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Changed by God's love, to be God's light in the world. Good Shepherd is a diverse faith community located in Orange, Virginia. We work to transform lives by sharing God's word, and helping those in our congregation, community and the world. Normally, we gather together on Sunday mornings at 10AM to worship and learn about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit through prayer, song and the Word. We are currently recording our worship and posting a video, which you can access by using the link above. When we return to in person worship, please join us. We'd love to get to know you! Important Messages from the Parish President IN-PERSON WORSHIP Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam has announced that we are entering Phase Three of the “Virginia Forward” plan. Information on that plan is available on the State website, http://virginia.gov. However, worship involves singing, speaking out loud, and almost all of the practices that help to spread the Novel Covid-19 virus. The Congregational Council of each church in our Parish, and the Parish Council, have agreed that we should wait a while longer before returning to in-person worship. Yes, it’s coming soon, and the leadership of each church will follow State guidelines as well as those offered by our Virginia Synod. You can see the Virginia Synod guidelines at http://virginiasynod.org. We will worship together again soon. Watch our websites for updates on when that will happen. In the meantime, please continue to participate in the online worship experience we offer every Sunday, available on our website. Also, here is a link to Virginia Synod Bishop Robert Humphrey’s latest message about worshipping together again. Grace & Shalom, Mike Sathe, Parish President PASTORAL CALL PROCESS UPDATE Dear Members and Friends of Rapidan Lutheran Parish: The Call Committee and the Parish Council are pleased to announce that a primary candidate has been chosen for the position of Parish Pastor. A compensation committee has been formed to prepare and negotiate a compensation package. When this process is completed, arrangements will be made for the pastoral candidate to meet the congregation. Due to Covid-19, Parish Council is discerning how best to do this safely. One possibility is to hold an outdoor worship service with appropriate social distancing and mask wearing. This would allow members of both congregations an opportunity to meet the pastoral candidate, to hear the candidate preach and preside, and to ask questions of the candidate. Another possibility would be to offer an opportunity for members to meet the candidate via Zoom. However, since some of our members do not have high-speed internet service, Council believes that we need to provide an opportunity for everyone to meet the candidate one-on-one. The details of that opportunity will be coming soon. When the congregations have had an opportunity to meet the pastoral candidate, and when all the compensation details have been worked out, the Parish Council will give written two-week notice of a called congregational meeting for each church. At that time, a vote will be taken on whether we prayerfully believe that this is the candidate God would have us call to be our new Pastor. If the candidate is approved by both congregations, a vote will then be taken in regard to the financial package. If both the “Call” and the compensation package are approved, the Pastor will be notified and will have the option to accept or reject the call. If the call is accepted by the candidate, Bishop Humphrey will be informed and will approve the call. When we meet our pastoral candidate, even though we will know the candidate’s name and professional information, we must keep that information in strict confidence. The pastoral candidate is currently serving a congregation, and that congregation is not yet aware that the candidate is seeking a call elsewhere. The candidate’s current congregation would be informed only if we issue a call and the call is accepted. We ask our members and friends not to share the potential pastor’s name with anyone until or unless a call is completed. This is certainly an exciting time, and I personally believe that God has led us to the person that God would have us invite to be the next Pastor of Rapidan Parish. Please watch your email and postal mail for information on how you can meet the person we propose to be our next pastor, and then look for information regarding your opportunity to vote on the proposed pastor. Many thanks are due to the Call Committee and the Parish Council for bringing us to this point in the life of Rapidan Parish. Thanks be to God! Grace & Shalom, Michael Sathe, President of Parish Council Click on the link below for the full worship service: The link below is the bulletin to accompany the worship service. The document below contains links to videos, activities for children and bible study for older youth Good Shepherd's Mission
Following
Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd
Glorifying
God in Worship
Sharing the Good News of the Kingdom Serving Our Neighbor Leadership Team
Dick Stageberg, President Richard West, Vice-President Stewardship Kit West, Secretary Service & Christian Education Connie Kronander, Treasurer Non-Council Member Janet Cooper, Financial Secretary Evangelism Grant Palmer, Council Member Property
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