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

May 31, 2012

Here at Good Shepherd, we are constantly striv-ing to discern God’s will in our lives and to fulfill his command that we love one another as he loves us. We do this in many ways, including:

• Donating food to the homeless or others in need who come to our door

• Christmas Stars

• Stop Hunger Now

• Thanksgiving baskets

• Supporting United Community Ministries, which includes:

• The Community Kitchen

• Emergency Shelter

• Christ-CAN

• The Bassett Center (long-term housing program)

• Supporting My Sister’s House

• Supporting and participating in The Fun Run, which raises funds for:

• Good Shepherd Day School

• Music at Good Shepherd (all concerts are free and open to the public)

• The FIGS program, which provides emergency assistance to those in need through the Nash and Edgecombe Counties’ Departments of Social Services

• Our clergy respond to needs for counseling or financial assistance from strangers, families or travelers who come to our doors weekly

The list above is not exhaustive but provides you a sense of how much you do daily for those in Rocky Mount who need us.  

The Episcopal Church website (http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/five-marks-mission) has an article on the Anglican Five Marks of Mission

We now have entered into the long season of Pentecost.  Pentecost is the celebration of the day (50 days after Easter) when the Holy Spirit descended upon and empowered the disciples for ministry.  The event is recorded in the book of Acts (2:1-21) and describes a day when people of many languages and nations stood together and were filled with the power of God for a single purpose: to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

Pentecost is the longest season of the church year because it is about what is most important in discipleship, action. Pentecost is about doing, it is about speaking, it is about living out the Gospel in our lives. Since the first Sunday of Advent we have been traveling the journey of Jesus life, from the announcement of his coming, to his birth, to his presentation in the temple, to his Journey to Jerusa-lem, his trial, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.

which were defined between 1984 and 1990 by the Anglican Consultative Council. These five marks give parishes and dioceses a “checklist” for mission activities. They are:

1. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom

2. To teach, baptize and nurture new believers

3. To respond to human need by loving service

4. To seek to transform unjust structures of society

5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth

Good Shepherd’s Outreach Commission is seeking God’s will as we focus our efforts to maximize impact. We ask your prayers for God’s guiding hand and voice as we work together to make decisions about outreach at Good Shepherd, and that through our hands and hearts, we may make an impact in God’s world.

When the Day of Pentecost had come...The question of Pentecost is, “what are you going

to do about it?” It is a vital question for us here at Good Shepherd. We come to church on Sunday and we enjoy our friends and each other’s company.  But that must only be the beginning, the beginning of our life with Christ. The season of Pentecost  -- in-deed, the whole book of Acts for that matter -- is the time in which we come to terms with how we do, act and live the words of Jesus.

It is a question for us as individuals and a ques-tion for us as a community of faith. The best news about acting in the name of God is we do not have to do it on our God.  God is with us. The Spirit is guiding us and moving us to be the people we have been created to be.

By Grace,

What’s a Mission? by Paulette Pridgen

Page 2 • The Shepherd’s Horn

My Sister’s HouseMission Statement: To provide, effective, compre-

hensive, inclusive and holistic services for women, children and men who are survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault through advocacy, support and education, believing that everyone deserves a violence free life.

My Sister’s House is seeking donations of the following supplies:

• Non-perishable food items and cleaning supplies• Tar River Transit Bus Passes• Shampoo and conditioner (regular size bottles)• Deodorant (men & women)• Toothbrushes• Toothpaste• Soap• Pink Oil Moisturizer• Diaper Wipes• Diapers and pull-ups• Toilet paper• Paper Towels• Trash Bags• Pet Food• Dinnerware• Cookware• Eating Utensils• Dressers

    If you would like to donate any of these items you may drop them off at the church offices between 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday - Friday.  We will deliver them to My Sister’s House.

Readers may remember that the March issue of The Shepherd’s Horn contained a Minute for Mission story about United Community Ministries. One of UCM’s arms is Christ-CAN which offers emergency financial assistance to those in need. The Christ-CAN program seeks to help people who have temporary issues paying their rent, mortgages, utilities or medi-cines. As Tom Adams said, the need in Rocky Mount is tremendously larger than UCM can fund.

Christ-CAN’s May Newsletter offers the following statistics from the first four months of this year  in which they provided the following:

Gatekeepers Workcamp: July 8 - 13! Registration closed on May 31 but

we are wait-listing applicants. Adults and youth in grades 6 - 12 participate in this local mission to assist the elderly and those in need in our area with home clean-up and repair. Call Juliana Lindenberg with questions or to be wait-listed.  Last year over 175 youth and adults volunteered for this vital mission.

Adult volunteers are needed to mentor the youth in various tasks, such as carpentry, painting, or other minor repairs. Contact Juliana if you feel called to this vital mission.

Youth Trip to Busch Gardens, Williamsburg:

Wednesday, July 18th, for all youth in grades 6-12! Ride the roller coasters with your best Good

Summer Youth Activities by Juliana Lindenberg

Shepherd buds! Groups of 15 or more get a dis-counted rate of $38.50 per person for the whole day (regular $66). We will plan to leave Good Shepherd at 7 a.m., arrive in Williamsburg for the park opening at 10 a.m., and leave the park at 6 p.m. in order to be home by 9 p.m. We will need adult volunteer driv-ers/chaperones as well. Youth and adults who would like to sign up, please email Juliana Lindenberg no later than June 30th in order to get  your discounted tickets. I hope you can join us!

Thankful Thursdays:August 9 & 16, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Show your

thankfulness for all of God’s blessings, and share the light of Christ, by helping out those in need in our community. On these two “Thankful Thursdays,” we will spend the afternoon doing service work to help those in need in Rocky Mount. Locations to be announced. Watch the website for details, and email Juliana Lindenberg if you would like to participate. Youth and adults are invited!

Minute for Mission – Christ-CAN Update by Paulette Pridgen

42 Families received utilities assistance 19 Families received rent assistance 2 Families or individuals received bus tickets 1 Family received furniture 2 Families received assistance with medicines 2 Families received assistance with gas

Christ-CAN’s office hours are Monday - Wednes-day from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. You may call the church office if assistance is required outside of these hours. There are many in need in Rocky Mount , but through God’s grace we were able to help these families in their emergencies.

The Shepherd’s Horn • Page 3

Announcements

Michelle and Larry James and their sons, Joseph and Steven, are new to Good Shepherd. Larry owns his own truck and drives several days a week. This past year, Michelle became a stay-at-home mom when she and Larry decided to homeschool 17-year-old Steven. He is doing very well homeschooling and also has a part-time job at Sonic in Rocky Mount.  

Joseph, their 19-year-old, has started a lawn maintenance business in addition to his part-time job. He is eagerly  awaiting the start of the fire academy in a  few weeks. When Larry is home on the weekends, the family enjoys barbequing family meals and spending time together.

Michelle says they “are glad to be a part of this church.” She elaborated, saying that the fam-ily had received such a warm welcome from the

Congratulations to our Graduating High School Seniors! Emily Arroyo Westray HicksLucas Bayless Sara Worth HodgesJulia Fritschel Brianna Myszka

Thank you to our Outstanding Sunday School Teachers Children and Youth Sunday School: Kate ArroyoBrenna BennettColleen CristSherry CurtissSally HarrisHeather HedgepethXena  Markine-MorrisonMichael SchearMissy SherburneLeigh UlrichTrish WeeksJamie Wilson

Youth GroupStacey AbernathyBenfield Hicks

Adult ForumsIvan Price (Sunday Forum)Marion Stoga (EfM)Joan Ashby (Women’s Bible Study)Boo White (Women’s Bible Study)

Vacation Bible SchoolDuring the week of June 11 - 15, Vacation Bible

School, “Operation Overboard:  Dare To Go Deep With God!” will be held at Good Shepherd. We expect increased traffic as caregivers drop off and pick up children in the parking lot, from 8:30-9:15 a.m., and 11:45-12:15 p.m. each day.  Please exercise caution while entering Good Shepherd’s parking lot during this week.

Michelle and Larry James and sons, Steven and Joseph

Getting to Know You! The James Family by Paulette Pridgen

Good Shepherd parishioners. She said the “sweet, open and friendly members of Good Shepherd” had made her family feel very welcome. Michelle wants to thank all at Good Shepherd  for their warm welcome.      

When you see Michelle, Larry, Steven or Joseph, give them some more of our friendly Good Shepherd fellowship.

We’re glad you’re with us, Michelle, Larry, Steven and Joseph!

In MemoriumShelby Sink

Thomas Guy Pridgen, Sr.

Summer Choir ScheduleThe Cherub, Alleluia, and Good Shepherd Choirs

will not meet for practice on Wednesday nights throughout the summer.  However, the Good Shep-herd Choir will rehearse at 9:20 a.m. on Sundays.  All choirs will resume regular Wednesday rehearsals late in August.

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

Non-Profit Org.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPermit No. 194

Rocky Mount, N.C.

Have You Heard?Day School Director’s Corner by Jackie Wilkins

The dates for the holy rite of Baptism are July 22 and November 4. Please contact a member of the clergy for more information.

Good Shepherd will host Vacation Bible School the week of June 11 - 15.

Gatekeeper’s Workcamp seeks volun-teers. You may download registration from the Church ‘s website at www.goodshepherdrmt.org.

Once again Congratulations to our 2012 Day School Graduates!

Happy Fathers Day to our wonderful Dads!

Wow! Summer is almost here and that means fun in the sun for the Day School! If you have not seen our garden planted by Ms. Lora and her husband now is the time to take a look because Ms. Lois is serving up those fresh veggies  as they come off the vine or out of the ground. Thank you, Ms. Lora and Mr. Eric!

Thanks for all your support and donations to our Fun Run for Charities!

Ten things to do with your child on a summer night:

• Go bug hunting for fireflies

• Eat ice cream by candlelight

• Freeze fresh fruit on a Popsicle stick and enjoy

• Lay on a blanket out and count the stars

• Say I love you

• Make an obstacle course in the backyard

• Do yard work together

• Let your child take pictures with a camera, have them developed and discuss what was taking place. This is great for language development, cognitive skills, and self-help skills.

• Take a stroll around the neighborhood and talk about the day’s events

• Cuddle and read by flashlight