Saturday is the big day! On September 24, we will officially bless and open the Rosemont Community Retreat House. The day begins at 10 a.m., and around 10:15 a.m., we will have an official blessing of the newly-renovated house. Please plan to be with us as we pray for God’s blessing on the house as well as our newest ministry at Good Shepherd.
The day will continue with our community block party, including tours of the retreat house (and church), live jazz from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. by The Jazz Sanctuary, food, and games for children. There will be an opportunity to purchase apparel branded with the name of our new retreat house. You will also have a chance to learn more about Hosts for Hospitals, with whom we’ll be partnering in order to provide lodging for families seeking medical care in the Philadelphia area.
It goes without saying that our new retreat house ministry will demand much from our small parish, but I’m proud of the parish leadership, who have committed themselves to supporting this new venture even as we seek to grow as a parish and become more financially sustainable. The decision to invest in a new ministry in a time of pandemic and in the midst of a volatile economy demonstrates that the Church of the Good Shepherd is living out of an appreciation for God’s abundance.
But in order to enable this new ministry to flourish and minister in the name of Christ, we need your help. Our first guests will be the board of the Association of Anglican Musicians, the official organization for musicians serving the Episcopal Church. The AAM board arrives on October 9. Our first program retreat begins on Monday, October 24. And we hope to soon welcome families from Hosts for Hospitals. We will need assistance doing laundry, providing meals for families, and welcoming guests. Consider this your invitation to heed the advice of St. Benedict of Nursia (480 - 547), who taught those in his Benedictine Order to welcome others as Christ himself. Will you help us? Perhaps you can spare a few hours one evening to wash bedsheets or linens, or maybe you can make a casserole that can be frozen and served later to a family staying with us as they seek treatment in a local hospital. We welcome your help. We will need it!
Please email me if you are interested in helping. And I hope you will join us on September 24 as we officially open our doors to the local community and beyond!
Yours in Christ
Father Kyle