NEST (Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team) is off to a delicious start! Since the beginning of Good Shepherds involvement with NEST the “A” Team has always kicked off the week with decadent southern fare. A succulent menu of homemade meatloaf, collard greens, and baked apples followed by homemade cake soothes the hunger of the 60 or so homeless guests!

The homeless in Norfolk will be at Good Shepherd through next Wednesday morning. Volunteers are always welcome! Stop from 5:00 p.m. through 7:00 a.m. and roll up your sleeves for a great time!

RSVP, 757-423-3230

A little know fact: The Church budget includes several thousand dollars for staff development. Each year the staff and clergy of the parish are expected to take a week, sometimes two off per year for their own professional growth. In the not too distant past this has included Ben Blanchard traveling to Seattle to visit parishes with innovative music programs, and me, Robert Davenport, attending a program in congregational development at one of our seminaries.

At the time of this writing Elizabeth Hope, Interim Director of Christian Education is in New Orleans attending an important ritual in the life of the Episcopal Christian Education Directors. Their mission is straightforward. They work to provide their members and the Episcopal Church with professional support, networking, resources, and leadership development. They seek to provide a forum for Christian Educators to explore issues of professionalism in ministry and networking with other leaders in Christian formation, promoting the balance of professional development and spiritual enrichment. Elizabeth went to New Orleans to attend their inaugural program for those new to the ministry of lifelong Christian formation. We hope she has a wonderful time both at the conference and in the French Quarter.

Also this semester Robert Davenport is auditing another class at Tidewater Community College. He is taking a third course in American Sign Language pursuing an interest in language, and strengthening his ability to be a part of the Deaf Community both here and abroad. It might also help him communicate more clearly with his wife. In any event, he heartily endorse the programs at TCC for all ages.

At this point both Ben Blanchard or B.J. Taylor are working on what shape their work of enrichment and growth will take.

The parish significantly commits itself to strengthen and support those who receive a stipend to work here with this program. Such an effort is a norm in all Episcopal Churches but also a large expectation for everyone. It is much appreciated.

Elizabeth Hope
Interim Director of Christian Education

February 19, 2012

The son of a missionary and a Baptist minister, seventeen-year-old immigrant David George Ball was following his destiny to become a pastor. He had always dreamed of making a difference in people’s lives. But when he met the relatively unknown Martin Luther King, Jr., the course of Ball’s life changed forever.

In this memoir, A Marked Heart, Ball narrates his journey, beginning with growing up in wartime England; immigrating to the United States in 1954 to take the pastors’ course at Chicago’s Moody Bible Institute: attending Yale University as a scholarship student; and, most importantly, meeting Martin Luther King. Later he worked on Wall Street as a lawyer, started a family, championed the 401(k) plan, and served as assistant secretary of labor.

A Marked Heart describes how Ball’s encounter with King inspired the rest of his life’s work, and it provides a multifaceted look at his immigration, education, family relationships, career, and his commitment to public service. Though Ball never became a minister, his story communicates how prayer and trust in God guided his life.

As we are just beginning preparations, there are a multitude of opportunities for you to become involved. We need volunteers for a variety of tasks which can be as simple and short as picking up donuts in the evening, cooking meals, serving meals, cleanup after meals and spending the night at the church. The overnight watch is a great opportunity to get some work or reading done, or it can also serve as an opportunity for some personal downtime and reflection.

You can get a wealth of information from the nest link on the Church of the Good Shepherd website about NEST, volunteer opportunities, job descriptions, etc.

Please consider volunteering some of your precious time and talent for NEST 2012. There are MANY ways to sign up:

1. Sign-up sheet is available in the front of the church at the entrance to the sanctuary.
2. E-mail me directly wddrisk@cox.net
3. Call: 757-418-1533
4. Sign up on the Good Shepherd website

We can also use donations: Monetary donations will help to offset the costs of the food that the church provides. Make a note on the check for NEST 2012. We can also use the following items: Socks, Hats, Gloves, warm Jackets, feminine hygiene products, undergarments female and male, magazines, toiletries and bus tickets which can be purchased at local grocery stores.

Please be generous with your time and talents and help out those in our community that are struggling through difficult times.

Can you guess who is in the confirmation group this year?

This week’s youth group was very interesting. We made structures out of marshmallows and toothpicks, and Lawson Driskill, Noah Simpson, and Lex Selig made the highest tower. We also had fun playing a new game, Guess Who This Is, where all of the parents had sent in baby photos and you had to guess who was who.

After playing a few games and activities we all sat down to discuss what we thought was important and what needed to be stated for us to really understand what we were doing in confirmation. We came up with a list of things for the question, “Why are you here?”, asked by Ben Blanchard. Some of the things on the list were, to learn about the church, to learn about Jesus, to learn what goes on in the church, and also to connect with others/to bond.

Towards the end of our evening we discussed what we needed to do to be able to focus and learn about God. We talked about this with the parents, Ben, and us. We agreed on a basket designated for all cell phones, and a clock in every room.

The next youth confirmation group meeting is on February 12th at COGS (Church of the Good Shepherd).

Council decides the Diocesan budget (based on recommendations from the Program Budget and Review Committee), elects members of the diocese’s various administrative, executive and judicial bodies and votes on any resolutions – including t hose that amend or add to the Constitution or Canons – that may be brought before it. When necessary, it elects the Bishop(s).

The Church of the Good Shepherd has four delegates and two alternates to Council. They are Beth Williams, Gerry Smelt, Grace Strid and Barbara Byers. Pat Tayloe and Keith Byers are our alternates.

Sunday, January 22nd
10:00 a.m.

Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church. It is a public statement of one’s intentional decision to follow the way of Jesus. In the case of infant baptism, it is the parents’ declaration of their intent to raise a child in the way of Jesus. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble, so baptism is only administered once. When you choose to be baptized yourself or to have your child baptized in the Episcopal Church, it means you are choosing to live out the Baptismal Covenant the context of an Episcopal church community, taking your part in the worship, mission and ministries of the parish.

I Will With God’s Help.