On Saturday, Nov. 21, Bishop Mathes joined the parishioners of Good Shepherd to consecrate the new All Hallows activity building. Accompanied by Fr. Hugh, John Bacher, Madi Bergreen, and several members of the parish, the bishop offered prayers and blessings for the building, for rooms within the building, and for all who will use this space.

   Purchased in 1960 as an education and administration building from the Richard Holland family, the building pictured at the left served the parish for more than 40 years. Sunday School classes, the Nursery, and office space for youth programs and for Our Lady of Walsingham were housed there.

In 2006, those using the building noticed that the floor was sinking and walls were cracking. Studies were made to plan for repairing the building, until it was determined that the damage had been caused by the soil under the building; demolishing and replacing it was the most cost effective choice.

    The consecration on Nov. 21 was not the final chapter in the All Hallows saga. There are still inspections to pass, gas to be connected, and landscaping to be completed.

As of Dec. 7, parishioners of Good Shepherd have been given limited use of the building.  Coffee hour following Dec. 13 services and a reception for the Music Concert that day will be held in All Hallows. Amen!

Thoughts from

Fr. Hugh

The recent changes in the weather – some days cooler, some days warmer – something Jesus said came to mind and I thought about how we share our faith as you and I follow him.

He said, “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

So it is with our faith. If we are blessed we are as much fed by faith as we are by the cool breezes or warm winds.

And much of our conversation has been about the weather lately.

There is the old saying about never talking about religion, sex, or politics. Seems to me that it is OK to talk about religion – or at least our faith.

There is sustenance and grace that comes from our faith, our worship, our time together and sharing those feelings is important.

Many of you have said, “I love Good Shepherd…this place is a gift to me…this is a special place.”

All that is true. Recently I’ve seen the kind of sharing I’m thinking about. There were newcomers at the 10:30 Service. After the dismissal they were surrounded by parishioners who were welcoming and made those guests feel at home.

So, warm sunny day or cool misty day, sharing our faith and experiences – yes, talking about religion is OK.

I pray that – as the winds of faith blow – meaning that we are being moved by the Holy Spirit we will all be fed.

Hugh+               

Christmas Comments
from the
Senior Warden

“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,”  which means, “ God is with us,” Matthew 1:23

Ilove this time of the year when “Advent tells us that Christ is near and Christmas tells us that Christ is here.”  Gee, that’s all I could remember of that poem, but for me that was the important part
      

I remember the Christmas Plays at School and Church.  I remember opening presents on Christmas mornings and the Christmas dinner that my mother cooked, the aroma coming from the kitchen that filled that house.  And ,oh how I loved my mother’s homemade rolls and peach cobbler. 

There were lessons to be learned at Christmas.  We were taught that it is better to give than to receive, because there were others in the world who didn’t have a Christmas tree with presents or a Christmas Dinner to eat.  I remember taking canned food to school for Thanksgiving and Christmas for other families in the City of Compton.

And now as reflect on the past years, I know that the greatest gift that I ever received was that of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day long ago in the little town of Bethlehem. You know that story as well as I, but what a wonderful present to share with others this Christmas Season and to know that God is
with us always.

Louis ‘Butch’ Glosson
                  Sr. Warden