The Shepherd’s HornNewsletter of the Church of the Good Shepherd

October 5, 2012

The Talmud, the Judaic holy book, includes a wonderful tale entitled “Honi and the Carob Tree.”

Honi was a small boy when he saw an old man planting a carob tree. “How long will it take for this tree to bear fruit?” asked Honi.

“Seventy years,” said the old man.“Will you live long enough to eat the fruit from

the tree?” inquired Honi.“Probably not,” said the old man.“Why bother then?” asked Honi.“When I was young,” said the old man, “I en-

joyed many trees that were planted by my father and my grandfather. Just as they planted trees for me, I am planting trees for my children and others who will follow me.”

In Judaism, trees are considered precious and important. There are special prayers for the first buds of spring and for the first fruits brought as offerings to God.

In Scripture we read about one tree in particular that has very special meaning—the Tree of Life. In Genesis 2:9, the Tree of Life is created by God and planted in the middle of the Garden of Eden, where it provides beauty and sustenance. The prophet Ezekiel describes a vision of a future in which trees growing

along the banks of a holy river have “leaves that will not wither, nor will their fruit fail.” And in Revelation 22:1-2, heaven is described as having a river that flows directly from God’s throne to God’s people, and along which stands the tree of life, a tree that yields fruit every month without fail and whose leaves are a healing balm.

The Tree of Life reveals God’s generosity to us from the time of creation in Genesis to the timeless-ness of eternity in Revelation. It is a symbol of God’s abundance. God’s generosity, like the tree, is rooted in the midst of the created world, yet is eternal. God’s generosity, like the fruit, supplies us with all we need. God’s generosity, like the leaves, heals our wounded souls. God’s generosity, like the branches, reaches outward offering grace sufficient for all.

We live in a world that fearfully hoards all it can, living as if scarcity is the reality of life. But we know better. Our God is a God of abundance, and calls us to be people of abundance. We know that in God, we have all we need; that all we are and all we possess are gifts from God, entrusted to us for a time and to be used to care for God’s beloved people. And what is our call, then? Our call is to trust in God’s abundance and generosity, and in thanksgiving for all he pro-

The Tree of Life by Juliana Lindenberg

vides, to give back to God what is really his.

And, like the tree planted by the old man, our commitments now to Good Shepherd – our time, our love, and our financial resources – plant a seed that will grow over time and provide sustenance for generations to come. Join us in celebrating God’s generosity!

What’s Your Ministry?Ministries take many forms and shapes. Some of

us are called to more social opportunities, some to service to others and still others feel called to serve God in worship. Listen to your heart. If you feel God is calling you to do more in this transition time at Good Shepherd, some of the opportunities are listed below.

The kitchen is the heart of many homes, and on Wonderful Wednesday that’s true at Good Shepherd as well. The Hospitality Guild is seeking cooks, pot-stirrers and servers to prepare our Wonderful Wednesday meals. We will provide easy and simple menus for you. We usually need two to four people in a shift, 4:30-5:30 or 5:30-6:30p. To volunteer or

get more details, call Cammy Hodges at 937-2648 or email her at cammyhodges@gmail.com.

Meals-On-Wheels is a gift to humanity so PLEASE consider volunteering just one hour of your day once a month. Please contact Katie Rose, Good Shepherd Meals on Wheels coordinator, at 442-2768 (home) or 450-5503 (cell).

The Altar Guild is a vital ministry that enriches the spiritual life of our parish, and is an invalu-able support for the clergy. If you feel called to this ministry of caring for the physical elements used in our common worship at Good Shepherd, contact Pat Weeks (478-5428) or Kathy Wood (937-4526).

Page 2 • The Shepherd’s Horn

by Elsie Crisp with Paulette Pridgen

It’s that time of year again. You know, the time when pumpkins and black cats stage their annual parades, red and golden leaves begin to fall and the air and apples are delightfully crisp. It’s also the time when the Good Shepherd Knitters, who’ve been working non-stop for a continual 12 months, begin to assemble, pack up and ship off their warm sweaters, lap robes, blankets, scarves and hats. They ship boxes each October to ensure that the warm cuddlies are delivered in December.

Elsie Crisp is the convener of the Good Shepherd Knitters, who meet weekly on Wednesdays at 11 a.m., in the church parlor. Elsie is pleased to announce that the newest project added to the knitters’ tasks is a special large, white baby blanket that is given to each new baby born to a member of the church.

The knitters’ on-going projects include adult and little girls’ cancer caps and accompanying scarves, the Seaman’s sets for the Christmas At Sea program (see sidebar), lap robes for those who are chronically ill,

The Seaman’s Church Institute, founded in 1834, is a voluntary, ecumenical agency affiliated with the Episcopal Church. It provides pasto-ral care, maritime education and other services for mariners. Last year, its Christmas At Sea program elicited 21,174 items, all of it handknitted and donated by knitters just like our Good Shepherd Knitters.

Thank you notes from captains whose crews received the Seaman’s Set:

“On behalf of the crew and myself....Many thanks for your presents and consideration. They are much appreciated onboard. It is good to know that ‘out there’ there are people who care for us. Our Christmas was held during a port stay…in Maylasia and in the South China Sea.”With Best Regards, Jesper Hansen, Captain, Cornelius Maersk

“The crew of the M/V Texian want to say thank you for the wonderful presents you knitted and sent to us, we appreciate it very much. At these holiday times when work keeps us away from our loved ones, it’s always a welcomed treat to receive these handmade gifts that all of you so thought-fully sent us…”Captain Tony Bertrand and crew members, M/V Texian

Minute for Mission – Good Shepherd Knitters

scarves for My Sister’s House, blankets for the Pregnancy Center and hats for the Com-munity Ministry.

While much giggling and laughter is often heard coming from the confines of the parlor on Wednesday mornings, the knitters recently had a more somber gift to offer. One they did not have to pack up and ship away. The GS knitters presented Scott and his family, Missy, Harrison and Samuel with a special lap robe as a going away gift.

The Knitters enjoy their many projects and are always excited to have new members join them. They are delighted to teach you if you don’t know how to knit and pretty soon, you’ll be knitting a seaman’s cap that may travel to New

We probably don’t need to tell you that we are in a transition period at Good Shepherd. What we do need to make sure that you understand is that this is not a job search, like you may have been a part of in the corporate world. A search for new clergy is a spiritual journey. We have to drive at a reasonable speed on this journey in order to reach our destination safely. A clergy search has been compared to the process of dating. We have to take time to discern who we are, what we like most about ourselves, what our values are, and what dreams we have for our future, so that when we meet the right person, we’ll know it.

The Vestry is working on two things right now. First, we are preparing to hire an Interim Priest to serve our parish for 12 months. We will hopefully have this person in place in about four weeks. S/he will be the Lead Rector and head of the staff. At the same time, we are moving forward to form a Search Committee who will help us through a discernment phase, publish the results

in a Parish Profile which will help clergy discern if Good Shepherd holds possibilities for them, review profiles of persons who express inter-est in our church, and ultimately identify a few candidates from which the Vestry will select our next Senior Rector.

If you feel called to serve on the Search Com-mittee for the next Rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, please contact any member of the Vestry immediately. You are welcome to call Senior Warden Millie Walker at 937-2509.

This is a very confidential process. Still, we can keep you in touch with the stages that we’re in, and we intend to do just that. Look for updates here regularly.

The Collect for last Sunday was wonderful. We prayed for the Lord to help us to “not be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly” and even as things are changing around us, we prayed “to hold fast to those (things) that shall endure.” Friends, that’s us and our beauti-

ful church. Good Shepherd is YOU AND ME. The members of this church are the ones who have kept it going for the last 140+ years. The members of this church are the ones who have started some of the most enduring social programs in our community. If we put the search in the Lord’s hands and strive to “not be anxious,” He will provide. In the meantime, let’s stick together and focus on the positive. We’re headed into a season when we particularly reach out to serve those less fortunate. Let’s keep our minds on these “heavenly” deeds, and our hearts will be lifted. We look forward to seeing you in church soon!

Your prayer is asked for the calling of a new Rector.

Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on your Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

On the Search… by Millie Walker, Senior Warden

Zealand, Indonesia or another faraway destination. And some seaman on a distant ocean will be grateful for the knitters of Good Shepherd.

The Shepherd’s Horn • Page 3

Youth ActivitiesYouth Group Lock-In AND Ropes Course/

Teambuilding Day, beginning Friday, October 26th at 6:30 p.m.! Join your 6th-12th grade friends for an overnight event at Church of the Good Shepherd that will include movies, games, music, food, and general silliness and mayhem! But that’s not all...we’ll spend the next morning, October 27th from 9 a.m. - noon, participating in another teambuilding event on the low ropes course, led by our friends from the City of Rocky Mount. A donation of $20 per youth is re-quested to cover some of our costs. All are welcome, and yes, invite a friend! Contact Juliana Lindenberg with questions and to register, and get details on the church website.

The next date for the celebration of Holy Bap-tism is January 13, 2013. Please contact a member of the clergy for more information.

Operation Christmas Child (Samaritan’s Purse) kicks off on October 21. Check the next issue of The Shepherd’s Horn for details.

The Thanksgiving Basket Drive begins Sunday, October 28th. Help make sure families in need will have Thanksgiving dinner this year! Look for the display in the lobby this month, or contact Juliana Lindenberg or a member of our Outreach Commission with questions.

Adults, Youth and Children 10 a.m.

The Rev. Gil Greggs continues our adult Christian Formation series on The Generos-ity of God. Each Sunday through October 14, Rev. Greggs will lead the adults in, “The Cup Runneth Over: Provision Beyond Measure,” an exploration of the scriptural aspects of God’s generosity. Why is it that God’s love is best understood as a kind of gener-osity? The attributes of God invite not mere study but imitation. How are we directed and guided by God’s generosity? Over the course of five weeks of study, we will examine the biblical portrait of God’s generous love and how we are asked to imitate it as we seek to shape our lives as a faithful response to God’s Word.

The Generosity of Good Shepherd begins October 21 and runs through November 4. On October 21, join us for the “Vestry Forum.” Transparency is one of the guiding principles of Good Shepherd’s Vestry. We seek to keep lines of com-munication open and provide ways for all members of Good Shepherd to communicate with the leadership of the church. The Vestry is the elected body of lay persons who are charged with administering the “temporal” affairs of the church. In reality, the Vestry works hand-in-hand with the clergy in caring for our physical space and nurturing our spiritual space. The forum is intended to keep all members informed on the work of the Vestry and the congregation’s financial health, and the process of discernment for a new rector.

Let Your Light Shine is the theme for Youth and Children’s Christian Formation which is based on Matthew 5:16:

“...let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

YouthOn October 7, we will look at “The Light of Love:

Forming a Healthy Relationship.” The basic values that contribute to a healthy or “right” relationship are the same across all types of relationships. Based on Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, this study encourages youth to explore what love really means and how love can best be expressed in different relationships.

On October 14 and 21, we will study “The Light of Justice: What Does God Require of You?” (Micah 6:8).

The prophet Micah tells us that God wants us to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God. We will explore this mandate together and seek to discover what God is calling us to live justly and humbly.

ChildrenOctober 7th concludes our lesson about “Faithful-

ness,” the story of Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 12:1-9).

October 14th and 21st we will learn about “Re-spect.” Romans 12:10 tells us that we should “honor one another above ourselves.” In this unit, Jesus shows us what it means to respect and honor others by healing a very sick man who is all alone because of his disease.

New Date for Confirmation Sunday! Due to a change in the bishop’s schedule, Bishop Gregg’s visit to Good Shepherd and Confirmation Sunday will now take place on October 28th. Please note this change on your calendar!

Sunday Christian Education Forums

Dinner at 5:30 p.m.

The Youth Group meets from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Join us for our Faith Mentors Series! Youth in grades 6-12 gather each week for time with friends, to talk about our faith, to pray together, and to enjoy fun and games.

The Adult Forum meets from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Leigh Ulrich will lead a three week course on “Great Themes of the BIble.” Join us on Wednesdays to take a deeper look at themes found throughout Scripture, including these affirmations:

• “God is with us.”• “Beneath all else, God loves us.”• “God is always bigger than we think.”

Choir rehearsals are an integral part of Wonderful Wednesdays. The Cherub Choir rehearses from 5-5:30 p.m.; the Alleluia Choir rehearses from 5:30-6:30 p.m., and the Good Shepherd Choir rehearses at 7:30 p.m. Come make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

Music at Good ShepherdSunday, October 7, 5:00 p.m.: St. Francis Day Choral Evensong with Blessing of the Animals

Bring your pets and a blanket or lawn chair for this special outside service that will be sung by the Cherub, Alleluia, and Good Shepherd Choirs.

The Church of the Good Shepherd231 N. Church Street • Rocky Mount, NC 27804(252) 442-1134 • www.goodshepherdrmt.org

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Rocky Mount, N.C.

Have You Heard?

Happy October Birthdays to: 16: Janie Johnson 17: Don Ulrich 18: Selden Bullock & Katie Craig 19: Pat Slone & Kate Weeks 20: Emily Bullock, Jon Musco & Lindsay Thorp 22: Eddie Baysden, William Frohbose & John Turner 24: Cacky Daughtry & Rebecca Moore 25: Mimi Learn & Noah Seale 26: David Rose 27: Jordan Harrison & Jerome Hodges 28: Aurora Pajeau & Arlene Sherburne 29: Bunny Lea 31: Olivia Bullard & Tricia Harris

Kristen Tedford was named the 2012-13 Teacher of the Year by Nash-Rocky Mount Schools. She teaches 4th graders at Englewood Elementary. Kristen won a new laptop, a $1000 stipend for classroom supplies, and the keys to a brand new 2013 Honda CR-V EX for the year. Thank you for your dedication to our city’s students, Kristin!

Jane Oliver is having a yard sale October 12-13.

Emily Ferguson has scheduled a second Good Shepherd Blood Drive for November 11.

Eagle Scout ProjectJohn Battle Mebane, who is a member of Boy

Scout Troop 40, has chosen for his Eagle Project to purchase food supplies to fill a minimum of 300 “snack bags” that Church of the Good Shepherd can distribute to those in need. For more information about his fundraiser and project, please check his display in the parish hall lobby. He is raising funds by selling $10 gift certificates to Honey Baked Ham Company, Shell Rapid Lube, and Auto Spa. He is also accepting donations of food items. Please contact John directly at 443-5435, or Juliana Lindenberg, if you have questions. His deadline to meet his goal is October 31 so don’t wait!

The Good Shepherd Day School has two teachers’ positions to fill. If you know of some-one who would be interested in teaching some of the sweetest children in the world, have them contact Jackie Wilkins at 446-0243.

In MemoriamChristian Perry Parker, son of

Jakia Parker and Ronnie Melton.