2023 Weekly Announcements (Archival)

Posted on by Rachel Baxley

For archival purposes, here is the list of weekly announcement emails and bulletins from 2023.

Week of October 29, 2023 (Pentecost 22)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: Deuteronomy 34:1-12 · Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 · 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 · Matthew 22:34-46 

Morning service bulletin

Week of October 1, 2023 (Pentecost 18, St. Francis Day)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: Exodus 17:1-7 · Psalm 25:1-8 · Philippians 2:1-13 · Matthew 21:23-32 

Morning service bulletin

Week of September 17, 2023 (Pentecost 16)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: Exodus 14:19-31 · Psalm 114 · Romans 14:1-12 · Matthew 18:21-35 

Morning service bulletin

Week of September 10, 2023 (Pentecost 15)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: Exodus 12:1-14 · Psalm 149 · Romans 13:8-14 · Matthew 18:15-20 

Morning service bulletin

Week of August 6, 2023 (Transfiguration, Pentecost 10)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: Exodus 34:29-35 · 2 Peter 1:13-21 · Luke 9:28-36 · Psalm 99 

Morning service bulletin

Week of April 2, 2023 (Palm Sunday)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: Isaiah 50:4-9a · Philippians 2:5-11 · Matthew 26:14-27:66 · Psalm 31:9-16

Morning service bulletin

Week of February 26, 2023 (Lent 1, Recovery Sunday)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 · Romans 5:12-19 · Matthew 4:1-11 · Psalm 32

Morning service bulletin

2022 Weekly Announcements (Archival)

Posted on by Rachel Baxley

For archival purposes, here is the list of weekly announcement emails and bulletins from 2022.

Week of December 25, 2022 (Christmas Day)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: 

Christmas Eve bulletin · Morning service bulletin

Week of December 18, 2022 (Advent 4)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: 

Morning service bulletin

Week of April 24, 2022 (Easter 2)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: Acts 5:27-32 · Revelation 1:4-8 · John 20:19-31 · Psalm 150

Morning service bulletin

2021 Weekly Announcements (Archival)

Posted on by Rachel Baxley

For archival purposes, here is the list of weekly announcement emails and bulletins from 2021.

Week of December 12, 2021 (Advent 3, Lessons and Carols)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: readings for Lessons and Carols

Morning service bulletin · Evening service bulletin

Week of November 7, 2021 (All Saints Day)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 · Psalm 24 · Revelation 21:1-6a · John 11:32-44

Morning service bulletin (Please note: this week’s bulletin will differ slightly from the in-church service. This will be resolved for next week.)

Week of September 12, 2021 (Pentecost 16)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: Proverbs 1:20-33 · Psalm 19  · James 3:1-12 · Mark 8:27-38

Morning service bulletin

Week of April 25, 2021 (Earth Day/Easter 4)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: Acts 4:5-12 · 1 John 3:16-24 · John 10:11-18· Psalm 23

Morning service bulletin

Week of February 14, 2021 (Epiphany 6)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: 2 Kings 2:1-12 · 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 · Mark 9:2-9 · Psalm 50:1-6

Sunday service bulletin 

Week of February 7, 2021 (Epiphany 5)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: Isaiah 40:21-31 · 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 · Mark 1:29-39 · Psalm 147:1-12, 21c

Sunday service bulletin

 

Week of January 10, 2021 (Epiphany 1)

Weekly announcements email 

Lectionary: Genesis 1:1-5 · Acts 19:1-7 · Mark 1:4-11 · Psalm 29

Sunday service bulletin

 

St. Mary Punches the Devil – A Pastoral Letter from the Rev. Molly Haws

Posted on by Rachel Baxley

16 August 2021

Feast of St. Mary the Virgin

Dear Beloved of the Good Shepherd,

West Texas was up 2-0 going into the bottom of the 5th, with the Little League Southwest Regional Championship on the line. Then, quicksand. One error became two, a missed catch at the plate, then an overthrow, another fielding error… by the second out, Louisiana had scored 6 runs. The West Texas coach comes out on the field, where the team waits for him to speak. “Hey, this is a game, guys. A fun game. Just settle down, play the game, have fun out there. Okay?” I love this coach’s attitude. I love how he clearly cares about the players as much as he cares about the game and a little more than he cares about winning. 

I wish it were possible to simply feel better because someone told me to. I wish that all it took to get back to normal was a timely reminder to just settle down and have fun out there.

West Texas got their cabooses kicked, 6-2.

But they’re going to the Little League World Series. The experience of having participated in greatness will stay with them long after the sharp bitter taste of this disappointment has faded to mere memory. 

Many of us have tasted disappointment in these past few weeks. We’ve done everything we were asked, everything we could. We waited. We were patient and faithful and we learned and we made it work, and now it feels a little like… like Team Coronavirus brought the Delta Variant in off the bench in the bottom of the 5th and I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling kinda kicked in the caboose.

We are still in this, beloved. And rather than telling myself to “have fun out there,” I asked myself “what would I like to do right now?” and I came up with three things.

  1. With the blessing of your Bishop’s Committee, I’ve changed my schedule so that I’m now at Good Shepherd on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 10ish – 4ish, with Friday as my day off. 
    • This allows me to be here for the Monday Morning Sandwich Ministry and the Wednesday Noon Eucharist. If you haven’t experienced these weekday offerings yet, I recommend them highly. 
    • I’m available to meet with you in person here at Good Shepherd, or via Zoom or on the phone. Call or text me at 510.672.1376 or drop me an email at findmollyhere@gmail.com to schedule a time.
  2. I am hosting Tuesdays On Zoom, every week at 7pm (click the link in the Good Shepherd Announcements). Stop in and chat. Share a picture or a poem or a joke. Talk about your day and hear about someone else’s. Play “Stump The Priest” (it’s pretty easy, trust me). Even if it’s only for 10 minutes sometime between 7 and 8 pm, I’ll be glad to see/hear you.
  3. Miss seeing folks and chatting after church Sunday morning? Since we can’t have indoor coffee hour in person anyway, let’s bring back Zoom Coffee Hour! I’ll be logged in on my office laptop for the whole service so all the Zoomers can get beverages and come right back, I can join from here, and others can log in as they get home.

So, beloved: what do you dream of doing, now, in this time? What would make the most of this time at Good Shepherd? what spark of creativity or silliness or sustenance needs only a little fanning to shine a light?

Yours in faith,

Molly+

Good Shepherd Re-opening and Re-gathering

Posted on by Rachel Baxley

Dear flock of the Good Shepherd:

The time has come that we are permitted to re-gather, in person, in the church!! Our first Sunday morning in-person service will be on July 4th, at 11 am (and we will also continue to stream online). We will be retaining a few safety guidelines for the immediate future; these may change to be more or less restrictive as we receive further information about the levels of Covid-19 in our area or further instruction from the diocese. We encourage all attendees to take whatever precautions will make them feel most safe, including those that are more stringent than what the church will be requiring.

Please see the below for additional details and instructions:

Masking:
– All congregants are required to wear masks which properly cover their nose and mouth while indoors.
– The congregation is allowed to sing while masked.
– Masks will be provided at doors to the church for those who do not have one.
– Congregants will be asked to use hand sanitizer before entering the church.

Social distancing:
– Social distancing is not required when sitting in the congregation or circling the altar for communion.
– We ask that you refrain from hugging during the peace; you may hug outside later if both involved parties consent, but while in the church please fist- or elbow-bump from your location in the “pews” or use another distanced greeting of your choice.

Vaccinations:
– We will not be asking attendees for proof of vaccination, though we continue to encourage all those who are medically able to get vaccinated.
– The altar party are asked to provide proof of vaccination to the vicar if they will be removing their masks (this is particularly relevant to lay readers, preachers, and choir members).

Communion:
– Congregants may gather round the altar, as is our custom, with masks on.
– Bread may be distributed by the celebrant by hand; the receiver may then remove or lower their mask to consume it.
– Wine will be offered in small individual portions which the receiver may again remove or lower their mask to consume.

Coffee Hour/Outdoor events:
– We will not be resuming Coffee Hour at this time. It will resume at a future date.
– While outdoors, either before or after church or at a church event, individuals who are fully vaccinated may be maskless. Those who are not fully vaccinated are required to wear a mask or to remain six feet distant with a mask off (while eating, for example).
– We ask that you please be mindful and respectful of others’ boundaries and comfort levels around masking, physical contact, and social distancing.

Streaming
– We are in the process of ascertaining and then setting up the most appropriate ways to stream our services online from the church. There may be a bumpy week or two as we get ourselves sorted out, but we appreciate your patience.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Looking forward to sharing physical space again.

Peace,
Good Shepherd Clergy and Bishop’s Committee

Pride Month Contemplative Evening Services

Posted on by Rachel Baxley

Pride Month

Good Shepherd reopens its historic sanctuary with a series of contemplative services for Pride month. Join us for poetry, meditation, prayer and queer perspectives – Sundays in June at 5 pm.

For the safety of our congregants, we will continue to observe social distancing and mask-wearing requirements.

 

Dates

June 6

 

June 13

 

June 20

June 27

 

 

 

The New Life in Christ – An Easter Message from Right Rev. Marc Andrus

Posted on by Rachel Baxley

12 I appeal to you, therefore, brothers and sisters,[a] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual[b] worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Dear Relations in the Beloved Community, 

I am writing you as we approach Holy Week and Easter to both thank you and encourage you. As I hope you have heard me say, I will always be grateful for the remarkable witness you have given in servant leadership, within your congregations, and within the wider community of the Bay Area during this time of pandemic. You have kept many safe, you have saved people from unnecessary deaths. 

“This time of pandemic,” though, has not passed. Would that the graph of the pandemic’s course could be confidently expected to move smoothly down to a normal state. Two factors make such a smooth course to normalcy less than certain: human behavior and the biology of the virus. On the one hand, we all are experiencing a double pull in our hearts and minds. We see more and more people being vaccinated, we see the tiers moving into safer zones, and we see more and more people moving about in ways that we would have agreed even a few weeks ago were unsafe. We are also feeling the intense longing to be back in the presence of friends, co-workers, and those who simply move through the same social space as we do. And we may be feeling the ill effects of isolation – depression in its many manifestations. 

With respect to the biology of the virus, the variants are presenting alarming dangers, even within a vaccinated population. 

In light of the above, and while there is still a bit of time, I write to urge you to stay on the course which I must describe as holy. As I readily acknowledge, I cannot prohibit you, in most cases, from gathering in our beloved church buildings for worship, following the guidelines established by county authorities. Rather, I am simply asking you to hold back. If you have planned indoor worship for Holy Week and Easter, please reconsider. Worship outdoors, on your own church grounds, or in parks or other convenient gathering spaces is not only appropriate for Easter celebrations, it is about 20 times safer than indoor worship. 

And moving beyond Easter, my request to you is equally simple, though not easy, I realize —  please refrain from indoor worship until the beginning of June. If Covid-19 cases continue to decline, and the rollout of vaccinations continues at its current pace or even better, then I will be among the first to say, “Blessings on you as you regather.” In the meantime, if you chose to celebrate the Eucharist with your congregations outdoors, please refrain from using a common cup. Consecration in real-time is acceptable; however, please follow the face-covering guidelines and other social distancing protocols outlined on Page 21 of the following document from Ministry Matters: Click here for the English version, Click here for Spanish. Please also keep all gatherings that include singing, chanting, or use of wind instruments outdoors-only.

I chose the passage from Paul’s Letter to the Romans for the epigram for this Pastoral Letter in order to say that I feel that Paul has described the actual life of the Diocese of California during the pandemic thus far – you have lived in accord with the mind of Christ, sacrificing for the safety of all. As Paul would also say, “Let us run with patience the race.”

With my blessings, 
+MHA

Holy Week Message (2021) from Rev. Molly Haws

Posted on by Rachel Baxley

March 2021

A short story from my past, around 15 years ago:

“So, how come we go up and stand around the altar at this point?” I asked them. “What’s that about?” The elder of the group spoke up: Because there’s not too many of us, and there’s room for all of us to come up and stand. 

I knew that Elise was smart and thoughtful and engaged, but still, her answer was much more liturgically astute than I was expecting from a not-quite-eight-year-old.

“Okay, so what makes us want to come up and stand around the altar?” I asked. “What are we doing?” As the group was contemplating and conferring, one of the four-year-olds piped up, “Because God is in the middle.” 

This exchange used to enter my head—quietly, without drawing attention to itself—every time we gathered around the altar for communion at Good Shepherd. Because God is in the middle.

Six months after I began serving Good Shepherd as long-term supply priest, we suddenly could no longer gather to worship at 9th and Hearst in Berkeley. How could we possibly gather around with God in the middle when we couldn’t even be in the same room together? 

And yet, we did, and we do.

We adapted to environmental changes while remaining true to who we are. When there was no way for us to be together, we found a way. When we couldn’t find a way, we made a way. We remembered and reminded one another that we are nimble, creative, capable of surprising ourselves. We continue to be a circle with God in the middle, lifting our hearts and voices in song and prayer, in grief and in wonder, a circle made of faith-in-action, because this is who we are.

My hope for this year is that we shall continue creating and re-creating, leaning into the challenges that arise, daring to rejoice and defying the devil.

What is it that you hope for?

Yours by grace,

Molly+