Church of the Good Shepherd

December 2019December 2019 Volume 9, Issue 12Volume 9, Issue 12 Shepherd’s TalesShepherd’s Tales

As I did last year, I wish to share with you a Christmas reflection, written and delivered by The Rev. Barbara Brown Taylor. I believe it is profound enough to bear repeating.

“Once upon a time – or before time, actually, before there were clocks or cal-endars or Christmas trees – God was all there was. No one knows anything about that time really because no one was there to know it, but somewhere in the middle of that time before time, God decided to make a world. Maybe God was bored, or maybe God was lonely, or maybe God just liked to make things and thought it was time to try something big. Whatever the reason, God made a world and filled it with the most astonishing things: with humpback whales that sing and white-striped skunks that stink and birds with more colors on them than a box of Crayola crayons. The list is way too long to go into here, but suffice it to say that at the end when God stood back and looked at it all, God was pleased. Only something was missing. God could not think what it was at first, but slowly it dawned on him. Everything he had made was gorgeous and interesting and it all fit together really well; only there was nothing in the world that looked like him, exactly. It was as if God had painted this huge master-piece and then forgotten to sign it, so God got busy making his signature piece, something made in his own image, so that anyone who looked at it would know who the artist was. He had one single thing in mind at first, but as he worked God realized that one thing all by itself was not the kind of statement he wanted to make. He knew what it was like to be alone, and now that he had made a world he knew what it was like to have company, and company was definitely better. So God decided to make two things instead of one, which were alike but different, and both would be re-flections of him – a man and a woman who could keep him and each other company. Flesh was what he made them out of – flesh and blood – a wonderful medium, extremely flexible and warm to the touch. Since God, strictly speaking, was not made out of anything at all, but was pure mind, pure spirit, he was very taken with flesh and blood. Watching his two creatures stretch and yawn, laugh and run, God found to his surprise that he was more than a little envious of them. He had made them, it was true, and he knew how fragile they were, but their very breakability made them more touching to him, somehow. It wasn’t long before God found himself falling in love with them. He liked being with them better than any of the other creatures he had made, and he especially liked walking with them in the garden in the cool of the evening. It almost broke God’s heart when they got together behind his back, did the one thing he had asked them not to do and then hid from him – from him! – while he searched the garden until way past dark, calling their names over and over again. Things were different after that, God still loved the human creatures best of all, but the attraction was no longer mutual. Birds were crazy about God, especially ruby-throated hummingbirds. Dolphins and raccoons could not get enough of him, but human beings had other things on their minds. They were busy learning how to make things, grow things, buy things, sell things, and the more they learned to do for themselves, the less they depended on God. Night after night God threw pebbles at their windows, inviting them to go for a walk with him, but they said they were sorry, they were busy. It was not long before most human beings forgot all about

God. They called themselves “self-made” men and women, as if that were a plus and not a minus. They honestly believed they had created themselves, and they liked the result so much that they divided them-selves into groups of people who looked, thought, and talked alike. Those who still believed in God drew pictures of him that looked just like them, and that made it easier for them to turn away from the people who were different. You would not believe the trouble this got them into: everything from armed warfare to cities split right down the middle, with one kind of people living on that side of the line and another kind on the other. It was just too much! God would have put a stop to it all right there, except for one thing. When God had made human beings, he had made them free. Freedom was built into them just like their hearts and brains were, and even God could not take it back without killing them. And God didn’t want to kill them, so he left them be free, even though it almost killed him to see what they were doing to each other. God did everything he could to get their attention. He shouted to them from the sidelines, using every means he could think of, including floods, famines, manna, and messengers. He even tried more personal approaches. He got inside people’s dreams, and if that did not work he woke them up in the middle of the night with his whispering. No matter what he tried, however, he came up against the bar-riers of flesh and blood. They were made of it and God was not, which made translation difficult. God would say, “Please stop before you destroy yourselves!” but all they could hear was thunder. God would say, “I love you as much now as the day made you,” but all they could hear was a loon calling across the water. There was one exception to this sad state of affairs: babies. While their parents were all but deaf to God’s messages, babies didn’t have any trouble hearing God at all. They were all the time laughing at God’s jokes or crying with God when he cried, which went right over their parents’ heads. ‘Colic,’ the grown-ups would say, or ‘Isn’t she cute? She’s laughing at the dust mites in the sunlight.’ Only she was-n’t, of course. She was laughing because God had just told her it was cleaning day in heaven, and that what she saw were fallen stars the angels were shaking from their feather dusters. Not only did babies hear and understand God, they had other advantages. Babies did not go to war. Babies never made hate speeches or littered or refused to play with each other because they be-longed to different political parties. Babies were crazy about God and they hung on his every word. Per-haps best of all, they depended on other people for everything necessary to their lives so a phrase like “self-made babies” would have made them laugh until their little bellies hurt. While no one asked babies’ opinions about anything that mattered (which was too bad because it would have been a smart thing to do), almost everyone seemed to love them, and that gave God an idea. If God was a baby, they would all love him! Why not create himself as one of these delightful creatures? He tried the idea out on his cabinet of archangels. At first they were all very quiet. They looked down at their feet and they exchanged sidelong glances with each other, but none of them looked back at God, and for a long time none of them responded. Finally, the senior archangel stepped forward to speak for all of them. She told God how much they would worry about him, if he did that. Why, God would be putting himself at the mercy of his creatures, the archangel said, and they were extremely un-predictable and unreliable and they could be down-right mean. People could do anything they wanted to him, and if he seriously meant to become one of them there would be no escape for him if things turned sour. ‘Couldn’t he at least create himself as a magical baby with special powers?’ the archangel asked. It would not take much – just the power to become invisible, maybe, or the power to hurl bolts of lightning if the need arose. ‘The baby idea was a stroke of genius’ the archangel said, ‘it really was, but it lacked adequate safety features.’

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Taizé — December 3rd

Next Taizé Service: 6pm on Tuesday December 3rd. The Taizé service is a brief contemplative service followed by a light supper and a speaker.

Our speaker is Hazel Somerville talking about Making Mickle Melody — some carol stories.

God listened to the archangel because God always listens, and then thanked the archangels for their concern but said no, he thought he would just be a regular baby. How else could he gain the trust of his creatures? How else could he persuade them that he knew their lives inside out, unless he lived one just like theirs? There was a risk – he knew that. Okay, there was a high risk, but that was part of what he wanted his creatures to know: that he was willing to risk everything to get close to them, in hopes that they might know that he loved them and that they would love him again. It was a daring plan, and once the angels saw that God was dead set on it, they broke into ap-plause. Despite the danger to God, they could see it was a brilliant plan and they clapped and praised God with the kind of applause that goes on and on when you have seen something you know you will never see again. While they were still clapping, God turned around and left the cabinet chamber, shed-ding his robes as he went. The angels watched as his midnight blue mantle fell to the floor, so that all the stars on it collapsed in a heap. Then a strange thing happened. Where the robes had fallen, the floor melted and opened up to reveal a scrubby brown pasture speckled with sheep and – right in the middle of them – a bunch of shepherds. sitting around a campfire drinking wine out of a skin. It was hard to say who was more startled, the shepherds or the angels, but as the shepherds looked up at them, the angels pushed their senior archangel to the edge of the hole. Looking down at the human beings who were all trying to hide behind each other (poor things, no wings), the angel said in as gentle a voice as she could muster, ‘Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’ And away up the hill from the direction of town, came the sound of a newborn baby’s cry.”

Blessings, Bill+

FOOD NOTES

1. Need PECANS? Contact Susan Ferguson via cellphone (205-515-9957) or text or via email at fergusonfarmpecans@gmail.com. Shelled pecans are $10 per quart bag.

2. GOOD SHEPHERD PRESERVATION SOCIETY has jams, jellies, dilly beans, pick-led okra, and Chow Chow available. (Jams & Jellies—$5/jar, dilly beans, okra & Chow Chow are $6/jar. These make great Christmas presents for neighbors or those surprise gift-givers who show up at your door!!

3. GSPS CASSEROLES — don’t forget the casseroles for quick meals ($16 each serves 2). They have chicken-broccoli tetrazzini; hot chicken salad with rice; stuffed shells in tomato basil sauce; ham, pasta & green pea casserole; shrimp fried rice; chicken enchilada; and spaghetti casse-role.

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Brief Biographies for those Standing for Vestry Election

Jean Comins — Gloria Jean Comins was born in Cape Vincent, Upstate New York, a small farming community on the St. Lawrence River. One of nine (9) children, we all had to help on our father’s farm. After high school I moved to Rochester, NY, to attend a Dental Assistance Program, where I graduated. I found that a guy from my sister’s class was in Rochester, so I called him and asked for a ride back to Cape Vincent for the holidays. Six month later we were married, later having two boys. I began work part time as a Technician at Fays Drugs when my boys were young. I then became full time at Ecker’s where I worked for a short time, then moved to CVS where I worked for 28 years, some of those as Lead Technician. My husband passed aay in 1998. John and I married in 2009. I changed jobs in 2010 to work in a hospital setting as Lead Technician in their new Out Patient Pharmacy. This Pharmacy serviced all pa-tient’s in the hospital with medication to take home after their stay. I found it to be very chal-lenging and rewarding. I retired in 2015 and we moved to South Carolina in 2017 where I be-came a member of Good Shepherd.

Elaine Catherine Ness — I was born in Queens, New York, and was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church. I found the Episcopal Church with my husband John about 20 years ago. I have attended Good Shepherd for 14 years. During this time I have volunteered at PATH for 8 years and have been part of Summerfest each summer. My work history has most-ly been in the medical field, working for a major hospital and then for private physicians. I will do my best to be of value to the Vestry and the Church. Ike Waters — As of this time, Ike is recovering from back surgery and is unavailable to write a bio. Some pertinent information to share with you regarding Ike is that he grew up at York Place and has attended the Episcopal Church virtually all his life. Ike lives in Chester with his wife, Renae, and has been a part of Good Shepherd for many years. His thoughtful and prayerful nature would be an asset to our congregation as we move forward.

I recently read this interesting quote from Pope Francis: Mass is the highest form of prayer and not an appropriate moment for small talk, Pope Francis said. At church, Catholics should spend their time in silence before Mass, preparing "to meet with Jesus" instead of engaging in "chitchat," the pope said Nov. 15 dur-ing his weekly general audience. "Silence is so important," he said. "Remember what I told you last time: we are not going to a show. Silence prepares us and accompanies us." Sounds like good advice to Episcopalians as well! Blessings!

Fr. Bill+

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Camp News The Good Shepherd camp committee is happy to report that this summer we sent 8 of our youth to summer camp.

The following attended Camp Gravatt: Clara Whitehead, Matthew Beers, Michael Mishoe, Aydan Lawler and McKenna Lawler Attending Camp Kanuga were Molly Goodson and April Weinzierl Eli Elam attended Camp Mary & Joseph at Honey Creek Conference Center, Georgia All of this was made possible by the generosity of our parish. Each year both the ves-try and the ECW allocate $600.00 in their budgets toward the camp fund. Additionally, the monthly offerings that our parishioners give so generously are added to the fund and each year we have had other private gifts given to support our efforts on behalf of our youth, including a full scholarship given each spring by a member of our parish. These monies are then placed in a special investment fund to earn additional interest. The Madre Clarisse Episcopal Camp Scholarship Fund was established in 2013 and since that time we have been able to give full scholarships to each young person wishing to attend camp. A heartfelt thank you to our congregation for not only financially supporting this program but for also caring about the young people in our parish. Many of us were camp-ers ourselves and know first hand what a wonderful experience it can be. Again, a big thank you for your support and on to next year!! Jeanne Ferguson

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SERVICE SCHEDULE

Each Sunday in Advent we will have an 8:30am Said Service of Holy Eucharist and an 11:00am Choral Service of Holy Eucharist.

Tuesday, December 24th — Christmas Eve Services

4:30pm is a Family Service complete with story telling and music — all young people (no matter how old) are encouraged to bring bells to ring at points during the service. 10:00pm is a Choral Prelude 10:30pm is a Festive Holy Eucharist Service

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Sunday December 1st: Advent 1 Prepare the way, O Zion, Your Christ is drawing near! Let every hill and valley a level way appear. Greet One who comes in glory, Foretold in sacred story. O, blest is Christ that came in God’s most holy name. HYMN 65

Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd

York, South Carolina

10 months ending 10/31/19

Budget Actual Budget Variance

INCOME

Pledge Income 176,000.00 149,273.48 146,660.80 2,612.68

Plate Offerings 3,500.00 2,688.50 2,916.55 (228.05)

Special Offerings 3,460.00 2,392.30 2,883.22 (490.92)

Interest Income 40.00 28.96 33.33 (4.37)

TOTAL INCOME 183,000.00 154,383.24 152,493.90 1,889.34

EXPENDITURES

Worship & Parish Ministry 94,634.00 75,896.46 78,858.51 2,962.05

Diocesan Pledge 27,748.00 23,124.00 23,122.41 (1.59)

Mission & Outreach 1,200.00 1,000.00 999.96 (0.04)

Christian Formation & Continuing Education 450.00 366.00 374.99 8.99

Facility Costs 52,268.00 46,063.86 43,554.92 (2,508.94)

Supplies & Miscellaneous 6,700.00 5,474.85 5,583.11 108.26

TOTAL EXPENDITURES 183,000.00 151,925.17 152,493.90 568.73

INCOME OVER (UNDER) EXPENDITURES - 2,458.07 - 2,458.07

October operating income came in slightly under September's, however YTD income is running at 84% versus a budget of 83% with ten month of the year in the history books. YTD expenses are on budget at 83%. October market conditions were favorable and led to market gains for our two investment funds, Fidelity Balanced Fund and Fidelity Puritan fund. Thank you for your continued financial support.

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Ron Carter, Junior Warden Home: 803-324-0466 Cell: 803-323-8161 Email: rongailrhsc@comporium.net

Sudy Dressler Home: 803-684-2494 Cell: 803-627-0720 Email: sdrfd@comporium.net

Susan McDaniel Ferguson Cell: 205-515-9957 Email: sumacdaniel@gmail.com Jordan Gable Cell: 803-417-6764 Email: gablejh@gmail.com

John Love Cell: 803-960-9951 Email: johnmlove54@gmail.com

Randy Neff Cell: 803-367-6330 Email: wrn@comporium.net Michael Weinzierl Cell: 803-627-0074 Email: mfweinzierl@hotmail.com

Meade Wilson, Senior Warden Cell: 704-641-1288 Email: meadewilson70@gmail.com Selina Woodard Cell: 803-579-3747 Email: selina.woodard.2011@gmail.com

2019 Vestry Members

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

Birthdays Lilly Duncan 12/1 Betty Sanders 12/4 Tom Sanders 12/4 Jeanne Ferguson 12/7 Lily Rose Cotter 12/8 Bill Greeley 12/15 Joyce Ballard 12/18 Diane Hanlon 12/19 Morgan Ray 12/19 Eli Elam 12/19 Karen Haburjak 12/20 Debbi Weinzierl 12/21 Wendy Neff Nyberg 12/24 Steve McCrae 12/28 Thressa Elam 12/31

Anniversaries Renae & Ike Waters 12/6/1968 Mary Catherine & Ben Cotter 12/14/2013

(If your birthday or anniversary is not listed, please call or email the parish office with the information.)

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Church of the Good Shepherd

Street Address: 108 East Liberty Street

Mailing Address: PO Box 437, York, SC 29745-0437

Office Phone: (803) 684-4021 General email: thegoodshepherd@comporium.net

Office Hours: 9am to Noon Monday through Thursday

Barbara Wilson, Parish Coordinator Cell: 704-641-0302 Email: bwallwilson@gmail.com

Randy Neff, Treasurer

Home: 803-684-2251 Cell: 803-367-6330 Email: wrn@comporium.net

Hazel Somerville, Music Coordinator Cell: 615-337-1819 Email: murrayhazel@comcast.net

Lilly Duncan, Parish Nurse Home: 803-684-4966 Email: lillylandstreet@yahoo.com

The Rev’d Dr. P. William Greeley Priest in Charge

Cell: 803-818-8257 Email: billgreeley@gmail.com

STAFF

MEETING SCHEDULE FOR GOOD SHEPHERD

Second Sunday: Finance Committee The Committee will meet on the 2nd Sunday of each month at Noon in the

Conference Room or as called, unless otherwise notified.

Vestry Meeting The Vestry’s meeting time in December will be December 22nd at 12:15 pm in the

Conference Room.

All Vestry meetings are open to anyone who wishes to attend. Vestry meetings are generally held on the 4th Sunday. If you wish to speak, you must first talk to either Father Bill or Meade Wilson, Senior Warden. All Executive Sessions are closed meetings.

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ALTAR GUILD FOR DECEMBERALTAR GUILD FOR DECEMBER Jean Comins, Jeanne Ferguson, Carol Lassiter, Mindy McCrae & Others as Needed

AADVENTDVENT 11 12/112/1

8:30am: LEM John Duda

9:30am Donut Hosts: The Knubels

11:00am LEM Glenn Gilbert Acolytes: NA Lector (Lessons & POP): Lilly Duncan Ushers: Michael Weinzierl & Meade Wilson Greeters: Randy Neff Alms: John Duda & Randy Neff

Vestry Person: Randy Neff

AADVENTDVENT 2 2 12/812/8

8:30am: LEM Randy Neff

9:30am Donut Hosts: The Wilsons

11:00am LEM Ron Carter Acolytes: Emily & Brooklyn Thielbar Lector (Lessons & POP): Helen Sargent Ushers: Harriet & Rick Bender Greeter: Michael Weinzierl Alms: Henry McMaster & John McNeely

Vestry Person: Michael Weinzierl

AADVENTDVENT 33 12/1512/15

8:30am: LEM John Ness

9:30am Donut Host: The Shiflets

11:00am LEM John Duda Acolytes: Eli & Seth Elam Lector (Lessons & POP): John Shiflet Ushers: Duane Penson & Glenn Gilbert Greeters: Meade Wilson Alms: Ron Carter & Jim Knubel

Vestry Person: Meade Wilson

AADVENTDVENT 44 12/2212/22

8:30 am: LEM Wendy Beers

9:30am Donut Hosts: The Hicks

11:00am LEM John Duda Acolytes: April & Heidi Weinzierl Lector (Lessons & POP): Michael Weinzierl Ushers: Gail & Ron Carter Greeter: Selina Woodard Alms: Libby Bradford & Barbara Wilson Vestry Person: Selina Woodard

CCHRISTMASHRISTMAS EEVEVE (EARLY) 4:30(EARLY) 4:30PMPM 12/2412/24

LEMLEM Henry McMasterHenry McMaster

AcolytesAcolytes Emily & Brooklyn ThielbarEmily & Brooklyn Thielbar

LectorLector Lori RayLori Ray

StorytellerStoryteller Sharon GreeleySharon Greeley

UshersUshers Helen Sargent & Dick LindholmHelen Sargent & Dick Lindholm

CCHRISTMASHRISTMAS EEVEVE (LATE)(LATE) 12/2412/24

CCHORALHORAL PPRELUDERELUDE: 10: 10PMPM. S. SERVICEERVICE ATAT 10:3010:30

LEMLEM Randy NeffRandy Neff

AcolytesAcolytes Quaid, Aydan & McKenna LawlerQuaid, Aydan & McKenna Lawler

LectorLector Murry SomervilleMurry Somerville

UshersUshers John Duda & John McNeelyJohn Duda & John McNeely

CCHRISTMASHRISTMAS 11 12/2912/29

8:30 am: LEM John Duda

9:30am Donut Hosts: The Comins

11:00am LEM Shay Wilkerson Acolytes: NA Lector (Lessons & POP): Barbara Wilson Ushers: John & Debbie Shiflet Greeter: Ron Carter Alms: Henry McMaster & John McNeely Vestry Person: Ron Carter

FIFTH SUNDAY LUNCH AFTER 11AM IF YOU ARE SCHEDULED, AND ARE NOT ABLE TO SERVE, PLEASE FIND A SUBSTITUTE. THANK YOU!