March 11
Beloved families of Good Shepherd,
Peace be with you! Yesterday morning our Moms’ Ministry group gathered to enjoy breakfast and spiritual formation time together. Good Shepherd’s Moms’ Ministry is a small and wonderful group of moms from our church and day school communities. This semester we are reading the Psalms and the book, The Beauty of Motherhood: Grace-Filled Devotions for the Early Years, by Kimberly Knowle-Zeller and Erin Strybis.
We are using a contemplative approach to reading the Psalms called Lectio Divina (Latin for “Divine Reading”). Lectio Divina is a deep way of listening to God through the words of Scripture. We take turns slowly reading a selected Psalm with silence in between each of the three readings. After each reading, we share about the words or phrases of the Psalm that resonate with us.
Yesterday we read Psalm 46, which is about finding the presence of God in the midst of overwhelming world chaos:
Our loving Creator is an ever-present help.
The nations may be at war,
countries left in ruins,
yet is the Voice of the Almighty heard,
slowly breaking through hearts of stone.
The Beloved is ever with us, the infinite Heart of Love…
Be still and know that I am Love.
I was especially drawn to the words “our loving Creator is an ever-present help”. These words have stayed with me throughout my week, calmly grounding me in the truth that God is tenderly and powerfully with us, working all things together for good in the midst of our current chaotic world.
I encourage our parents to explore the many robust adult formation offerings at Good Shepherd and join a Bible study this Lenten season:
Our Moms’ Ministry group meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, 8:45-9:45 am. Child care is offered in our nursery during this meeting. To learn more about our Moms’ Ministry formation offering, go HERE.
Fr. Hendree offers two wonderful Bible Studies on Wednesdays and Sundays, both in-person and via Zoom. Go HERE to learn more. Fr. Hendree also offers a stellar Mystics formation study on Mondays at 5:30 pm. Go HERE to learn more.
Rev. Emily leads a creative and engaging Healing Bible study on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 pm during the month of March. Go HERE to learn more.
Our Youth and Young Adults Minister, Zac Blankenship, has just started a new and exciting Applied Bible Study on Wednesdays at 6 pm. All are welcome to join!
We hope to see you this Sunday!
Many Blessings,
Patty