December is Advent and Christmas time

December is Advent and Christmas time

The boxes of gifts have been sent to the Good Shepherd orphanage in Belize and to the St. LaBre Indian School in Ashland, Montana.

Our third Advent Soup Supper is this Thursday, December 15th at 5:30. Along with good food, good fellowship and worship, we will be sharing a bit of our family's Christmas memories.

Next Thursday, December 22nd - also at 5:30, our soup supper program will be the sharing of Christmas poetry. All are invited to join us.

This Friday, December 16th, the First Friday singers of Good Shepherd, will present a program of Christmas music at the Nursing home. A bit later in the morning, we journey to the Library Open House to lift our voices in Christmas song.

Holy Eucharist will be celebrated on Sunday, December 18th at 9:30.

The Christmas Eve Service of Light begins at 5:30. Holy Eucharist is included during the service.

Morning Prayer at 9:30 on Christmas morning.

Holy Eucharist at 9:30 on New Year's Day.

Advent Evenings

Beginning Thursday, December 1, Advent Soup Suppers are scheduled for the Thursdays of Advent - December 1, 8, 15 and perhaps 22 - at 5:30 in the parish hall. Planned will be supper, worship and Christmas themed programs. Won't you plan to join us?

Upcoming services and Events

Tuesday - November 22 at 12 noon, the Bear Lodge High School students and staff will join with members of Good Shepherd for their third annual Thanksgiving dinner. Students and church members will make pies the day before.

The Sundance Ministerial Association will sponsor the 2nd annual Christmas Tree Forest on December 9 in the courthouse basement. After the parade, come down to view numerous decorated trees and vote for your favorite one. There will be a collection of Nativity sets on display, and the local EMT group plan a chili supper.

Sr. Carol Bernice, member of the Episcopal Community of the Holy Spirit in New York, will lead us in a Quiet Day on Saturday, February 11 from 9 to 3. Bring your sandwich lunch and join us for a time of quiet and prayer. Sr. Carol Bernice will preach the sermon the next day during Worship at 9:30.

Bishop John Smylie makes his annual Visitation on Saturday and Sunday, February 25 and 26.

Upcoming at Good Shepherd

Diocesan Convention for the Episcopal Church in Wyoming begins at 2:00 pm on Friday, September 30, 2011. Convention this year is hosted by St. Mark's and St. Christopher's Churches in Cheyenne. Opening worship will be at St. Mark's and the closing Eucharist will be at St. Christopher's on Sunday morning, October 2. Attending from Good Shepherd will be our delegates, Steve and Julia Christy, and our priest, The Rev. JoAnne Moore.

Rather than the regular Holy Eucharist service on Sunday, the 2nd, Morning Prayer will be read.

Bible study continues nearly every Thursday morning at 10:00 in the Parish Hall.

A new study was begun several weeks ago held on Wednesday mornings at 8:30 [sometimes 9:00]. This study is on the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday and is somewhat focused on sermon preparation. However, attendees aren't required to prepare sermons; the discussion is formulated to strengthen our understanding of the scripture.

So long ago---

Since the last post in December, we have had a New Year, Lent and the amazing experience of the Good News of Easter. Life at Good Shepherd continues on. We have sent off the seniors at the local Bear Lodge High School by helping with their end-of-the-year potluck. The Plant Sale at the Bear Lodge greenhouse was a success, in spite of some rainy weather. June promises to be a quieter month for Good Shepherd - so perhaps we will take the opportunity to meditate on the beauty of our earth and the awesome-ness of our God.