Our organized food and supply donations have been very successful this season.  This week please bring toothpaste with you!  Baskets will be available at the back of the church for your donation.

Tuesday, November 24,  at  7 pm
St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Houlton
bring a canned good for admission
The Rev. Leslie Nesin preacher

Our annual Harvest Bazaar will be held on Saturday, November 7th from 10 am to 1 pm in Watson Hall.  Crafts, Jewelry, etc.  Turkey Pie Luncheon 11 am to 1:30 pm.

Music will be provided by The Music Men

You don’t want to miss this one!!

Who is the greeter this week?  Check out the schedule to find out!

2009 NOVEMBER CHURCH SERVICE SCHEDULE

Picture Courtesy of Mike Clark

On Saturday, October 10, 2009, the Church of the Good Shepherd, Houlton, hosted an historical event, the first-ever international meeting of people from the Anglican Diocese of New Brunswick, Canada, and the Episcopal Diocese of Maine to discuss the formation and support of deacons.

Those attending the meeting representing the New Brunswick Bishops’s Commission on the Diaconate were Mr. Thomas Nisbett, lay person, Chairperson of the Commission; the Rev. Fran Bedell, deacon, from Edmundston; the Rev. Neville Cheeseman, priest; the Rev. Amanda Longmoore, priest, from Plaster Rock; and the Rev. Joyce Perry, deacon, from Fredericton.

The Diocese of Maine was represented by the Rev. Peg Thomas, priest, and Coordinator of the Deacon Formation Program; the Rev. Lee Burns, deacon, St. Giles’, Jefferson, and member of the Deacon Formation Program Advisory Council; the Rev. Jeri Williams, deacon, Aroostook Episcopal Cluster; and the Rev. Jessie Drysdale, deacon, Church of the Good Shepherd.

After introductions and opening prayer, the group shared hopes,  expectations, and concerns.  There was discussion of our understandings of deacons and diaconal ministry, our commonalities and differences. We learned from one another about differences in polity and came to understand how these differences impact formation and ministry. Topics for discussion were discernment, formation process, how we might share post-ordination formation and education, and the possibility of combined retreats.  Eager discussions took place over lunch.  Further talk resumed after lunch including suggestions of next steps.  One of the suggested next steps was a meeting of deacons from New Brunswick and northern Maine next Spring. Tom Nisbett volunteered to coordinate arrangements for such a meeting, possibly at Woodstock, New Brunswick.

It was a great first meeting with much good will and fellowship.  All agreed that the Holy Spirit was present with us!

Want a copy of our ‘Evening of Music’?  Get your copy today!!

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Not sure if you are a reader this Sunday?  No problem.  Now view the schedule online!

2009 OCTOBER CHURCH SERVICE SCHEDULE

Mike Clark found this photo and edited it for us.  Notice how close the parsonage is to the church and that there isn’t a hill!!

We will be back to “normal” starting Sunday, September 13th.

• Sunday School resumes and will start at 9:30am
• The Choir will be singing.  Rehearsal starts at 9:15
• We will also be having a Pot-Luck after the service!

Look forward to seeing you there!

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