Reaching Individuals and Families of the Concho Valley with the Transforming Love of Jesus Christ!

A G N U S D E I November 2020

“I thank my Thanksgiving Moments God every time Philippians 1:3

I remember November is that special time of year when we focus on giving thanks to God for all of the blessings He has given us (Nov. 26). We you.” can be thankful that we live in a country where we can vote for the type of country we desire—and live with the consequences (Nov. 3). Philippians We can be thankful for our Veterans who serve our country during times of war and peace (Nov. 11). On the liturgical calendar we have 1:3 many special days, including All Saints Day (Nov. 1) and for this year, the First Sunday in Advent (Nov. 29). In many ways, every day is special. We can be thankful for the air we breathe, the food we eat, and clothes we have to wear. November is also the time to celebrate National Deep Fried Clams Day (Nov. 1), National Deviled Egg Day (Nov. 2), National Sandwich Day (Nov. 3), National Chicken Lady Day (Nov. 4), National day (Nov. 5)—but some may prefer to cel- ebrate National Men Made Dinner Day, National Nachos Day (Nov. 6), National Play Outside Day (Nov. 7)—and skipping ahead—Marine Corps Birthday (Nov. 10)—followed by national Sundae Day (Nov. 11), Na- tional Pizza with the Works—Except Anchovies Day (Nov. 12), National Spicy Guacamole Day (Nov. 14), National Fast Food Day (Nov. 16), National Homemade Bread Day (No. 16); National Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day (Nov. 19), National Peanut Butter Fudge Day (Nov. 20), National Parfait Day (Nov. 25), (Nov. 27), National French Toast Day (Nov. 28), and Cyber Monday (Nov. 30). I can promise you that freely celebrating all of these days will transform us into “well-rounded” individuals. We can be thankful for our West Texas Deanery Zoom meeting with our Bishop Candidates (Nov. 10) and church retreat in Junction Texas (Nov. 13-15). I am also thankful that November is our steward- 3355 W. Beauregard ship month this year. All of our lives have been given to us by God. San Angelo, Texas 76904 What we give back to God with our time, talents, and treasures reflects (325) 949-6260 our grateful hearts before God as well as our maturity in Christ. Our www.anglicancgs.com Good Shepherd parish has an open heart and a loving attitude towards

Send articles, announcements serving Christ. Our theme this year is “When the Lord is My Shepherd: and feedback to Finding Hope in a Hard Time.” We can rest in confidence that person- [email protected] ally the Lord is your shepherd—and mine. When I was riding with one (continued) of the Deputies this past year in a rural area, an elderly gentleman with a large sombrero was shepherd his sheep on the side of the road. The sheep remained calm when we drove by because they were with their shepherd. He seemed content that the sheep were gathered around him and knew they wouldn’t run into danger. Rich imagery in the Old Testament (Psalm 23, Psalm 95, and Isaiah 40) foreshadows Jesus serving us as a loving, caring shepherd. Since the Lord is our shepherd, we should let him lead, trust, follow, and rest in Him. Our shepherd is worthy of following. He created us, sought us out, redeemed and restored us, sustains us, and calls us His own. A shepherd truly loves his flock and has a personal relationship with them. He calls them by name and they follow him. God, as our Great Shepherd, calls us unto Himself that we may love as he loves us. I, too, have much in which to be thankful. When I think of Good Shepherd, the following verse comes to my mind: “I think my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy (Phil. 1:”3, NKJV).” I am looking forward to a thankful November with you this month!

Fr. Hal

November is Stewardship Month

November is our stewardship month where we are thankful that God has With much gratitude I wish to blessed us and provided for us in many thank you for the prayers, calls ways. Our motto this year is when the Lord is my shepherd. You have and cards during the grieving already received the devotional by Canon process of my brother-in-law, David Roseberry, When the Lord is My Tex, and my two sisters, Pat and Shepherd: Finding Hope in a Hard Virginia. We were all close and I Time. Each week in November we will have been blessed to know their focus on the sufficiency of Christ and joy of being in God’s heavenly how we can live our lives as His faithful kingdom. servants. In the last week of November, In Christ alone, Ruth Ann we will mail out our pledge cards to be returned the church. We are thankful that God will provide for all of our needs through Christ Jesus! FAREWELL TO REV. AND RICK

Sunday, November 1st we honored our own Rev. Dr. June Smith, our Assisting Priest, and a strong pillar in the parish, as she retires from the ASU and moves to Oregon to be near their daughters. June and her local celebrity husband, Rick, will be sorely missed. We are confident that the God who called them to Oregon is the same God who will sustain both them and us. We are blessed that June’s mother lives nearby and she will be back for visits. She will be most welcomed to celebrate with us if her visits allow. Sunday was a day for praising the Lord, weeping because of our devotion to them, and having the strength in the Lord to send them forward in the name of our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Dear All Good Shepherd Saints, Thank you for taking care of me and particularly Rick. Your prayers and love surrounded and held us up. Thank you for your cards, prayerful thoughts and words, and donations to help Glenn and Mollie get us up to Oregon, as well as those to our family helping us to travel there. May the Holy Spirit continue to fill you and this church in the honor and praise of Jesus Christ our Lord through the Father’s love. You are precious in His sight (and mine) always. Amen! A Shoebox Gift Filled A Hole In His Heart

Operation Child helps combat the emptiness an orphan felt.

When people tell Karabo Maretlane he’s lucky, he says, “I’m chosen.” Karabo grew up in a village in the southern African nation of Lesotho. When he was 5 years old, his father died and his mother left him with his grandmother. As this elderly woman raised him, she taught him how to read, write, and follow God. But Karabo’s grandmother died when he was still young and, shortly afterward, his mother died as well. Loneliness set in like never before as he realized he was an orphan. Karabo’s uncle soon invited him to come live with him in the city. It was there that a friend invited him to an Operation Christmas Child outreach event where he received a box full of gifts just for him. “That shoebox filled one of the holes in my heart,” he said. Today Karabo is part of a family again and he encourages others to pack shoebox gifts for other kids around the world: “If you hear the voice of God, do not harden your heart” (paraphrasing Hebrews 3:15). Now more than ever, children need hope. You can bless a child like Karabo with great joy and the Good News of Jesus Christ by packing a shoebox and building one online.

Bless Children Around the World Now more than ever, children need great joy!

You can give boys and girls in need a tangible expression of God’s love through a gift-filled shoebox. As a result, families are reached, new churches are started, and communities are transformed. It all begins with you. Deanery Virtual Walkabout Good Shepherd will participate in a Zoom version of a meet and greet with the two Bishop candidates

Watch for more information and a link to the Zoom meeting to come.

Greathouse Retreat Weekend ~ November 13-15

The Annual Parish Retreat will be held at the Greathouse Retreat Center near Junction, Texas the weekend of November 13-15. It will begin on Friday evening and last until noon on Sunday. The sign-up sheet is in the Narthex. Our speaker is Sandy Clauss, also known as Carl. Sandy Clauss has over 30 years of teaching experience (including U.S. History, World History, U.S. Government and Economics). He has earned bachelor & masters degrees from Southwest Texas State University along with a lifelong study & passion for history. He has been married for 25 years to wife Sheri, together they have a daughter, Katherine.

REV. JUNE AND RICK’S NEW HOME ADDRESS

SMITH 381 Anderson Dr.

Silverton, Oregon 97381

Our next collection date is Sunday, November 22nd for our Fourth Sunday of the Month Food Drive to support two orphanages and Casa Bethesda in Mexico. Canned or boxed food is needed desperately. Psychology and Jesus: Coping In Challenging Times

Part 6

To date, millions of people worldwide have contracted COVID-19. The number of deaths increases every day. As we approach flu season many wonder: which one will I have? How do I protect myself? What precautions really work: masks, gloves, disinfectants, vaccines, social distancing, or self-quarantine? Will I be the next statistic? The economy teeters between strong upsurges and disappointing drops as COVID cases spike and law makers rescind public gatherings. Unemployment fluctuates with opening then reclosing of businesses. Governmental assistance is offered then suspended by reasons only politicians understand. The most contentious national election in our country looms near. Absentee voting, mail-in ballots, and early voting have brought millions of people into a frenzy. Tempers flare and fear boils into anger. Strong opinions form on both sides. The battle lines are drawn between right and wrong, truth often lost in the chaos of political perspectives. No wonder we are plagued with fear and anxiety. Psychotherapy usually begins with a person identifying a problem with help from a therapist or self-directed introspection. Let us define these feelings. Among many excellent self-help workbooks is The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook for Anxiety: Breaking Free from Worry, Panic, PTSD and Other Anxiety Symptoms (Chapman, Gratz and Tull, 2011). The authors differentiate fear and anxiety this way: “Fear is more of a present-moment emotional experience. Fear is what you experience when you are actually in a stressful or threatening situation… Anxiety, on the other hand, is more of a future-focused emotion.” (p.2) Most of our emotional quality of life depends upon the ability to think rationally, focus on reality, identify values, set healthy priorities and boundaries, establish a positive sense of self-worth, make good choices, and commit to a fundamental truth. Therapeutic techniques often begin with identifying irrational fears and removing them from our thinking. People seeking a therapist look for one who understands his/her situation with compassion and the willingness to “be with” him/her through every dark, detestable secret or psychological wound. Psychotherapy can be critical in healing disorders which severely interrupt the well being of life. Jesus understood human frailty as the Son of God and Man, for He was the Word spoken in the beginning of creation. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God (Elohim)…” Elohim is the triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (see also, John 1:1-2). Jesus is the Word Incarnate, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). How does Jesus address fear and anxiety? In the Gospels He teaches us to replace fear with faith and abandon anxiety for trust. Faith guides us in constructive movement from negativity to positivity in thought, word and deed, a change from inactive to proactive. He says we are more important than sparrows (Matthew 10:31), that God has counted every hair upon our heads (Luke 12:7), that He has overcome the world (John 16:33), that He is with us always, “…to the very end of the age“(Matthew 28:20). Jesus is our fundamental truth. Here is my prayer: Jehovah God Almighty, You created me in Your image to delight You in faith, trust, obedience, and service. Because of Your great love You sent Your Son, Jesus, the Light of the world. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus, Savior, Defender and Friend, sustain me in every trial. Deliver me from evil, including fear and anxiety. Cleanse my heart to be holy for You are holy. Give me the mind of Christ, veering neither left nor right as I keep my eyes on You. Abide with me in the present. Seal my hope for the future in Your promises. Secure my salvation in Your empty cross. In Christ alone I pray. Amen Jean Stinnett

THE VESTRY Project Dignidad Please help us provide a Thanksgiving

MEETING dinner for our fellow San Angeloans who find themselves in need The regular monthly Vestry at this time of year.

meeting is Monday, Turkeys will be provided by monetary donations.

November 23rd at 6:00pm Please bring your donations, to the church beginning Sunday, 11/1. in the Conference Room. The baskets will be delivered to Project Dignidad beginning 11/6.

The following items are being requested to complete the Thanksgiving baskets:

Stove Top Stuffing or ingredients to make cornbread dressing: On Thursday, November 22 we pause 2-4 packages of cornbread mix with our families and friends to express 2 cans chicken broth our gratitude to the Lord for the many rubbed sage and onion flakes blessings bestowed on us individually Macaroni & Cheese and as a nation during the past year. Instant Mashed potatoes Canned corn, green beans, The church office will be yams, fruit cocktail closed Thanksgiving Day Canned milk (2) and the Friday following. Canned pumpkin Cranberry Sauce Praise God from whom Marshmallows all blessings flow! Cake mix & frosting Vegetable or Canola Oil Rice Dried Beans Turkey Gravy Mix Other nonperishable items at your discretion

Generous hands are blessed  The replacement of the HVAC for the Parish Hall is hands because they give complete. bread to the poor.  The contract for the new Proverbs 22:9 The Message roof has been awarded.  We are meeting our Year-to- Date budget through your faithfulness! IN THIS AGNUS DEI ISSUE OF THE Birthdays

11/11 Rudy Wallace

 A Message from Fr. Hal 11/11 Earl Yarbrough November Is Stewardship Month  11/11 Teddye Read  Farewell to Rev. June and Rick 11/12 Jackie Jennings  Thank You from Rev. June 11/30 Barbara Robken  Jean Stinnett - Psychology and Jesus: Part 6 Debbie Scott

 Operation Christmas Child

 Deanery Virtual Walkabout

P.O. Box 61698 San Angelo, Texas 76901-1698 (325) 949-6260 www.anglicancgs.com

Reaching Individuals and Families of the Concho Valley with the Transforming Love of Jesus Christ!

Copyright: No portion of this publication may be copied or stored electronically without prior written permission of the Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd.