Category Archives: Latest News
In Person Worship Suspended [This information is outdated, in person worship has resumed – admin]
| After consulting with the Sr. Warden, I have decided to suspend in-person worship at Good Shepherd (effective immediately). The infection rate in Gloucester City is now 33.4 per 100K (next to Cape May county-which has a 52.5 rate- Gloucester City has the highest infection rate in the state of NJ). This means: #1. There will be no Saturday evening service this evening #2. The pulpit exchange with Fr. Todd Foster will be rescheduled #3. Tomorrow’s service will be broadcast on the YouTube channel #4. We will not resume in-person worship until the infection rate is below 25 per 100K (which is in harmony with what the Diocesan protocols recommend). We were hoping to avoid the suspension of in-person worship, but I am convinced that the most prudent thing (in the face of the threat of the Delta variant and a dangerous rise in the infection rate in our county) is to do precisely that. Thanks for your understanding and for your prayers. Fr. Dave+ |
A change in “In-Person Worship” protocols…
Based on the strong recommendation of the Reentering, Reopening, Reimagining (RRR) Task Force of the Diocese of New Jersey and in response to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s July 27th recommendations, we will be requiring all worshipers and visitors to the Church, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a face mask which covers the nose and mouth. This policy will remain in effect until community infection rates in Gloucester County improve. No one is happy about this decision, but we believe it is the most prudent thing we can do in the face of the increasing threat of the Delta variant of the Covid 19 virus as well as the marked increase in break-thru infections of the vaccinated. As a Church, it is incumbent upon us to follow Jesus’ teachings in protecting the most vulnerable in our community (especially our un-vaccinated children). Your co-operation and compliance with this change in our “in-person” worship protocols will be greatly appreciated.
Sent by David Snyder
Pitman Yard Sale
Pitman will be hosting its annual Town Wide Yard Sale on Saturday, June 5th, from 8:00 am until at least noon; and the Vestry has voted to participate by selling the accumulated donations that we have in storage from last year’s missed Holly Fair. All proceeds will be directed to the Holly Fair account and the Church projects it supports.
We are looking for a few parishioners to assist with the setup early that morning, breakdown at the conclusion of the event, as well as “sales” help throughout the morning.
Please email April c/o goodshepherdpitman@gmail.com or
Beth Portocalis at bport0627@verizon.net to sign up.
Donations of items to include in the Yard Sale will also be accepted up to the morning of the event. (Please, no clothing or linens…Christmas decorations will be held till this year’s Holly Fair.)
You may coordinate a donation drop-off with April via the above email or
by calling the Church Office at 856-589-8209. Tables or Spaces are available to those who wish to sell their own items for a donation of $15.00 (per Table or Space). To reserve Tables or Spaces, contact April via the above email or by calling the Church Office at 856-589-8209.
8:00 a.m. to Noon
Saturday, June 5th
Church of the Good Shepherd, 315 Highland Terrace, Pitman
New Thursday Study – May 27 and June 3!!
WHO IS MARY MAGDALENE? Was she really a prostitute? Does scripture actually say that? Why don’t we hear that she’s the Apostle to the Apostles? What role did she play in Jesus’ ministry and in the church following his resurrection? Join us this Thursday at 9:30 a.m. to learn what the Gospels actually say. Zoom ID – 8911467 1362. Password – 684514.
May 2021 – Brotherhood of Saint Andrew – “The Cross”
New “In-Person Worship” Protocols
In light of the CDC’s recent announcement and the guidelines from the Diocesan Re-Opening Task Force, The Vestry approved the following adjustments to our existing “in person worship” protocols, beginning May 22, 2021:
#1. Vaccinated worship leaders will not be required to wear a mask (Fr. Dave will continue to wear a mask when distributing the sacrament)
#2. Congregational singing (with masks) will resume on Pentecost Sunday.
#3. The Book of Common Prayer and Hymnals will return to the pews.
#4. We will continue to require all worshipers to wear a mask and maintain social distancing. We will increase the maximum # of worshipers to 50..
“In-person” has resumed for Saturday, 5:30pm and Sunday, 10:00am Services. A FlockNote to pre-register will be sent out each Thursday of the week. Deadline for registering will be Friday, 12 Noon for that week.
April 2021 – Brotherhood of Saint Andrew – “The Cross”
In person services resuming!
The Vestry held a special meeting this afternoon and decided to approve a proposal to resume “in-person” worship during Holy Week. The decision was difficult (every member of the Vestry expressed ambivalence: a desire to resume in-person worship but also a deep concern for the health and safety of every member of the parish) and it was not unanimous. But it is the decision and we move forward “Joyfully, Hopefully and CAREFULLY“. It is important that parishioners remember three things:
#1. The protocols that were established back in November will continue to be maintained (masks; social distancing; no congregational singing and the distribution of the host only in the pews)
#2. It will be necessary to pre-register for every service and a maximum attendance of 40 will be permitted (this number includes the Celebrant; Deacon; Lector; organist and ushers).
#3. No one should feel obligated to attend just because in-person worship will be resumed. We will continue to “live stream” all services using the Zoom platform (we are working to upgrade the quality of our presentation with the purchase of new “hardware”).
A FlockNote with detailed information about the schedule for Holy Week and Easter (including pre-registration information) will be sent on Monday.
SPECIAL THURSDAY STUDY
On next Thursday, March 25, we will discuss the Netflix 4-part series, “Unorthodox”. This series is based on the true story of Deborah Feldman, as told in her book, about her life as a Hasidic Jew in New York and her journey out of that lifestyle.
Anyone who has watched this series, or would like to, is welcome to join us at 9:30 a.m. to discuss the many-layered psychological implications and messiness of marriage, family and community relationships – especially is a strict conservative lifestyle.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89114671362?pwd=eFIzQ3VyNEpjQ3JrbUlRWjgvUnZiUT09
Meeting ID: 891 1467 1362
Passcode: 684514
Lenten Study
Join Fr. Dave, Fr. Don and Mel tomorrow night, 2/17, as we journey through this Lent taking a close scrutiny of the Lenten Disciplines of Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving, Good Works, Study and ending the Thursday before Holy Week (3/25) with Repentance: Preparing for Holy Week.
Members of Good Shepherd, St. David’s in Cranbury and St. John’s in Chews Landing have been invited, but please feel free to extend an invitation to all.
Class begins at 7:30 p.m. and will conclude by 8:45 p.m. Zoom ID is 451 815 3355 (no password required).
2021 Annual Meeting Video
Please click on the link below to see the video which was shown at the Annual Meeting last Sunday. Thanks to Jeff Bathurst who came up with the idea and wrote the script and Morgan Wall who put it all together.
Job Posting: Parish Coordinator/Administrator
This position has been filled.
Zoom Tech Tips Workshop Sat 12/5 from 2 – 3 pm
Zoom Tech Tips
Saturday, December 5
2 – 3 pm “Open House”
Open to anyone who feels they could use a few tips using Zoom for Sunday Services or Morning Prayer at Good Shepherd. If you know anyone who wants to participate but is timid about Zoom, please invite them.
Questions or info: contact Deb Prieto debprieto@comcast.net
Zoom Tech Tips Workshop Sat 12/5
Zoom Tech Tips for Church
Saturday, December 5
2 – 3 pm “Open House”
Open to anyone who feels they could use a few tips using Zoom for Sunday Church Services at Good Shepherd. If you know anyone who wants to participate but is timid about Zoom, please invite them.
Questions or info: contact Deb Prieto debprieto@comcast.net
Zoom Tech Tips Workshop – Sat 11/21
Zoom Tech Tips for Church
Saturday, November 21
2:00 – 3:00 pm “Open House” on Zoom
Open to anyone who feels they could use a few tips using Zoom for Sunday Church Services at Good Shepherd. If you know anyone who wants to participate but is afraid to use Zoom, please invite them.
If you can, sign up and tell us what platform you are using (Apple laptop, iPad, iPhone, Windows, Android, etc). However, this is not mandatory, last minute attendees are welcome! Drop in anytime during the hour.
Sign up and questions: contact Deb Prieto debprieto@comcast.net
Church Reopening Update
The decision to remain closed to in-person communal worship was made by our bishop in consultation with the best available experts and information. Though painful to us all, the restrictions were made in a spirit of loving sacrifice intended to protect our community and our most vulnerable parishioners.
As we move closer to re-opening, Bishop Stokes has called two special task forces of experts to help guide the diocese into the “new normal.”
Bishop Stokes has appointed the Re-entering, Re-opening and Re-imagining (RRR) Task Force to provide guidance to congregations on how and when to re-open. The Task Force includes approximately 20 members who represent the diversity of congregations in our diocese and bring skills and experience in public health, liturgy, and congregational life. The task force met for the first time this week and issued the following statement:
This team is committed to providing preliminary guidance by June 5th so that parishes may begin the planning process. Each parish will create its own plan and submit it for review to the Task Force. We anticipate that the time it takes each parish to create and implement their plan will vary greatly. While some parishes may be able to resume limited use of their buildings shortly after the release of the guidelines, others may plan to open months later based upon the unique needs, composition, staffing and location of each parish. –The RRR Task Force
A second group–the Learnings and Breakthroughs Task Force–has been formed to look at the lessons we’ve learned during this crisis and how we can keep the good parts happening. We’ve been amazed at the level of community we’ve been able to build online, bringing Christ’s word to people who haven’t been in church in years. We don’t want to lose those aspects when we return to “normal.”
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The above was sent to all churches in the diocese. We will endeavor to follow the guidelines determined by the Diocesan task forces.
Looking forward with hope, certain that we live in God’s blessings,
Mother Susan+
See You All Soon!
Shop at Amazon Smile and Give to Good Shepherd
Attention Early Christmas Shoppers
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to
Good Shepherd!
Go to smile.amazon.com
Sign in with your Amazon account
Yes, the same Amazon account you already have …
Choose Church of the Good Shepherd, Pitman NJ
as the charitable organization you wish to support
It’s that easy!
Every time you shop:
smile.amazon.com
Chunky Blanket Workshop
Interested in creating your own cozy chunky knit blanket? Join us Saturday, November 23rd from 6:30pm-9pm in the parish hall where you’ll learn how to knit a blanket and leave with your own creation! Cost is $47 per person which includes yarn and a suggested $15 donation benefiting the stained glass window fund.
Due to the space needed to create the blankets, we only have 25 spots available!
Interested in joining us? Submit payment to Amanda McNally along with your preferred blanket color (white, gray, blue/grey, blue/teal, navy or dusty rose).
Questions? Please contact Amanda McNally at amcnally1@yahoo.com.
Please note color choices are first come first serve! This event is BYO food and drinks!
Family Quiz Bowl October 11th
Our Good Shepherd trivia competition, to benefit U.S. Disaster Relief, is only 10 days away! This is a fun family event with trivia questions designed for people of all ages. We will also have special activities for the younger children who aren’t that interested in trivia. Refreshments will not be served, however, teams can provide their own food, beverages and tableware. The doors open at 6:30 PM and the games will start at 7:00.
You do not have to be part of a team if you want to participate. We will assign individuals to teams. Teams will be limited to 6 people. The winning team will receive a trophy and the winning and 2nd place teams will receive small prizes.
Please sign up after church this weekend, October 6th. If you cannot be at church on October 6th to sign up, reach out to Diane Wall at markdiwall@comcast.net. We hope to see you there!
The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd 