The Covenant Community
Of
Jesus the Good Shepherd
Covenant Information Booklet
2006-2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Hyperlinked)
ALPHABETICAL INDEX (Hyperlinked)
You will be blessed by the Lord
for taking the time to prayerfully complete your covenant scroll.
The Covenant Community
of Jesus the Good Shepherd
Dunkirk/Owings, MD
Covenant Information Booklet
2006-2008
The Covenant Community of Jesus the Good Shepherd is a territorial parish of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.
The term "covenant" community comes from Jesus' words of consecration over the cup during the Last Supper. "This cup is the new covenant in my blood." (Luke 22:20) Since our worship is centered in the Eucharist, we are a covenanted people, i.e. called into community by our Lord. Three virtues give special focus to our Covenant Community.
Through the virtue of Hospitality we endeavor to know and care about each other, to share a deep sense of belonging, and to welcome the stranger.
Through the virtue of Spirituality we endeavor to celebrate the Liturgy in the best traditions of the Church, to promote participation in small Christian study groups, and to develop ministries of spiritual growth within the Community.
Through the virtue of
Stewardship we recognize that each Confirmed person has gifts to bring to the
upbuilding of the
A Stewardship Council helps us maintain a living expression of that virtue within our Covenant Community by developing our annual budgets and working closely with the Pastor and lay leadership in all financial matters.
The goal of all decision-making is to discern together the will of God for his covenanted people. To this end we enjoy the blessing of pastoral office in the Church, periodic general meetings of the membership, and a Covenant Service Board. We seek consensus in major matters and remain aware that the Lord may choose anyone through whom to speak.
Each year, on the first Sunday in October, the Community celebrates a special, covenant-renewal Liturgy. During this Covenant Sunday Liturgy a bishop, if available, leads us in a re-covenanting ceremony. We renew our commitments to the covenant way of life and to the three virtues of hospitality, spirituality and stewardship. At the same time we offer our gifts on a yearly basis to the Lord as His Spirit guides each of us, and join Christian study groups. The Liturgy is followed by the Covenant Festival.
We desire a relationship
in the Lord with other communities pursuing a similar vision of the Church.
Dear Members of Jesus
the Good Shepherd Community,
It
gives me pleasure once again to welcome you to our annual celebration of
COVENANT SUNDAY!
“What good is it to profess faith without practicing it?” [James
2:14]. One of the many special qualities
of Jesus the Good Shepherd is the high level of parishioner involvement in our
ministries, apostolates, organizations and committees. Your presence and participation in COVENANT SUNDAY
are a sign of your interest in being a part of the
life which animates our Roman Catholic Faith community.
We
want you to get involved in the many wonderful activities that Jesus the Good
Shepherd offers. These are listed in our
Covenant Information Booklet and also in our Sunday bulletin. Please take the time to prayerfully complete
and return your covenant scroll.
Also,
please feel free to call upon me as your pastor at any time. I am committed to making Jesus the Good
Shepherd a place where the love, care and service of Jesus is the model of our
lives together.
God
bless you!
With
kind personal regards, I remain
Sincerely
in Christ,
Reverend
Michael J. King
Pastor
Fall
Mass Schedule
Saturday: Confessions: Vigil Mass: Sunday: Mass (Traditional Choir): Mass (Contemporary Choir) Evening Mass: Nursery: Daily
Mass Late August through mid-June Mid-June through August 24 Holy
Day Masses: Summer
Mass Schedule
Saturday: Confessions: Vigil Mass: Sunday: Mass (Traditional Choir): Mass (Contemporary Choir): Evening Mass: |
Covenant Sessions (Religious Education) Elementary – PreK through
Grade 6 Sunday, Family Sessions - 1st
thru 8th Grades Every other Sunday |
This
booklet is a guide to the many works of the spirit in our covenant community.
It's
purpose is to assist you in filling out your covenant scroll.
Explanation of the
Covenant Scroll
Every Christian community, which celebrates the Eucharist, is a covenant community, because according to Jesus' own words, we are celebrating "the new covenant in my blood."
The
Covenant Sunday is
(always
the first Sunday in October)
The Liturgy that weekend will be on Sunday at
to join us on Sunday. Scrolls
are collected during this Liturgy.)
By filling out and submitting our scrolls we commit ourselves to the virtues of Hospitality, Spirituality and Stewardship by volunteering to serve in the many ministries offered. The scrolls are brought to the altar during the Liturgy.
Covenant Sunday
Festival
A buffet dinner and drinks will be provided as in years past. We
ask families with last names beginning with A-K to bring a dessert for the Festival.
Desserts should be dropped off in the Dessert Tent before Mass that day. The
Covenant Mass and Festival is open to all Community members and is
Please remember to bring folding chairs and
to wear appropriate casual clothing to the outdoor
Festival Coordinator for 2006 is Kathy Gushen
We invite a person, a couple, or team to work
with our coordinator
so that we can develop leadership for future
festivals.
For your safety, we always
recommend those heading south to take
Hospitality ................................................................................................................................. 1-6
Once-A- Month Baking .................................................................................................................... 1
Saturday and Sunday Refreshment Tables ....................................................................................... 1
All Saints (Hallow-een Party) .......................................................................................................... 2