Updated December 19, 2024
liturgical schedule for the coming week
Thursday, December 19 – Feria
Morning Prayer at 9 a.m.
Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m.
Friday, December 20 – Ember Day (commemoration: Katharina von Bora, Church Reformer, 1552)
Low Mass at 8 a.m.
Morning Prayer at 9 a.m.
Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 21 – Saint Thomas the Apostle
Morning Prayer at 9 a.m.
Low Mass at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, December 22 – The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Low Mass at 8 a.m.
Sung Mass at 10:30 a.m.
Monday, December 23 – Feria
Morning Prayer at 9 a.m.
No Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 24 – The Eve of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ: The First Mass of Christmas, with Procession & Blessing of the Crèche (with choir) at 6 p.m.
Wednesday, December 25 – The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ: Sung Mass (with choir) at 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, December 26 – Saint Stephen, Deacon and Martyr
Morning Prayer at 9 a.m.
Low Mass at 9:30 a.m.
No Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m.
Friday, December 27 – Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist
Morning Prayer at 9 a.m.
Low Mass at 9:30 a.m.
No Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 28 – The Holy Innocents
Morning Prayer at 9 a.m.
Low Mass at 9:30 a.m.
Rosemont Community Retreat House
Help Needed with Food for Upcoming Retreats
Our retreat house ministry has flourished in its first full year of operation. It has proved to be a vital means of connecting this parish with the wider Church, and it has been a place of prayer and respite for people from across the country. But we need your help in continuing to sustain this valuable ministry! Would you consider making food (or making a financial donation for a meal) for one of our program retreats? If so, please contact Father Kyle. We will provide the recipes and reimburse you for food costs.
You can visit the link to our new online booking engine to view our rooms and availability.
To sustain this new ministry at Good Shepherd, we will need help with a variety of tasks, including keeping our pantries and refrigerators well-stocked, providing meals for Hosts for Hospital guests (which can be prepared and frozen ahead of time), and welcoming guests. This is one way in which we can serve as Christ’s hands and feet to the local community and offer a true ministry of hospitality. Are you interested in helping? If so, please contact Renee Barrick.
Our retreat house ministry is one of hospitality, in which we welcome all guests as Christ himself, in the Benedictine spirit. We’re currently working towards a sustainability plan for this vital outreach ministry. Part of that plan involves recruiting volunteers to help with various tasks. We’re asking for your help! We need volunteers to serve meals for group retreats, welcome guests, take laundry to the cleaners, ensure that rooms are set up properly, and publicize retreat house offerings. We will provide the instructions and training. If you’re interested in helping, please contact parish administrator Renee Barrick.
PARISH LIFE
Children’s Formation
Children’s formation are held each Sunday from September through May in the Parish House. We have two Sunday classes: Godly Play (for children through ages 3 through 9) and Weaving God’s Promises (for children ages 10 and above). Classes meet from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. in the Parish House. Registration is now available online.
Greening and Decorating the Church for Christmas
Stay after Sung Mass on Sunday, December 22 to help green and decorate the church for Christmas! Lunch will be provided.
Epiphany Potluck Supper
Join us for a potluck supper in the retreat house after Sung Mass on the Feast of the Epiphany, Monday, January 6. Mass is at 7 p.m., and the potluck will follow (around 8:30 p.m.). Sign up here to bring a dish.
2025 Annual Parish Meeting
The 2025 annual parish meeting will take place after Sung Mass on Sunday, January 26, in Kemper Hall. Lunch will be provided. In addition to presenting the approved 2025 budget, we will elect new members to the vestry, as well as lay delegates to diocesan convention and deanery meetings. According to our parish bylaws, “[a]ny baptized lay person 16 years of age and upwards who is a communicant in good standing, contributor to the support of the Parish, and who shall have made the Church of the Good Shepherd their usual place of worship for at least one year immediately preceding such election or meeting shall be eligible to vote at any Parish Meeting and for the election of Members of the Vestry and lay delegates to Diocesan Convention.”
MUSIC
Music Notes
Organ and choral music for the Fourth Sunday of Advent and the Masses of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day comprises works old and newer from American, British, German, and French composers, namely Bach (two Bachs, in fact!), Lennox Berkeley, Buxtehude, Keith Chapman, Daquin, Gary Davison, Dupré, Harwood, Gerre Hancock, Howells, George Malcolm, Willcocks, and others, along with many beloved hymns of the season. As always, it is our hope and prayer that the music glorifies God and deepens the prayer of those who sing and hear it. It is worth noting that, like the lessons, the music for the Mass of Christmas morning is entirely different from Christmas Eve, and we hope many will be able to join us for both Masses.
Next Sunday Adult Formation - January 5, 2025, after Sung Mass
Mark your calendars for our next Sunday adult formation presentation and discussion, “An Introduction to Anglican Music” with Robert McCormick.
The Good Shepherd Choristers
Although our chorister program for children ages 7 and older is going strong, it’s never too late to register to participate!
OUTREACH
Advent Giving Tree to Support St. James School
Take some time to look at our Advent Giving Tree in the retreat house. Hanging on the tree are numerous ornaments featuring items that you can “buy” to support the work and ministry of St. James School. St. James School is the only Episcopal school in Philadelphia and serves 92 students in grades 4 through 8. During this Advent season, you’re invited to take an ornament or two off the tree and make your donation to support St. James School!
Serving Those in Need through the Ardmore Food Pantry
The Ardmore Food Pantry is a ministry based at St. Mary’s Church (Episcopal) in Ardmore and is entirely funded by individuals, congregations, and a few grants. The Pantry receives no government funding, which enables the Pantry to serve guests without having to collect sensitive information like address or income. There is a basket at the back of the church where you can drop off non-perishable, unexpired food items only for delivery to the Pantry. Especially welcome at this time are cereal, spaghetti sauce and pasta, hearty soups, peanut butter, tuna, and coffee.
PRAYER LIST
In the Anglican Communion cycle of prayer for The Church of the Province of Uganda (Sunday), The Diocese of Kubwa – The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) (Monday), The Diocese of Kuching – Church of the Province of South East Asia (Tuesday), The Diocese of Kumasi – The Church of the Province of West Africa (Wednesday), The Diocese of Kumi – The Church of the Province of Uganda (Thursday), The Diocese of Kurunegala – The Church of Ceylon (Extra Provincial) (Friday), and The Diocese of Kushtia – The Church of Bangladesh (Saturday).
For Sean, our Presiding Bishop, and Daniel, our bishop.
For peace across the world; for this nation and its elected leaders; for all who live and serve in this local community; for the poor, the homeless, the hungry, the lonely, the oppressed, those in prison, especially Dwayne and Michael, and all those who are suffering; for an end to injustice of all kinds, especially racial and economic injustice; for an end to gun violence, especially in our local community; for the good creation that God has entrusted to our care, that we may be faithful stewards of it; for this parish church, for all who worship and serve here: for our staff and vestry, for our Advancement and Finance Committees, for our campus ministry, for our chorister program, for our retreat house, for those who share space with us on this campus, 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.
In our parish cycle of prayer: Don & Gail McCown (Sunday), Brian Miskew, Polly Garcia Vega, & Emma Paredes (Monday), Elly Mulcahy (Tuesday), Jebamalaidass Pushparaj, Vasanthi Jebamalaidass & Sanjay Crispin Jebamalaidass (Wednesday), William Shepard (Thursday), Eric Simonis & Shushi Yoshinaga (Friday), and Dillon & Lorraine Mahoney (Saturday).
In our Friends of Good Shepherd cycle of prayer: Gray Kidd (Sunday), Steven and Leslie Whiting (Monday), Charles Lindsey (Tuesday), Chris & Bob Wittrock (Wednesday), Jonathan Adler (Thursday), Isabelle Benton & Aileen White (Friday), and Davis d'Ambly & Nick Johnson (Saturday).
For those in need, especially for Alex, Anna, Frank, Ron, Grace, Harold, Genevieve, Richard, Bonnie, Allen, Lane, Luca, Lizzie, John, James, Tanya, Julia, Colleen, Dennis, Frederick, Doug, Veronica, Sue, John, Geoffrey, Rebecca, Peggy, Jill, Diane, Renee, Margot, Audrey, Nicola, Haviland, Molly, Holly, Stacee, Claudia, Peter, Leslie, Steve, Bob, Gottfried, Carolyn, Brandon, John, Gary, John, Odile, Sue, André, Liliane, Katherine, Clarice, Nanette, Julia, Justice, Jim, Deidre, and Sandra.
To add names and requests to the prayer list, please complete this form.