Church of the Good Shepherd

We gather together in the name of Christ as Episcopalians in worship and in community. To pray, learn, love, and share. To reach out in hope to those within our parish and beyond. To empower one another to live the love of Christ in the world as good shepherds. We celebrate our diversity and we welcome all.

CGS at dusk

You are welcome here!

We extend a cordial welcome to you to worship with us, and offer this web site as a brief introduction to the Episcopal Church and its ways.

Important reminder!

Our Summer schedule begins on Sunday, with one Sunday service at 9:30 am, May 24 through September 6. weekday services remain the same

Morning prayer
7:15 am wednesday-friday

Hidden Brook candlelight service (no thur. night services in august)
7:00 pm

News

HIDDEN BROOK ACTIVITIES IN FEBRUARY
On Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7:45 pm, following the Hidden Brook candlelight service, we will have a book discussion "My Stroke of Insight" by Jill Bolte Taylor, who is a neuroscientist that had a massive stroke but has been able to achieve a remarkable recovery requiring many years. Her book is both inspirational and illuminating on how the brain works, particularly the different roles of the right and left sides of the brain. She is also an Episcopalian and reveals important insights on religious connections with the mind. Please see Steve Steadman for a copy of excerpted material from the book to read, if you do not wish to read the whole book, and want to prepare for the discussion. However, please join us for the discussion even if you have not read any material ahead of time.

LIVING STONES DINNER WITH NAIM ATEEK TO BENEFIT SABEEL
On Monday, February 23 at 5:30 pm, Living Stones will host a dinner with Naim Ateek to benefit Sabeel. Sabeel is an Arabic word meaning The Way or living springs. In Israel and Palestine Sabeel Ecumenical Theology Center works to strengthen and support Christians in their faith and to teach non-violence. Around the world Sabeel provides information and education programs to raise awareness of the lives of those who live, work, and worship in the Holy Land. Dinner reservations are required.

Tickets: Friends $50-$100 (sliding scale), Benefactors $125 (receive a signed copy of Naim's new book. Living Stones is making dinner tickets available to members of Good Shepherd for $25 and some complimentary tickets are available. The program below will follow the dinner. (The program is open to the public. Bring a friend! Admission is free.)

LIVING STONES INVITES YOU TO A PRESENTATION AND BOOK SIGNING?BRING A FRIEND!
On Monday, February 23 at 7:15 pm the Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek will present his new book, A Palestinian Christian Cry for Reconciliation, followed by a book signing. (Books will be available for purchase.) The presentation is co-sponsored by Friends of Sabeel-NE and Peace with Justice Task Force of WCES.

CELEBRATING OUR ANNIVERSARY!
We are celebrating our 125th year as a parish in Watertown. In the fall of 1883 several families began to meet in homes on the east end of Watertown for services and fellowship. As the group grew, they moved services of the Union Hall in Watertown Square. In 1884 they purchased a lot abutting Mount Auburn Street from the Russell family, on their celery farm, and began construction on a church building. The first service in the church was held on Christmas 1884.

If you would like to help us plan a year of celebrations, including a celebration of our newly restored Sacred Space, please contact Steve Steadman or Ann Franklin.

An Outreach Opportunity...
The Coalition for the Homeless, which is housing people at the Cambridge Gateway Inn, is in need of paper products (paper plates, plastic utensils, paper napkins, etc.). Here is your chance to meet your New Year's decluttering resolution by donating your left over holiday / party paper goods to Good Shepherd to be delivered to the Coalition for the Homeless. A collection box will be placed in the narthex, with the donation to be made following the Annual Meeting (Jan. 25).

THE HIDDEN BROOK RETURNS!!!
Good Shepherd's Thursday first evening service will be September 11, 2008

As always on the first Thursday of the month, the service will be in the style of Taize, with candlelight, music, poetry, and time for reflection.

All the old regulars will be there: The labyrinth looks forward to your footsteps on a symbolic inward journey, the floor cushions hope to make any sprawlers among us comfortable, the candles wait to be lit for the concerns of your heart, and the Hidden Brook Team very much looks forward to welcoming you.

Come by any Thursday, at 7 pm to spend some lovely, quiet, candlelit time at CGS.

Regular Service Schedule

Wednesday through Friday   Morning Prayer 7:15 am in the Chapel
Thursday   Hidden Brook Candlelight Prayer Service 7:00 pm
Sunday   Holy Eucharist Rite II 8:00 am spoken service.
Sunday   Holy Eucharist Rite II 10:00 am service with music.

Our Senior Warden writes about CGS in the Watertown TAB:

Migliozzi: Return of the 'Prodigal Son'

The Hidden Brook is rediscovered!

Thursday nights resume with a new name. "The Hidden Brook" resonates on several levels, both historic and spiritual. Literally, it describes the underground stream that runs down Russell Avenue and irrigated the celery farms that were on this land before the church was built. It was also the name of Good Shepherd's first nursery school. And now, for CGS's Thursday night community in the 21st century, it evokes the spiritual hidden brooks in all our lives -- sources of peace and refreshment that we can touch more deeply by spending time on our inner journeys?individually, yet still together..

Mid-Week Services

Our service schedule reamins the same:

Wednesday - Friday 7:15 AM --- Morning Prayer
Thursday Evening 7:00 PM -- "The Hidden Brook" A candlelight Service for all

The last Wednesday of each 3:00 PM --- Holy Eucharist in the Community Rooom as the Arsenal Apartment

If you are traveling on the weekends this summer consider attending one of our mid-week services.

If you attend a church at your travel destination, please take them our greetings in the name of Jesus Christ.

May the glories of summer bring a song of praise to our lips.

You appointed the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows the time to its setting?.O Lord, how manifold are your works!
In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104

In the familiar words of the 1928 Prayer BooK: Come, let us worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

This Place of Worship

As you enter, you will notice an atmosphere of worship and reverence. Episcopal churches are built in many architectural styles; but whether the church be small or large, elaborate or plain, your eye is carried to the altar, or holy table, and to the cross. So our thoughts are taken at once to Christ and to God whose house the church is.

This church was built in 1887, and rebuilt after a fire in 1959. On or near the altar there are candles to remind us that Christ is the ``Light of the world'' (John 8:12). Often there are flowers, to beautify God's house and to recall the resurrection of Jesus.

On one side at the front of the church, there may be a lectern-pulpit, or stand, for the proclamation of the Word; here the Scriptures are read and the sermon is preached. In many churches, however, the lectern is separate from the pulpit and stands on the opposite side of the church.