Church of the Good Shepherd
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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 TRINITY SUNDAY Vol. 34 No. 22 MAY 30, 2021 Matthew 28:16-20 God is a circle, never a square. God is a point that’s everywhere. God is one but God is three. And God, I admit, is a mystery! 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 What signs of God’s love have you witnessed in your life? Child How can you be a sign of God’s love to others this week? From the Pastor’s Desk And behold, I am with you always to the end of the world. STAFF NEWS: I am saddened to announce that Karen Noel, our Parish Administrative assistant for twelve years has decided to retire from that position effective 31 May. Any of you who have dealt with Karen in her role here can attest that she handled her ministry professionally, and with much kindness and a servant’s heart. God bless her, she “gets” my sense of humor. She has become a good friend to me. I miss her already! After consulting with our staff, I made the decision to hire Theresa Hawbaker to serve as our Administrative Assistant. Theresa is leaving the Staff Accountant Position she currently holds. Our Finance Council is beginning to conduct a search for someone to fill the accountant position. THREE TO GET READY: Please make the time to prayerfully read the Scripture passages referred to below, and then reflect on the questions that follow them. This will be one good way of preparing to participate in Mass next Sunday. Reading 1: (Exodus 24:3-8) Moses reads the terms of God’s Covenant with His people, and the sprinkling of the blood of the sacrifice on them, and on the altar symbolizes their willingness to give their total effort in living that covenant. Does receiving the Eucharist have any influence on your life? 2: (Hebrews 9:11-15) Christ gave His life to cleanse our lives from the dead works that belong to the world, and not the Kingdom. From what “dead works” are you longing to be free? Reading 3: (Mark 14:12-16, 22-26) What’s the best way you have found to prepare your heart to share the Eucharist? What distracts you from a whole-hearted participation? THE PARISH SURVEY IS IN YOUR E-MAIL! Please make the time to complete this survey, today! We need to tabulate the results by May31. This survey will facilitate our ability to discern and serve your worship and formation needs. Your co-operation in completing this survey in a timely manner will guide us in figuring out how Good Shepherd will pray and learn and celebrate in the new normal, post-pandemic era. Thank you…thank you! Parish Events PARISH SEEKING CANDIDATES FOR STAFF ACCOUNTANT POSITION The Parish is seeking qualified candidates for the Staff Accountant position. The successful candidate will be responsible for performing a full range of bookkeeping and accounting duties. This has traditionally been a part time position (approximately 28 hours/week); however, it has the potential to become a full-time position based on the candidate's qualifications and needs. Interested candidates possessing an Associate or Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or equivalent combination of education and experience are encouraged to submit a resume and letter of interest addressed to Father Charlie. FLOCKNOTE We will be sending out information to sign up for our Good Shepherd Flocknote in the immediate future. Please keep a close eye on your email to join our flock and stay connected to our parish events, announcements and activities. FAMILY CORNER Our congratulations to the following couples celebrating their wedding anniversary this coming week: Art Dervaes & Timothy & Melissa Scharf Jun 1 Joanne Rutkowski May 30 Darren & Lori McTavish Jun 2 John & Laurie Griffiths May 30 Kenneth & Anna Schirling Jun 3 Stephen & Nicole D’Aulerio May 30 Vince & Mary Bojan Jun 4 Derrick & Shannon Skillings May 31 Joseph & Kelly Jo Sadley Jun 4 John & Rosemary Cessna Jun 1 Matthew & Michele Raptosh Jun 5 Jim & Michele Thomas Jun 1 PRAYER SHAWLS To request a Prayer Shawl or for more information, please contact Marge Bennett at 814-234-7284 or Lynne DeLuca at 814-234-4654. PRAYER CHAIN Please contact the following parishioners with any prayer intentions: Ellen Jankowski – 814-231-0213 Mary Petersen – 814-238-2209 Marge Carline – 814-238-3119 A Prayer for Memorial Day God of power and mercy, you destroy war and put down earthly pride. Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears that we may all deserve to be called your sons and daughters. Keep in your mercy those men and women who have died in the cause of freedom and bring them safely into your kingdom of justice and peace. We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord. R/. Amen —from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers Open Wide Our Hearts A call to Love through a look at Systemic Racism. Join the members of Good Shepherd Church in exploration and discussion to deepen our understanding of systemic racism. We will begin with a viewing of Race: The Power of an Illusion How the racial wealth gap was created th June 13 , 2021 7:00pm Good Shepherd Catholic Church Agape Hall “We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life.” Pope Francis Faith Formation News This weekend we celebrate Trinity Sunday – a feast which gradually evolved into our Liturgical calendar until it became a fixed day in the early 1300’s. Our teaching on God as Trinity is a central our faith and taking time to reflect on this Mystery can invite an ever-deepening relationship with God, Creator, Redeemer and Spirit. To celebrate Trinity Sunday, visit Good Shepherd’s Word of God Chapel and visit the small icon of the Trinity there (found on the wall to the left of the Reservation Chapel and above the bookcase). If you’re at home and missed checking out our reprinted version, type in “Rublev Trinity” into your image search in Google and reflect on this artistic representation of this central idea of our faith. Note the figures of the Trinity. See how they are portrayed in relationship with each other. Look carefully at their faces. See the colors they are wearing. The colors around them. Where are their hands? What is around them? This work of art was completed by a Russian Monk named Andrei Rublev in the early 1400’s. This is a masterpiece of our faith worth spending a few moments in a Visio Divina and prayer. Available for pick-up on the table outside the Parish Office: Confirmation 2022 Paperwork (through the end of May) AND First Communion Pictures (our gift to you) COMING SOON: THE RETURN OF YOUTH MINISTRY WITH EVENTS FOR JUNE AND JULY AND A SPECIAL PROJECT TO BE ANNOUNCED FOR AUGUST 2021. STAY TUNED FOR FURTHER DETAILS! MORE INFORMATION ON DIOCESAN SUMMER CAMPS!! Registration forms are available in the Gathering Space, or contact [email protected] for online registration. A NOTE FROM AMY TIMAN A big thank you to all the Catechists and parents who dedicated their time and talent to this year’s lessons and ZOOM sessions! We believe we have been able to plant and water the seeds of faith during this pandemic year even if it was in a very different way and manner! We look forward to new growth in the weeks ahead as we prepare to reunite once again as the Body of Christ here at Good Shepherd in September! Enrollment booklets for 2021-2022 Faith Formation classes have been mailed this week to all families currently enrolled in our programs. Extra copies will be available on the table outside of the parish office for anyone who did not receive one. We urge all families to take advantage of the early enrollment discount fee and submit their registration forms as soon as possible! We are hoping to return to operating as close to normal as possible next fall and your early enrollment will help with planning for classes. Please submit the parish survey (due by May31st) to vote for your choice of mass times as we re-open. This will especially affect our Sunday morning Elementary class times! Please email Amy if you did not receive the survey which was sent out last week. Finally, please pray about and consider joining our Catechetical teaching teams for next year. We can always use Catechists and Aides for all grade levels. We have great resources and support and know that you will find satisfaction and joy leading our students on their faith journey while enriching your own! Wishing everyone a happy Memorial Day and a safe and fun summer!!!! Amy Timan Diocesan Events Saint Joseph, Man Chosen by the Blessed Trinity, pray for us.