Updated May 19, 2024
LITURGICAL SCHEDULE - WEEK OF May 19.
Monday, May 20 – Alcuin of York, Deacon 804
• Morning Prayer at 9 a.m. & Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 21 – Lydia of Thyatira, Coworker of the Apostle Paul
• Morning Prayer at 9 a.m. & Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 22 – Ember Day (commemoration: Helena of Constantinople, Protector of the Holy Places, 330)
• Morning Prayer at 9 a.m. & Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 23 - The First Book of Common Prayer
• Morning Prayer at 9 a.m. & Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m.
Friday, May 24 – Ember Day (commemoration: Jackson Kemper, Bishop and Missionary, 1870)
• Low Mass at 8 a.m.
• Morning Prayer at 9 a.m. & Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 25 – Ember Day (commemoration: Bede, Priest and Historian, 735)
• Morning Prayer at 9 a.m.
Rosemont Community Retreat House
Family Mindfulness Day Retreat – Saturday, June 1
Our final day retreat of this program year will be a Family Mindfulness Retreat on Saturday, June 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join Donald McCown, retreat presenter, for six hours of fun (and a chance for all to cultivate mindful attention, the very essence of prayer). Through mindful movement, noncompetitive games, arts and crafts projects, read-aloud stories, and sing-along songs, we’ll build a community of the present moment. Together, we’ll identify new (and tried and true) ways of supporting and caring for ourselves, each other, and our children. So, round everyone up and come on out. We’ll transform “just come as you are” into “become just as you are,” through play, prayer, and praise. Register by clicking this link.
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 Chris Wittrock.
PARISH LIFE
Purse for Chris Wittrock
Chris Wittrock, our wonderful Parish Administrator, will be relocating to New York State with her husband Bob in June. Her last day in the office will be May 31. We will celebrate Chris’s time with us over the past four years with a reception following Sung Mass on Sunday, May 26. To contribute to a purse as a thank you for Chris, please make checks payable to Church of the Good Shepherd, with “purse for Chris Wittrock” in the memo line, or click this link and choose the dropdown option “Gifts for Chris.” Thank you!
Join the Good Shepherd Sacristans Guild!
Are you fascinated with what happens behind the scenes to prepare for liturgies at Good Shepherd? Have you seen the many treasures of our sacristies? Are you someone who likes to pray through engaging in acts of service and behind-the-scene-tasks? Then you might be interested in joining the Good Shepherd Sacristans Guild (formerly known as the Altar Guild)! We are looking for dedicated volunteers to commit to serving on teams of two members every five to six week to set up for Sunday Masses. If you’re interested in learning more about this indispensable ministry, join us on Saturday, May 25 for a sacristy workday beginning at 9:30 a.m. and training at 2:30 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend either or both of these events. Please contact Father Kyle for more information (kbabin@goodshepherdrosemont.com).
Summer Book Study with Fr. Kyle
During the summer, Fr. Kyle will host a book study on Sundays before the 10:30 a.m. Sung Mass, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. We will be reading Why Go to Church?: The Drama of the Eucharist by Timothy Radcliffe. In this study, we will be looking in depth at the Mass and discussing the theological importance of going to church. Purchase your copy of the book online through Amazon or Barnes and Noble. The first meeting will take place on Sunday, June 16. Stay tuned for a reading schedule by chapter!
Join us for Compline
All are welcome to join the Good Shepherd Compline group on Mondays at 8:30 p.m. Please e-mail Ellen Charry, ellencharry@ptsem.edu, for the Zoom details.
Interested in Becoming a Member of Good Shepherd?
In the Episcopal Church, membership is defined as follows: “All persons who have received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism with water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, whether in this Church or in another Christian Church, and whose Baptisms have been duly recorded in this Church, are members thereof.” One’s Baptism is to be recorded in the parish register to be counted as an active baptized member. And to vote in parish elections, one must be an active baptized member and have worshiped regularly at Good Shepherd for at least a year. If you have previously been a member of another Episcopal parish, please ask that parish to transfer your “letter of membership” to Good Shepherd. If you were baptized in another denomination, you can simply let us know that you want your baptism recorded here at Good Shepherd, and we can record that. Please contact Father Kyle if you have any questions. If you are new to the Episcopal Church and Good Shepherd, you are encouraged to participate in our Pilgrims in Christ class (below).
Ask Your Theologian!
Theology explores the meaning of Christianity. It is complex, varied, and at times confusing. “Ask your Theologian” is an open online conversational opportunity to ask hard questions about God, Christianity, the Bible, religion in general, and other religions. It is also an invitation to seek clarification or background about aspects of worship, Christian history, and doctrine that warrant probing. Submit your questions to Dr. Ellen Charry, Theologian-in-Residence.
Mindfulness and Contemplative Prayer Group
Every Wednesday, this new prayer group meets from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Rosemont Community Retreat House, guided by parishioner Dr. Donald McCown. Join us for an hour of quiet reflection and contemplation. Our time together will include guided mindfulness practice, centering prayer, and short readings for learning and reflection. A light supper will be served. Our readings will come from a diverse range of sources, from the Desert Fathers and Mothers to Contemporary Zen teachers, from Julian of Norwich to Thomas Merton.
formation
Our next Sunday adult formation will take place on June 2 after Sung Mass. The topic is “What Is History, Anyway?” and will be led by Dr. Barry Levis, Professor of History Emeritus at Rollins College.
MUSIC
Now Recruiting – The Good Shepherd Chorister Program
Through the leadership of our new Organist and Director of Music, Robert McCormick, we’re now planning for new chorister program to start in the fall! This program will provide children and youth ages 7 and above with outstanding professional choral training, music theory, leadership development, and abundant performance opportunities. Each chorister will be paid a stipend to underscore the seriousness of the training we offer. No previous musical experience is required, only an eagerness to learn, age-appropriate reading proficiency, and the ability to match pitch. We welcome a diverse array of choristers from all walks of life and varied backgrounds, and of any religious tradition or none. If you know of a child who might be interested in joining, please contact Robert McCormick (rmccormick@goodshepherdrosemont.com).
Final Main Line Early Music Concert of Season
The final concert of our 2023-2024 season will be performed by the Franklin Quartet on Sunday, June 9 at 3 p.m. (This concert was rescheduled from February.) For centuries, Western Europe has viewed the Ottoman Turks and Romani as exotic. Relative to the rest of Europe they were geographically nearby but remote in custom. It was perceived that their music evoked sensualism and voluptuousness as well as something dangerous and menacing. 18th-century composers were tickled to bring these foreign musical elements into their works. No matter how fleeting those musical moments may have been in the context of broader compositions, they elicited images of the “exotic” or “otherness.” How should we respectfully observe this in today’s modern society? As alluring as those snippets are, they don’t exist without controversy. Join the Franklin Quartet as they explore the Ottoman Empire and Romani influence in string quartets by Haydn and Dittersdorf, interspersed with traditional Hungarian and Armenian folk tunes.
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Arts and Music Summer Camp for Children – August 19–23
Registration is now open for our Arts and Music Summer Camp for children ages four and older. This fun week will include Bible stories, art and crafts, games, music, snacks, and choir. Children ages 7 and above will receive professional instruction in singing along with Robert McCormick, our new Organist and Director of Music. Registration is limited. If you have further questions, please contact Father Kyle (kbabin@goodshepherdrosemont.com).
OUTREACH
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. The Food Pantry is entirely funded by individuals, congregations, and a few grants and receives no government funding, which enables the Pantry to serve guests without having to collect sensitive information like address or income. Gifts of any size are welcome at any time of year. The parish address is 36 Ardmore Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003. There is also a basket at the back of the church where you can drop off shelf-stable food items for delivery to the Pantry.
PRAYER LIST
Those who serve in the Church and in government:
For Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury; Michael our Presiding Bishop; Daniel our Bishop; Barry, the Dean of Merion; Kyle, our priest; our vestry and staff; Joseph, the President; Josh, the Governor; Scott, Commissioner; the Members of the State Legislature; the Congress, the Senate, and Judges and Justices.
For those in need, especially for Veronica, Sue, John, Geoffrey, Peter, Rebecca, Peggy, Lindsay, August, Jill, Diane, Renee, Margot, Audrey, Nicola, Haviland, Julie, Sofia, Molly, Colleen, Gokhan, Holly, Caroline, Clare, Charlotte, David, Ida, Bill, Anne, Stacee, Carol, Dave, Claudia, The Busch Family, Michael, Peter, Leslie, Steve, Lois, David, Alex, Bob, Gottfried, Joe, Dave, Carolyn, Brandon, Bob, Chris, John, Gary, John, Odile, Ernest, André, Liliane, Katherine, Clarice, Thelma, Nanette, Julia, Lisa, Pat, Justice, Jim, Deidre, Guy, and Sandra.
For the departed: For the repose of the soul of Bill.
In our parish cycle of prayer: Brian Miskew, Polly Garcia Vega, and Emma Paredes (Monday); Elly Mulcahy (Tuesday); Kelsey Naughton, Meredith Naughton Reynolds, Tyler Reynolds (Wednesday); Vasanthi Jebamalaidass and Sanjay Crispin Jebamalaidass (Thursday); Ernest and Miriam Ramirez (Friday); and Skip Shephard (Saturday).
In our Friends of Good Shepherd cycle of prayer: Carol and Dave Lazorchak (Monday); Rick Salvi (Tuesday); Bob and Sharon Gray (Wednesday); Doug Bowman (Thursday); Christopher Hart (Friday); and Fr. Stephen Morris (Saturday).
To add names and requests to the prayer list, please email office@goodshepherdrosemont.com.