All Communicants in good standing are asked to attend, and a quorum is required.
Photo: former Sr. Warden Gillian Meek addresses the 2022 Annual Meeting
A Word from the Rector
Dear friends,
The year 2023 has brought new challenges and opportunities for our parish. I have had the opportunity to meet with so many of you: children's Christian Ed families, Confirmation families, people who serve on Sundays, people who work behind the scenes, just to name a few. I am grateful for those of you who have considered a new role-- whether the answer was a willing yes or a confident no-- and am mindful that at this liminal space there is more work to do.
I will suggest to you at the Annual Meeting that we need to do some introspection in our engagement and work at Good Shepherd. Three challenging years have gone by since many of us have thought through simple things like church engagement, service, and giving. As the world returns to a new normal, we can also ask what our new place of belonging and service can be. (Candidly, there is a good chance that our answers to this question has changed in three years- and we all have new ways to imagine ourselves belonging.)
I am scheduled to be on a one-month Sabbatical in February. I am grateful for the support of our Bishop, Vestry, and so many of you. The Reverend Eric Litman, who was recently Priest-in-Charge of St. John’s, Newtonville, will cover in my absence. I will be in Portugal for most of the month, trying to learn Portuguese at a language school and reminding myself how to breathe and pray. I will also go to Vienna briefly, where I will be able to present our Outreach gift to the Ukrainian Migrant work at Diakonie Vienna. My family will join me for ten days during the February school holiday.
Please remember that our Annual Meeting will be Sunday, January 29, following the 10:00 a.m. Eucharist. Please keep your Vestry, clergy, staff, and fellow parishioners in your prayers as we begin the 126th full year of ministry and life at the Parish of the Good Shepherd, the Episcopal parish in Waban, since 1896.
In peace, Jay+.
PS-- Please remember we are still looking to fill a CE vacancy-- elementary school Sunday school teacher. We have had the return of so many children in recent weeks, and this is an important vacancy for us to fill:
Good Shepherd's Outreach Committee will present to the parish during Coffee Hour on Sunday, January 22. The group will talk about the work of the committee in 2022-- outreach partners, projects, and donations made on behalf of the parish.
Pictured above: Bashie Young presents gift cards to the principal of the Lincoln Eliot School on behalf of the Parish of there Good Shepherd.
Happy 101st Birthday, Paul Miller!
Good Shepherd's oldest parishioner, Paul Miller, turned 101 on January 12. His birthday was celebrated at North Hill, and Fr. Jay was an honored guest at the party.
Paul has been reciting poetry publicly for most of his life, as he has done on occasion at Good Shepherd during the years. One picture below includes a picture of Paul during his full recitation of Longfellow's "Paul Revere's Ride" at the celebration.
Paul has served Good Shepherd in many capacities through the years, as Sr. Warden, lector, usher, and many more. Happy birthday, Paul!
