Christ the shepherd12/21/2023 ![]() We can trust that God is the perfect Shepherd. Even when life gets difficult, God protects us, guides us, and never leaves us. Just as shepherds guarded their sheep and cared for them day and night, so does God care for us. And Jesus claims to be the Good Shepherd who truly cares for His sheep-so much so that He lays down His life for them (John 10:1–16). In the New Testament, shepherds near Bethlehem are the ones chosen to witness the heavenly announcement of Christ’s birth. Saint Isidore the Farmer 1655 Magnolia Road Vineland, NJ 08361- 6598. The first song that was sung in worship was Lord, I Lift Your Name on High it was the goal then and is still the goal that we will be a church that exalts the Person and Work of Christ on behalf of His people. Notable shepherds in the Old Testament, besides David, are Abel, Moses, Amos, and, for a time at least, Zechariah. Christ the Shepherd Church held its first worship service in 2006 in a rented space on North Street. Surely your goodness and love will follow meĪnd I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. One of the most well-known psalms, Psalm 23, describes the Lord as the Great Shepherd: David was a shepherd for his family, and he often used references to shepherding in the book of Psalms. Frequently, the youngest boy in the family served as a shepherd until he grew older and could do harder manual labor. Because sheep were so valuable, shepherds would stay with the flock to protect them day and night. Placing a stone in the pouch, a skilled shepherd could fling rocky projectiles over a good distance in order to scare off or wound wild animals.ĭuring biblical times, families in the Middle East relied upon sheep to provide food, wool, and sheepskin. For further protection, shepherds often carried a sling, comprised of a leather pouch on a string. ![]() The staff was used as a walking stick for the shepherd, who also used it to maneuver sheep when needed. The shepherd used his rod to protect his sheep from wild animals or other threats. Sometimes the knob even had nails in it to make it a better weapon. The rod was a sturdy stick with a knob at one end. Guiding the flock of sheep to a good location was an extremely important task for a shepherd because good pastures kept his flock healthy.Ī shepherd typically carried a few items with him to aid him in his task of caring for the sheep. If the water moved too quickly, the sheep would be too afraid to drink from it. If fed grass of poor quality, the sheep would be malnourished. Whatever his age, the shepherd’s job was to protect his flock and guide them to good pastures with plenty of food and slow-moving, easily accessible water. “We, the Roman Catholic Parish of the Covenant Community of Jesus the Good Shepherd, have chosen to serve the Lord by evangelizing through the virtues of Hospitality, Spirituality and Stewardship.A shepherd during the time of the Old Testament was often, but not always, a child. "The person who welcomes you, welcomes me" (Matthew 10:40). To know and care about each other, to share a deep sense of belonging, to welcome the stranger - these are the Christ-like qualities of an hospitable community. ![]() "Make hospitality your special care" (Romans 12:13). "As generous stewards of God's manifold grace, put your gifts at the service of one another, each in the measure he has received" (1 Peter 4:10). Saint Peter reminds us that a Christian is a steward of the grace of God. ![]() The spirituality of our covenant community is nourished and expressed in three fundamental ways - full, active participation in the Liturgy, spiritual growth for life through small group participation, and engaging in ministries of spiritual growth.
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