-hour sessions two weeks ago, we discussed the story of the healing of the paralytic, found in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 9, verses 1–8.

This short passage begins with Jesus entering his own town and people bringing to him a paralytic lying on a pallet. According to the gospel, Jesus observes the faith of these people and tells the paralytic, “Take heart, son, your sins are forgiven.” This statement may seem to be a non-sequitur to an unspoken request for physical healing, but our Lord knew that genuine healing begins with spiritual wholeness. Even more noteworthy, Jesus’ grammar reflects a middle voice, suggesting the forgiveness He referred to isn’t a kind of dispensation from Him, but at least in part has emerged from the faith of the paralytic’s supporters.

Jesus provides physical healing to the paralytic, but only after a confrontation with nearby scribes regarding the authority to forgive sins. As the paralytic’s body is made whole along with his spirit, the importance of the community in bringing forgiveness to each other, and with it a greater intimacy with the divine, is made clear. After the healing, the final sentence of the passage asserts the crowd “glorified God, who gave such authority (also translated as power) to human beings.”

Our parish and the companions of the paralytic have something in common as we are also faced with a severe illness. In our case, it is a world stricken by cynicism, distrust and a temptation to focus on ourselves at the expense of our neighbors. However, our Lord has shown us a better way. It may seem to many that only a miraculous healing will suffice, but that is exactly where the power of the Holy Spirit can help us. Through faith and prayer, we have the authority and power to forgive others and make healing possible through the love of God.

Most recently, the Holy Spirit has helped us discern a call to our new permanent priest. Our congregation is being made whole once again. During this process, we have been blessed by many members of our parish who, through prayer, diligence, and faith have helped us move beyond tensions, disappointments and uncertainty. My hope is that any related shortcomings have been forgiven, thereby bringing us closer to our Lord Jesus Christ.

As Melinda Burrows, our People’s Warden, reminded us in last week’s message, we are a young congregation. Our mission as a church body is still evolving, growing and maturing. As we await the arrival of Mthr. Hill and the many gifts she will bring to our parish, we can rejoice in the ceaseless work of the Holy Spirit and the ongoing strength and healing we are able to give to each other each day.

Jonathan Adams
Treasurer and Vestry Liaison for Finance

From the People's Warden

Good Shepherd is a young congregation. I’m not speaking of our individual ages, but of the fact that most of us have made our commitment to this parish within the last few years. What made each of us visit a second time … and a third … until Good Shepherd was indisputably our spiritual home?

I won’t presume to speak for others, but only for myself. This week, in a fit of household filing, I came across the leaflet for the Sunday of my first visit to the “new” Good Shepherd. On a frigid February morning in 2022, my late husband and I were ready to return to church post-COVID, and intrigued by the possibility of renaissance at a revered parish that we knew had experienced trauma. We expected that the liturgy, music, and preaching would serve our worship. But what surprised us was a sense of ease here. We felt we had arrived among friends who had been waiting for us.

At that time Good Shepherd’s attendance was quite small, but the welcome was large and warm. What our new Priest in Charge has astutely identified as Good Shepherd’s charism for hospitality was evident even then. John and I felt embraced, but not seized upon. We understood that this community wanted to know us, and wanted to give of themselves, the better to worship God alongside us. Embedded in their welcome was a sense of hope. Something new was happening among this young congregation, and we were invited to join in that renewal.

This is the experience I hope we still offer to all who arrive at our doors. And since, as People’s Warden, I have the “newcomers” label attached to my role here, it’s heartening for me to see how many parishioners have taken on a simple habit of welcome. Every Sunday I witness how you notice a new face and smile, the warmth of your greetings at the Peace to friends and strangers alike, how you approach new visitors after the postlude with interest, kindness, and respect.

This has been more important than ever in our time of transition. When there is a full-time priest, it can be easy to leave the “work” of welcoming newcomers to the person wearing the cassock. In recent months, we haven’t had this luxury, and I don’t believe it is in our DNA, anyway. As we prepare to bring a new Priest in Charge into our midst, I pray that each of us will intentionally embrace the ministry of welcome. Continue to notice new faces, or recent visitors who have returned. Seek them out at coffee hour. Learn their stories. Introduce them to others. Invite them in. Appreciate their gifts. And enjoy how they contribute to the continuing renewal of our young congregation. 

“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)

In the peace of God,
Melinda Burrows
People’s Warden

From the Vestry Liaison for Staff

Our church, like all good institutions, has much work that goes on behind the scenes. A lot of that work here at Good Shepherd is done by volunteer members of the parish (for example, the Vestry, the Sacristans Guild, Acolyte Guild, Advancement Committee, Social Concerns, Buildings and Grounds, Adult Formation, Children’s Formation, Ushers and Lectors Committees).

We are however blessed to have a small staff who do a great deal, often tasks we as parishioners take for granted. Let me begin with our new organist, Alden Wright. Alden is obviously responsible for playing the organ (a prelude, postlude, accompanying the choir, accompanying hymns, improvisation) and directing the professional octet on Sundays and other feast days. Those are the duties that the parish witnesses, but it does not see all the preparation: his choosing of music, including the hymns we sing, suitable for the day; his own (substantial) practice time; his rehearsing the choir; his recruiting of substitutes in case a singer can’t make it; his overseeing the music library and the choir room; his writing about the music for the bulletin and the Weekly Word. And this is all supposed to happen within his “part-time” job!

We are equally blessed to have Renee Barrick as our part-time parish administrator. Each day for her is different, and often equally zany. With our transition period between priests, her days have been busier than usual. She is the point person for any number of people: contractors, other staff, Vestry members, etc. Renee, along with Kit Apostolacus, manages the Retreat House and its bookings, which are temporarily suspended during this summer. She, along with Alden, creates the Sunday leaflet; and she is responsible for putting out the Weekly Word. Scheduling the non-acolyte rota for Sundays and other special Masses and services also falls on Renee’s plate. This is only a sample of what she does!

Our financial administrator is Mary Campbell, who keeps our books in beautiful shape; makes regular reports to the Vestry; and works closely with our treasurer Jonathan Adams to determine the best course with such things as navigating the end of the 5-year plan and deciding how much or how little to draw from our endowment. We are pleased that Mary has become a member of the parish, and serves at the altar and as a lector.

Kevin Loughrey not long ago became our facilities manager, and does much work himself around the campus. In addition, he is expert at finding the best contractors in the area for our needs. Kevin works closely with the Buildings and Grounds Committee to determine priorities and to keep things close to budget. Given the number of buildings that Good Shepherd owns—the church itself with the cloister; the Parish Hall; the Retreat House; the Rectory; and the Play and Learn school—it is no wonder that there are always more things to do, certainly more than his twelve hours per week can contain.

Good Shepherd has come a long way in recent years, thanks to good leadership and a deep commitment on the part of the community to make things work, spiritually and practically. Our staff and their dedication is an essential part of our success.

Anne Hallmark
Vestry Member at Large & Staff Liaison

From the Vestry Liaison for Buildings and Property

If you have ever traveled to Europe, I’m sure that you have noticed quite a number of old churches. If you are anything like me, the opportunity to explore these holy spaces was likely a highlight of your trip. To put it in the simplest of terms, they just don’t build things like they used to.

My husband Paul, his mother, and I were recently fortunate to travel to Greece, and while there, we saw innumerable churches. One example in the center of Athens—the Church of Panagia Kapnikarea—dates to the year 1052 and sits on the site of another ancient temple. It is difficult to imagine the centuries of Christians who have worshipped in this dark, smokey, candle-lit space filled with mosaics, murals, and a deeply embedded scent of beeswax and frankincense.

While exploring family villages in the Peloponnese, we met with distant relatives who were eager to show us some of the churches in Dimitsana. At its height, Dimitsana was a village of over 2,500 residents, 26 churches, 4 monasteries, a seminary, and the seat of a bishop. Now, the churches and monasteries remain, but after wars, financial crises, and a military dictatorship, the population has dwindled to around 350 year-round residents.

Upon entering several of these churches, you are taken by the beauty and history contained within. Most date to the 17th and 18th centuries, and while older than the Church of the Good Shepherd, they are relatively young compared to many others in Greece. What struck me—and indeed the reason I am telling you this story—is the response of our guide when we found a large pile of plaster that had fallen from the dome of one church. In broken English, she said, “I came earlier today to clean this up…you can see more has fallen. We are trying to find the money to restore this church. We have not been able to yet—but we will.”

This simple exchange left an indelible impression, especially given my role as Vestry Liaison to the Buildings and Grounds Committee. We worship in a beautiful Gothic Revival building constructed over two years beginning in 1893. The first services were held in 1894 and the building was consecrated in 1910. It is truly a gift that we are able to call this edifice our spiritual home. Given our history, perhaps it is a greater gift that we are called to steward this place toward another 132 years of transcendent Christian worship and vibrant ministry.

After years of too little investment, a new spirit of proactivity has emerged to meet the needs of our buildings and properties. We have recently installed ADA accessible ramps and repaired soffits and downspouts on the retreat house. We have contracts in place for HVAC maintenance and landscaping. In coming weeks, we will be installing signage around campus to assist newcomers and visitors. Even the fire alarm sounding during the voluntary after Sung Mass on Trinity Sunday serves as a testament to the work being done here.

We know that large projects are on the horizon, and while we don’t currently have the funds to pay for a new roof or restore stained glass, we will. God will provide what is needed to maintain our space for generations of Christians to come. The Church of the Good Shepherd has been, is, and will continue to be a place where the Word of God is proclaimed and His Sacraments are celebrated. And while we wait, let us continue to pray for all yet unknown to us whom God will draw to this place to come to know and love our Lord Jesus and for the growth of ministry here for the sake of the Gospel.

William Hillegeist
Vestry Liaison for Buildings and Property

From the Rector's Warden

Beloved Good Shepherd community,

Today I write to you not only as Rector’s Warden, but as vestry liaison for the Social Concerns committee. A theme that has consistently come up in conversations about the future of our parish is a commitment to the Anglo-Catholic tradition. Much of the discussion around this commitment focuses on worship—our liturgy is centered in a sacramental and incarnational viewpoint informed by the theological traditions of Anglo-Catholicism. However, another important element of the Anglo-Catholic tradition is social action and witness. The history of Anglo-Catholicism includes engagement with the broader community, and in particular ministry to the poor and marginalized. This is not a separate consideration, but rather flows from the same sacramental and incarnational way of viewing the world. Taking seriously the idea that God is in and among us, and that we are called to share in the communion of God, goes hand in hand with an inclusive vision of humanity.

One way that this aspect of the Anglo-Catholic tradition has manifested at Good Shepherd is in our commitment to welcome and hospitality. It is safe to say hospitality is a central part of the identity of Good Shepherd. This is reflected not only in the everyday welcoming of newcomers and guests for worship, coffee hour, and other church activities, but in the development of one of our central ministries: the Retreat House. The Retreat House ministry has allowed us to provide a haven for personal and group retreats for a variety of people and organizations, as well as host patients and family members traveling to the area for medical care. It has been a godsent resource for a family navigating the challenges of refugee status. One of our challenges going forward as a parish is creating and implementing a plan to further utilize this invaluable ministry asset.

Another way that we have worked to further live into Good Shepherd’s identity of hospitality is to refine our sick and homebound ministry, and mutual aid ministries more broadly. In the past few months, we have laid the groundwork for a more cohesive network of volunteers to help with meals, shopping, and transportation needs. If you or someone you know needs assistance, or if you would like to volunteer to help provide such assistance, please reach out to me directly.

I see an opportunity for Good Shepherd’s growth in not just welcoming those who come to us, but to more actively invite them in as well as venture out into the community as God’s hands and feet. As our congregation has grown in the last few years, so too has the desire to grow our ministries to the surrounding community. For example, in the last year our youth confirmands spearheaded cultivation of a relationship with one of the diocese’s ministries, the Clare Project street ministry in Kensington. There are avenues to deepen that relationship further. Social Concerns is also currently developing plans to expand our long-time support for the Ardmore Food Pantry (at our sister parish St. Mary’s) into a fuller partnership. And there are other ideas for greater community engagement being incubated in the Social Concerns committee.

Please prayerfully reflect on how Good Shepherd might continue to grow in its social ministry, and in particular prayerfully consider how you might contribute to our social ministries as we continue to grow.

In Christ,
Jason Crockett
Rector’s Warden
Vestry Liaison for Social Concerns

From the Theologian in Residence

Pentecost, like Easter, is a Christian holy day superimposed on a Jewish holy day. Its classic text is from Acts 2. It recounts a dramatic event that occurred in Jerusalem when Jews there were joined by others from many diaspora countries, marking the summer pilgrimage festival commanded by Leviticus 23:15–22 and other texts from Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. It became associated with celebrating God’s giving the Law on Mount Sinai fifty days after the liberation from Egypt.

Luke (the author of Luke-Acts) reports that precisely seven weeks after Jesus’s death, “… suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.”

The Galileans among them, who probably spoke Aramaic, began speaking in the languages of the pilgrims. What was this? Was the punishment of many languages imposed at the tower of Babel being undone? Or were even more languages being spoken making communication yet worse?! Were people speaking languages that they did not understand?! Or were they all able to speak and understand all the other languages?

Had the pillar of fire that led the Israelites from Egypt to Sinai to receive God’s instruction there returned to lead them again?! And if so, to where? Was the fire—along with thunder, lightning and trumpet blasts that had engulfed mount Sinai, terrifying the Israelites at the foot of the mountain—now among these Jews gathered to honor and celebrate the Sinai theophany?

Luke has Peter refashion words from the prophet Joel, who had anticipated that God would pour out his spirit on, well, everyone on the great and awful day of the Lord, when blood and fire with smoke would engulf the earth and the sun would be darkened and the moon look like blood. But in Luke’s rewrite, that will also be a glorious day because all who call upon the name of the Lord will escape the destruction that awaits everyone else.

Such confusion. Such turmoil. Such fear. Such division. In times of great confusion, when the ground is dropping out from under our feet, where are stability, order, and a path forward to be found? It is only by trusting that God will pour out his spirit once again that we may understand one another across dark divides. And so, on Christian Pentecost the church prays, “Come, Holy Spirit.”

Ellen T. Charry
Theologian in Residence

From the Vestry Liaison for Formation

Dear Good Shepherd Family,

As a parish, we are in an in-between time. Summer is never the busiest time in any church community’s life, but this year might feel especially quiet and uncertain. We’ve no sooner said farewell to our dear friend and priest of many years, Fr. Kyle Babin, than we’re preparing to welcome our new Priest in Charge, Mthr. Maddie Hill.

Rest assured, things are happening in this interim season! Even in quieter times, when programs and attendance might dwindle, the Spirit is at work in our community, drawing us together in the love of Christ.

Just this past week, on Thursday, May 7, Dr. Don McCown hosted a conversation among a small group of Good Shepherd parishioners and friends. The topic of conversation was Walter Hilton, a 14th century English priest, and how his practice of quiet listening and waiting might enrich spiritual life at the Church of the Good Shepherd in the 21st century. As with all Adult Formation events at our church, Thursday’s conversation was a lovely time of quiet prayer and mutual reflection.

Regarding Children’s Formation, we have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming months. Mthr. Maddie will join us in mid-July, and she’s particularly eager to get involved with Good Shepherd’s Godly Play program. For those who’ve never had the pleasure of attending Children’s Formation on Sunday mornings, Godly Play is a Montessori-based storytelling curriculum that takes children through key themes and stories of the Christian tradition. It’s hands-on, imaginative, and rooted in the belief that children are naturally receptive to the transcendent mystery of sacred stories. Our kids at Good Shepherd love it, and, if you watch the adults in attendance, they’re always smiling right along with the little guys.

Mthr. Maddie has a deep affinity with the Godly Play program, and she’s used it at many parishes throughout her career and upbringing. During her interview process, she cited children’s ministry as one of the most enjoyable and rejuvenating aspects of her calling as a priest. We couldn’t be more excited for her to join us and our children in spiritual formation.

Additionally, both Mthr. Maddie and our new Music Director, Alden Wright, will oversee a Children’s Summer Camp in August. (Sign Up here!) It’s important to emphasize how exciting it is that, only a month into Mthr. Maddie’s time as our priest, she and Alden get to log some quality time with Good Shepherd’s kids and young families. We anticipate lots of fun and we’re grateful for the opportunity to foster relationships in a season of new growth for our parish.

Please continue to pray for both our Children’s and Adults’ Formation programs as we embark on an exciting new chapter in the life of the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Sincerely,

Tim Austen

Vestry Liaison for Formation

THOUGHTS FROM MOTHER MADDIE

Introductory Note: As the vestry and the parish advisory committee were immersed in our recent search for our next priest, we came across an essay that we found deeply moving. Now that we have called our new Priest in Charge, Mthr. Maddie Hill, we want to share this statement with you, our beloved Good Shepherd community. Mthr. Maddie posted it a few months ago on the website of her current parish, the Church of the Transfiguration in Dallas, and it tells a compelling story of her formation as a Christian and, ultimately, as clergy. 

the church of tomorrow

by Mother Maddie

I came to faith in the midst of a schism.

My family and I found our way to an Episcopal Church in Fort Worth because a girl in my third-grade class invited me to sing in the Children's Choir. At first, we were reticent. The liturgy was so formal, the hymns so unfamiliar, but we were moved by something we could not yet name.

After almost two years as "visitors," we joined the church on one condition from my father: "We can become members, as long as we don't get involved…"

Although we could not yet see it, conflict was brewing. A group of parishioners were preparing to leave the Episcopal Church because of theological differences, primarily the ordination of women. When they left, they wanted to take the whole parish with them.

I was fifteen years old when that small group walked out of the Annual Parish Meeting. The next Sunday, their absence was palpable. Families, couples, and life-long friendships were split down the middle, divided by conflict. The parish had been torn in two.

What I remember most about that time is not the heartache or the absence. I remember the way we banded together to repair our beloved church. I remember parishioners old and new stepping up to fill the gaps and take on new ministries, ensuring that our mission never skipped a beat. I remember Fr. Shannon chasing after my family as we headed home after the 9:00 mass, shouting, "Wait! There are no acolytes at 11:15!" I vested that day with pride, glad to be necessary, grateful to be home. For the next few years, I got to serve at the altar every Sunday, filling any space left open. And in my own small way, I got to help us heal.

In the work of rebuilding and repairing and resurrecting our church, I heard God calling me to the priesthood. Although I had never seen a female priest, it never occurred to me that I could not say "yes." In the parish's embrace of my gawky and awkward teenage ministry, I discovered the joy and belonging that only service can give.

Our world today is so much like the Episcopal Church in Fort Worth all those years ago. Our world is rife with bitter conflict, lines drawn in the sand, the same question hanging in the air: Are you with us, or are you against us? Our world has been broken in two, like a church after schism. Our unity – as a nation, as Christians, and even as families – seems to have failed. But that fracture, that brokenness, that heartache is not the end of our story. It is only just the beginning.

God calls us to repair our brokenness. In the Garden of Gethsemane, just before he gives his life for us, Jesus prays, "Father, I pray that they may be one, as you and I are one." This is God's will. Jesus died on the cross for us, in order to draw the whole world to himself. In the cross, we have already been been made one with Christ and with every person he has made. We have been made one with liberals and conservatives, with the rich and the poor, with our friends and with our enemies. We are all members of the Body of Christ.

When we tear ourselves apart, when we make those who are different from us feel unwelcome or unnecessary, we desecrate the gift given to us on the cross. Our vocation as the Church is to draw all people to God, which means we must be a home for all people, even those with whom we disagree. Of course, we fall short of this charge each and every day.

But I can tell you because I have lived it: there is hope on the other side of division. When we commit ourselves to band together and recover our unity, humbly making room for all of God's people, there will be growth. There will be new life. There will be resurrection.

With God's help, we can heal our world. We can shine a light in the darkness of despair. We can be a city on a hill, showing the world another way of living together. We can be the church we have been called and created to be – the middle way, where all truly belong.

Mthr. Maddie

From the Rector's Warden

Beloved Good Shepherd community,

This week we shared the momentous news of our call to a new Priest in Charge, Mthr. Maddie Hill. In anticipation of this announcement, during this past Sunday’s parish conversation, we reflected on the strengths of Good Shepherd, Rosemont, as well as areas where we can continue to grow. Our discussion was guided by the framework of Brother Ephrem Arcement, who visited us this spring. He proposes seven dimensions of “ecclesial wholeness” that together can help us to live into the fullness of what it means to be a church together. The dimensions he names are: 

• evangelical (proclamation of the Good News)

• pentecostal (openness to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit)

• sacramental (recognition of the inherent sacredness of the liturgy and Creation)

• intellectual (discernment of divinely revealed truths)

• mystical (contemplative seeking of union with God)

• pastoral (community-oriented care for all souls)

• prophetic (attestation to truth and justice).

Our parish conversation paralleled a discussion by the Vestry during our recent retreat. We found that we experienced repeated surprise and excitement at the breadth and depth of the ways that Good Shepherd lives into the different dimensions listed above, even in areas we initially felt might not be our strengths or most central to our identity as a parish. (If you are interested in seeing the notes from that discussion, please ask a Vestry member for a copy.) As you look over the list, what strikes you as central to Good Shepherd, Rosemont’s identity? Where do you see strengths and room to grow in each of these dimensions?

In previous parish conversations we asked parishioners to reflect on what qualities they are looking for in a new priest. This past Sunday we asked participants to reflect on the qualities we as a parish offer our new priest. Once Mthr. Maddie settles into her new role, together we will  create a joint vision statement for Good Shepherd, Rosemont. We know from our meetings with her that she is eager to start working with the parish on this unified vision. Sunday’s deliberations were a promising preamble to that process, and I hope we as individuals and as a parish will continue to ponder these dimensions as we prepare for the arrival of Mthr. Maddie.

In Christ,
Jason Crockett
Rector’s Warden

From the Treasurer

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

One of the goals of the vestry for 2026 is to increase the transparency of our deliberations and decisions. That goal is especially important during the parish’s transition to a new rector, who is joining us initially as a priest-in-charge. Regular updates on our financial condition are one component of transparency, upon which this Weekly Word will focus.

For the first three months of 2026, Good Shepherd’s financial results were healthy. Income exceeded expenses by about $8,300, resulting in an operating surplus. Revenue and spending typically follow annual patterns, affected by seasonal giving, the timing of annual payments, the church calendar and many other factors. Given these recurring patterns, our Financial Administrator, Mary Campbell, suggests it is important to compare current first quarter results with those of the same period in the prior year. By this metric, our 2026 performance is generally in line with the $9,000 operating surplus in the first quarter of 2025.  

Entering the second quarter, we can expect lower expenses by not having a full-time priest on payroll. Still, the blessedly brisk pace of our search process may result in a new priest-in-charge reasonably soon, so we should not expect a dramatic reduction in annual expenses during our transition. As our Wardens noted in their message from last week, “the holy spirit has been busy in this place….” That wonderful activity both expands and draws upon our resources as we keep the message of the gospel vibrant.

The 2026 budget anticipates a reduction in the endowment to meet our annual expenses for this year. Our endowment fund manager distributes a regular, recurring distribution a bit over $4,000 each quarter. Beyond this recurring payment, we elected to withdraw an additional $15,000 from the endowment in March to provide adequate cash and liquidity. However, even with this withdrawal, investment gains over the prior year have buoyed the balance of our endowment, which was $423,664 as of March 31st compared to $420,523 one year ago.   

On a related financial matter, Good Shepherd will welcome an arts recording studio to the second floor of our Parish Hall as of July 1st. This entity will generate meaningful rental income for Good Shepherd in the second half of 2026 as well as in 2027. We expect our new tenant will serve many local and younger performing artists, providing good exposure to Good Shepherd while using a valuable resource consistent with our church’s goals and mission.

If you have any questions regarding parish finances, please bring them to any member of the Finance Committee (Ms. Karen Tripp, Ms. Mary Campbell and me) or feel free to join us at our monthly meeting! We welcome your interest and thank you for your many efforts to support the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Jonathan Adams
Treasurer

From the Wardens

“Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Our parish community is entering a time of transition, as we bid a fond farewell to Fr. Kyle. For most of us it is hard to imagine Good Shepherd without his sterling leadership. At such a time, a sense of loss is a natural emotion, even as we know intellectually that there is every reason for hope.

The last six years have been a period of extraordinary blessings. No one who was here in 2020 could have predicted how our spiritual life has blossomed, and the degree to which our numbers and our ministry have grown. And the majority of us, who have joined this remarkable community in the years since, have been continually surprised at how our blessings have multiplied, thanks to the work of the Holy Spirit among us.

Now, we look ahead to the process of calling a Priest in Charge. More about that process is here, and your vestry pledges to keep the parish fully informed at every stage. We hope you will stay after coffee hour for the next Parish Conversation on April 26, for further updates and discussion.

It’s only human to feel some grief and anxiety right now, and it’s important to acknowledge it. Those of us on the vestry are grateful for the feedback you have given us in our March Parish Conversation, in our regular interactions, and in your honest and thoughtful responses to our online parish survey. You have shared questions and worries, which we are resolved to address. You have also expressed a firm confidence in our strength as a community.

Now is the time to act on that confidence. How? Simply by showing up. 

It’s essential that we come to church on Sunday and for special services, as often as we normally would – or more often. It’s crucial that we support one another and the community we have built and nurtured – by our presence, by our prayers, and by our participation in ministry. You are needed, and your gifts are needed, too. If there is a ministry you’ve been curious about, now is the time to volunteer! Please speak to any member of the vestry about how you can help. 

As we embark on a necessary period of transition and ultimately a new era, some excellent travel advice comes to mind: When journeying to a new place, live not on comparison, but on appreciation. The Holy Spirit has long been busy in this place, working through us. We must not underestimate its power, and it’s important to be attentive to where it might lead us as we call a new priest. Inevitably, that priest will be different from Fr. Kyle. Inevitably, that priest will bring gifts to Good Shepherd that we didn’t anticipate in advance. If we are open to those gifts, later we will look back with surprise and gratitude on the  ways our blessings have multiplied–just as today, we marvel at how far we’ve come since 2020.

We are grateful to those who are easing our route to that future. We heartily thank Jack Burnam for his steadfast stewardship of our highly valued music program as we await a new Director of Music, Alden Wright. We’re grateful to the Transition Office of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, and for the help of numerous priests who have stepped forward to celebrate, preach, and serve during our transition (read more about them here). These priests are from our immediate neighborhood, the larger diocese, and nearby dioceses. As we have communicated with them about how they can serve us, it has been exciting to learn more about the local ecosystem of which Good Shepherd is a part. We hope you will welcome them and enjoy getting to know them.

And we are grateful for you, our parish family. We feel blessed to be traveling this road with you.

Jason Crockett
Rector’s Warden

Melinda Burrows
People’s Warden