August 22
Beloved of Good Shepherd Church,
Grace to you and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!
I try not to watch the news, but sometimes I forget, tune in, and immediately regret it as I listen to the people on the screen say terrible things about other people. I change the channel as fast as I can and remember the best news I know, which is that we are all “infinitely loved broken people.” That’s the marrow of the message that Jesus came to impart to everyone who would listen. I hope you don’t hate anyone, but if you do it might help you (it always humbles me too) to know that the person you oppose is an “infinitely loved broken person.” That is, he or she is the apple of God’s eye, adored without measure or reason. (Darn it!) And so are you, all of us are, no matter what. Can you imagine how the tides might turn on our collective angst if everyone knew that remarkable truth? Next time I mistakenly turn the news on, I am going to watch it like a tennis match. I’ll try to imagine the volley of insults as a ball bounced back and forth between people whom God loves, and I’ll pray that someday soon they let the ball bounce off the court and roll to a stop while they walk to the net with hands outstretched to wish each other well and acknowledge that though they differ on many things we’re all in this together.
I do have some news that is worth tuning into: I have called the Reverend Emily Badgett of Concord, North Carolina to serve with us here at Good Shepherd as our next Assistant to the Rector, and she has accepted our call! Emily is a graduate of the college at Sewanee, and she is a 2024 graduate of Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. Emily will assume a host of general priestly duties alongside me and Anisa, and she will also take up a special focus on newcomer and pastoral care ministries. Her first day with us at Good Shepherd will be Sunday, September 22nd. I want to thank the Vestry, the church staff, and all of you for your support, counsel, wisdom, love, and prayers as we have discerned together who God is calling to join us in ministry. Many thanks to each one of you who helped us host and welcome Emily on her interview visit a couple of weeks ago. We will all benefit richly from Emily’s presence in our midst, and she will quickly grow to treasure you and all the gifts you bring to our common life. Welcome Emily!
Remember this always - God loves you, and I love you too!
Love is all,
Hendree+