August 29

Beloved of Good Shepherd Church,

Grace to you and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!

I love life, and I also find life difficult sometimes. For instance, being a parent brings great joy, but it is no easy task. Being a member of a family, a city, a commonwealth, a country and a global community is so wonderful.  What a gift it is just to be alive on a planet spinning through the galaxy, but being tangled up with all those other people is also frequently full of challenges. When I find myself wondering if we’ll ever all get along I look around for help and wisdom and often land on the teaching of some Christian or another who’s come before us. This week I stumbled on this magnificent teaching from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Always be sure that you struggle with Christian methods and Christian weapons. Never succumb to the temptation of becoming bitter. As you press on for justice, be sure to move with dignity and discipline, using only the weapon of love. Let no man pull you so low as to hate him. I still believe that love is the most durable power in the world.” Even with all he faced and finally died for, Dr. King kept his focus on love and the power of love to change the world. I think I’ll do the same and pray that we can arm our kids with love and thus secure a hopeful, peace-soaked future.

If you’ve been around the church lately you’ve surely seen that we are a kid-friendly place! Between the Day School and Sunday morning children’s chapel we have nearly 200 young children learning about love and Jesus and playing with friends at Good Shepherd every week. There is also a lot going on with and for our youth. EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) for grades 6th - 12th ramps up to full program-year force this Sunday. Learn more HERE. Zac is also starting a mid-week offering for youth on Wednesdays. All middle school and high school youth are invited! You’re encouraged to bring a friend too!

Our Women’s Bible Study resumes next Thursday, and on Monday, September 9th our Mystics Reading Group starts a new mystic. More information on these offerings can be found below. Come join us!

Remember this always - God loves you, and I love you too!

Love is all, 

Hendree+