Church of the Good Shepherd

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Church of the Good Shepherd CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD Address: 867 Gray’s Woods Boulevard Port Matilda, PA 16870 Phone: Church Office: 814-238-2110 Pastor: 814-238-6114 Faith Formation Office: 814-238-0649 Fax: 814-238-3484 Email: Parish Office: [email protected] Faith Formation: [email protected] Youth Retreat Facilitator: [email protected] Bulletin: [email protected] Deacon Jack Orlandi: [email protected] Facility Manager: [email protected] Facility Rental Coordinator: [email protected] Financial Administrator: [email protected] Website: http://goodshepherd-sc.org/ Pastor: Fr. Charlie Amershek Youth Retreat Facilitator: Elaine Scutti Deacon: Jack E. Orlandi Facility Manager: Jeff Sowash Deacon: Michael A. Ondik Facility Rental Coordinator: Jim Maund Director of Faith Formation: Amy Timan THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Vol. 33 No. 43 OCTOBER 25, 2020 Matthew 22:34-40 It is the presence of God in another that makes such a one my sister or brother. All the world is kin. We are connected. We are family — and divided only by our sin. Question of the Week The question of the week invites the parish community to share faith by reflecting on and discussing Sunday’s Gospel throughout the week. Adult In a practical sense, what is one thing that would change in your life if you loved your neighbor as yourself? Child Why is it hard sometimes to love your neighbor? From the Pastor’s Desk “love the Lord, your God with all your heart. Soul and mind; love your neighbor as you love yourself.” SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: I’m available for Confessions on Saturday afternoons from 4:15-4:45 at the picnic table under the portico. That’s really a nice place to sit and contemplate. We can safe distance at the picnic table…We hope that sin will not be infectious or contagious, but that forgiveness will be! If it’s too chilly outdoors, we’ll move confessions indoors. TO THE WIDE WAITING ARMS OF THE LORD: We extend our prayerful sympathy to Kristi Fisher on the recent death of her uncle, Gerald Jones. This is the third death in Kristi’s family since last November. As her Parish family, we pray that her faith will give her peace. I LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE MINE: We congratulate Tim and Lauren (Fogelsanger) Cooper on the birth of their daughter, Ella Elizabeth. Ella is being baptized here this weekend. May she learn from our Parish how to love God with all her heart, and how to love her neighbor as herself. MORE NOTES FROM FATHER GREG BOYLE’S BARKING TO THE CHOIR: “Paradise is not a place that awaits our arrival, but a present we arrive at. A place, in fact where we are already in. When we expect that moment, we grow more confident that we will be “tooken on a ride” to see it. How many chances a day are we given to recognize this…an opportunity to practice sacred presence? Smack dab, right in front of our eyes. We miss so much “now” because we are rushing to “next”. THREE TO GET READY: Please make time to read the following Scripture Passages for next Sunday, and reflect on the questions that follow. (Reading Revelation 7:2- 4, 9-14) “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress: they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” Of the many religious practices you perform, which ones make you feel closest the Lord Jesus? (Reading 2 1 John 3:1-3) In this time of the Pandemic, what hope does your faith in God inspire? (Reading 3 Matthew 5:1-12a) It might be a great way to internalize the Eight Beatitudes by praying them: Lord, help me to become poor in spirit, to acknowledge that I really need you. Lord, help me to sincerely mourn my failures to love you. Etc. THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL SOULS WILL BE CELEBRATED AT A MASS HERE ON MONDAY, 2 NOVEMBER AT 7:00 P.M. Come and remember with us! From Your Social Justice Committee PUTTING OUR FAITH INTO ACTION “What faith teaches about the dignity of the human person, about the sacredness of every human life, and about humanity’s strengths and weaknesses help us see more clearly the same truths that also come to us through the gift of human reason. At the center of these truths is respect for the dignity of every person. This is the core of Catholic moral and social teaching. Because we are people of both faith and reason, it is appropriate and necessary for us to bring this essential truth about human life and dignity to the public square. We are called to practice Christ’s commandment to ‘love one another.’” (Faithful Citizenship) May we pray for one another to use our faith and reason in discerning in what way our vote best supports Christ’s commandment to respect and care for each other throughout life and above all, “to love one another.” As we heard in Exodus if someone cries out, the Lord says, “I will hear him, for I am compassionate.” QUESTIONS ABOUT VOTING? Go to https://www.pa.gov/guides/voting-and-elections Important Dates for the November 3 General Election October 19 at 11:59 p.m.: Was the deadline to register to vote or update voter registration for the general election.. October 27 at 5 p.m.: Deadline sign up to vote by mail ballot (mail-in or absentee ballot). Deadline to vote early in-person. November 3: Election Day Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Last day to return your mail ballot: By mail: Your mail ballot must be postmarked by 8 p.m. on Election Day and received by your county’s election office by 5 p.m. on November 6 to be counted. In-person: You must return your mail ballot to your county’s election office or other designated location by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Parish Events STATE COLLEGE ON-LINE MARKET will be located at Good Shepherd starting November 6th, & running through the winter months. Many of the vendors are the same as those who have been at the Farmers Market located in the Home Depot parking lot. You can view their products (such as vegetables, meat, fish, soups, organics, etc) & place an order online at statecollegemarket.com. Orders will be available for contact- free pick-up on Fridays from 11AM-1PM. Additionally, some of the vendors will be here for walk-up sales. Contact Jim Maund if you have any questions. AT HOME WITH THE WORD 2021 – This yearly resource for Sunday readings is available for purchase once again for a discounted price. The Liturgical Year starts on the First Sunday of Advent, which falls on November 29th t this year. This small but powerful book is a convenient way to prepare for the weekly readings to enrich your experience of liturgy. At Home with the Word guides you to a deeper understanding of the Sunday Scriptures, providing the readings for this liturgical year, insights from Scripture scholars, and action steps. (Additional reflection questions and action steps for families, Christian Initiation, and adult faith-sharing groups may be downloaded from the LTP Website.) The book also includes prayers and citations for weekday readings. Our discounted price is $7 (save $2 on the regular price.) Pick up your copy in the Gathering Space or call the Parish Office to arrange purchase. INTERFAITH HUMAN SERVICES IN NEED OF FURNITURE IHS is looking for donations to fill their nearly empty storage space. Specific current needs are beds, dressers, sofas and dining room sets. Appliances are always needed. If you have items you can donate, please contact the Parish Office at 814-238-2110 for more information. Good Shepherd is one of 27 faith communities comprising Interfaith Human Services. We ask our Parish Community to please pray for the children and young people from Good Shepherd who are preparing for sacraments this year, especially those beginning preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion, and our 11th graders who are continuing their preparation for Confirmation. SINCERE THANKS Financial Stewardship for the 2-week period October 5th through October 16th, 2020. We appreciate your continued generosity during these challenging times. Sunday Offerings $ 11,317 Holy Day $ 70 Building Fund Donations $ 2,350 Catholic Register $ 8 Autodraft/Online Donations $ 13,305 Diocesan Collections $ 75 Facility Use/Rent $ 4,093 Faith Formation Registrations $ 2,925 Fall Lottery . $ 120 Miscellaneous $ 129 Total Collections $ 34,392 STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION – 30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A person’s basic worth does not come from anything less than God’s unconditional and respectful love for all of His children. We fulfill the commandment to love our neighbor when we exercise good stewardship, joyfully sharing our gifts of life, abilities, and resources to meet our neighbor’s needs. Good stewardship is an offering to God that in some small but real way mirrors Christ’s own life, and a way to return the Father’s great love. The adage that is attributed to Saint Francis, “Preach the Gospel, and use words if necessary”, shows others that as good stewards we have taken to heart the deepest part of God’s message, to love our neighbor as our self. This week think about how your actions show others that great love. If they don’t how can you change that? (Catholic Update, Seven Secrets of Success Stewards, See stewardship as a spiritual act, St. Anthony Messenger Press, August 2002) BEGINNER GENTLE YOGA CLASS Join us on Wednesdays from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m.
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