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The Shepherd’s Fold is a weekly e-publication filled with the latest stories and events at Good Shepherd.
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POGO REVISITED
“The world is going to hell in a handbasket!” I first heard that phrase as a kid listening to the grownups talking about the state of the world from their perspective as people of the depression and the insanity of the Second World War. As a youngster growing up and enjoying the wonders of farm life, I naively thought at least my world was great. As I grew older and became educated not only in academics but also in the “school of hard knocks” my perspective broadened. I concluded that the world seems to have always been in a state of going to hell in a handbasket. To get a clear sense of why the world seems to be in this perpetual state of unrest, let me introduce you to an old friend of mine, Pogo.
Pogo is a possum and his animal friends are a creation of Walt Kelly who started the Pogo comic strip in 1942. Pogo retired in 1972, but still lives on. The comic strip took place in the Georgia Okefenokee Swamp. Kelly used Pogo to comment on the human condition. The most famous, and my personal favorite Pogo quote, is “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”
Pogo first made that observation on an anti-pollution poster for Earth Day. The cartoon depicts Pogo and Porkypine walking through the swamp, which is littered with old tin cans and broken glass, discarded worn out tires and old bath tubs. Porkypine says, “The beauty of the forest primeval gets me in the heart.” Pogo comments, as he sidesteps broken bottles, “It gets me in the feet Porkypine.” Porkypine agrees and says, “It is hard walking on this stuff.” Pogo in eleven famous words goes to the heart of the matter, “Yep. Son, we have met the enemy, and he is us!”
Yes, us! From the very beginning the entire history of humanity is the story of the us trying our best to go to hell in a handbasket. The human condition is that we tend to be our own worst enemy by our selfishness and willfulness. Somewhere along the way we forgot that we are not the originals, but the images of God, and our responsibility is to use the original (God) as the pattern for our lives. We are given life to serve God’s purposes, not our own.
If we could put God’s purpose first, then there would be no need for hell or handbaskets. It’s up to us. This is our time in history to make a difference.
Joe+
FALL KICKOFF AND BACKPACK BLESSING
We will bless backpacks at the 10 am service, August 18, as we collect school supplies for Monte Sano Elementary. After the 10 am service, we will gather in the Parish Hall for a lunch of grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. On the church lawn, we will have snow cones and games for all ages!
WEDNESDAYS AT GOOD SHEPHERD (WAGS)
We are gearing up for a wonderful season of WAGS this fall. If you would like to join a cooking team please email maryashtonmills@gmail.com or blake.leverett@gmail.com. Joining a cooking team is an excellent way to get involved! We are currently seeking new teams to round out the schedule.
EfM
It’s now time to register for the 2024-25 year! Contact Tom Smyth at tom.smyth@icloud.com or 706-231-1720 for details. The EFM group meets on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and will begin in late August. Details about the program are located at https://theology.sewanee.edu/education-for-ministry/.
EXPERIENCE CURSILLO AT HONEY CREEK
Cursillo #129. Want to experience a deeper dive into what following Jesus is like for those of us in the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement? An upcoming retreat at Honey Creek will offer you a chance to reflect on the life of faith with other Episcopalians from Central and South Georgia. Cursillo (pronounced ‘kur-see-yo’) begins Thursday, September 19th and ends the following Sunday evening on September 22nd. During those three days the participants engage in listening to talks given by priests and lay people, and small table discussions, while worshiping and playing together. The next Cursillo, #129, will be held at Honey Creek.
BACK TO THE BIBLE
For the monthly readings pick up a bookmark or navigate to our B2B page: goodshepherd-augusta.org/b2b.
COGS UPDATE!
Our next COGS outreach opportunity will be on August 17th from 10:00am until 12:00pm with the Turn Back the Block ministry. This ministry is revitalizing Harrisburg one block at a time and through volunteers as well as donations is creating affordable home ownership opportunities where abandoned homes and vacant lots once stood. Please e-mail Lynn Tyson ltyson517@gmail.com or call/text at 706-833-7415 to volunteer. Children are welcome to come if they come with and are supervised by parents. What a great opportunity to spread Good Shepherd’s mission in the community. More to come on T-Shirts!
MOMS, DADS, and FRIENDS
You have a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the spiritual lives of our young children by assisting in an atrium each Sunday morning from 10:00-11:00. We are blessed with dedicated catechists who have completed the Level I Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) formation course and who take responsibility for presentations each week. However, we are in need of men and women who will assist the catechist and the children during this hour. Assistants have nothing to prepare, and you do not have to teach.
We invite you to learn more about CGS by attending an orientation meeting Saturday, August 3rd from 9:30-11:30 am in the conference room. CGS is a unique children's formation program that provides an environment for children age three to eight to "fall in love with God."
Speak with catechists or assistants, or give Jinny a call if you have any questions. We hope you will give prayerful consideration to becoming a part of this ministry.
*Catechists: Lucy Roth, Katrina Selby, Alyson Getchell, Linda Wier, Mary Margaret Adams, Renee Austin, Lydia Bliven Smyth, Ashley Pritchett,
Katie Tracy, and Nancy Thompson.
*Assistants: Laura Irwin and Pam Wynn
Head to the Shell Newsletter for details & to sign up for upcoming events.
For any questions, email mgwynn@goodshepherd-augusta.org.
ACOLYTE SIGN UP
For the month of July and early August, we will be using Sign-Up Genius to assign acolyte dates. Please head to the Shell Newsletter
to sign up for dates available.
Sunday, July 28th
8:00 am
Celebrant, Bunny Simon Williams
Preacher, Joe Bowden
Organist, Wayne Lord
Lay Reader, Lynn Tyson, Bobbie Ingenito
10:00 am
Celebrant, Bunny Simon Williams
Preacher, Joe Bowden
Organist & Choirmaster, Jim Nord
Lay Readers, David Lentz, Andrew Austin
Verger, Choppy Woodward
Ushers, Jonathan Adams, Fred Palmer
6:00 pm
Celebrant & Preacher, Sonia Sullivan Clifton
Organist, Nick Lowery
Lay Readers, Mitzi McCoy, Anne Floyd
All Services
Altar Guild, Team II
Vestry Person of the Day, Greg Haltiner
Christian Formation will resume August 25
NURSERY
- Infant Nursery - Room 101
- Toddler Nursery - Room 102
CHILDREN’S FORMATION:
• Three Year Olds: Room 305
• PK-K: Level I Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Room 306
• 1st-3rd Grades: Level II Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Room 304
• 4th and 5th Grades: Room 302
STUDENT FORMATION:
6th - 8th Grades: Room 208
9th-12th Grades: Room 301
ADULT FORMATION:
Young Adults Class: Meets in Room 209. We have selected “Christian Leadership” as our study guide (from LifeGuides) for the fall. We have used other books from the LifeGuides series in the past and have found it to be approachable and good for engaging in discussion. Led by Matt Matson.
A Cup of Joe with Honey Buns: Sawmill Theology, meets in the Conference Room. Join Ken Hardy, Bunny+ and Joe+ as they share God Stories – no telling what will happen next!
Back to the Bible Groups (for more info, go to goodshepherd-augusta.org/b2b)
- Sundays, 10 am & 4:30 pm (Bride's Room)
- 4 pm at the home of Nancy Sutherland
- Tuesdays, 4 pm (Bride's Room)
- Wednesdays, 11 am (Bride's Room)
- Thursdays, 5:30 pm