Why I Love Good Shepherd #9

WHY I LOVE GOOD SHEPHERD

This article is the second in a series presented by the 2011 Stewardship Committee. If you are interested in submitting an article for the series, please contact Father Matt, we’d love to print your submission! This month we continue the series with a note from Cindy Rubino:

When asked why I love Good Shepherd, my immediate answer is “Because of the people, of course.”  But I’m guessing that Father Matt is looking for a slightly more elaborate answer to the question for purposes of this article, so let me elaborate.

My family has a long history within this church.  My parents were married here and even had their reception in the church hall.  My sister and I were both baptized here, attended Sunday school and got all the pins, attended Youth Group and were confirmed here.  We were both married here and all our kids were baptized here as well.   Now I watch as my children go through Sunday school and I realize how life does indeed come full circle.  And as I sit here and reflect on all these celebrations that have taken place in the church, I remember all of the warm, loving, familiar faces that we were surrounded by—our fellow parishioners.  To be a part of the “flock” at Good Shepherd is like having a huge extended family.  And for anyone who is new to the Church, or just visiting even, this is so evident at that moment on Sunday when we greet each other with the Peace. 

At some point, most likely around my college years, my mom and Grandmother migrated to the 8:00 service, and I followed suit.  I attended 8:00 for many years, and it wasn’t until Melody was ready to start Sunday school that I went back to the 10:00 service.  Having been a regular at both services, I can say I love them each equally.  I miss seeing the folks at 8:00, and I do try to attend that service when Sunday school is not in session—it’s so wonderful to see how those folks love to see my kids and see how they’ve grown.  When we began attending 10:00 again, I was so happy to see so many familiar faces.  While there were many folks who have known me most of my life, there were just as many that I didn’t know.  And I can honestly say that all of those people at one point or another came up to us and offered us the warmest welcome.  Since then we’ve gotten to know many of the people who were new to me a couple years back, and I have to say you guys are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met.  Even though I’ve been a lifelong member of the church, I do know how anybody who is new to the church feels that first Sunday they attend—right at home. 

Over the course of the past several years the church has gone through a lot.  We’ve had numerous priests—we were married by Father Tom, Mel was baptized by Father Richard, John by Father Troy, Bobby by Father Patrick and Matthew by Father Matt—who I know will be here for a long time!  But through all the transition and turnover there has remained one constant—the fabulous people that make up the church.  Father Dresser was the priest here through most of my youth, and I have many fond memories of him.  I remember one Sunday he held the service outside on the front lawn of the church because as he put it, “You don’t need walls to have a church—it’s the people and their Faith that make a church.”  I’m sure there are a number of you that may remember that, and I’ll just finish by saying he is right—we have a wonderful church that I love because of the great people that make it what it is.