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Rectors Welcome

The Rector's Welcome and Invitation

        On behalf of The Church of the Good Shepherd, I invite you to get to know us and to join our mission for Jesus Christ. We are called to be a community in Christ and for the mission of Christ in the world.  Our parish offers many opportunities to enrich our lives as Christians, from meaningful worship to global outreach-the full span of mission for God's work. The members of our parish family join me in extending a personal invitation to join us and share this high calling. 

        I am often asked, "Where do you stand with this controversy about homosexuality in the Episcopal Church?"  This question opens another door for introducing this parish. Our heritage at Good Shepherd has always been the "big tent" and now called "the safe harbor" for people with different cultural, political and religious views. Like the disciples who followed Jesus, we too share our differences about the Kingdom and our understanding for the disciples' life and work. We share Thomas Cranmer's belief, a chief author of the Prayer Book, "that God's Truth is like silver; the more it is tried, the more it appears." 

        However, such differences never override our ultimate allegiance in Jesus Christ. I am more than willing to share my own viewpoint, without making it the agenda for this parish. Who we are and what we do come from the shared leadership of this rector, the vestry and our parishioners.

        Let me offer this invitation: Come and get to know us. Give us the privilege to share our parish family with you. If life within our parish enriches your life as a Christian, then come join us. Take your place in our community. We will be richer and more faithful for your presence.  Our commitment is to return the compliment.

Faithfully,

The Rev. Dr. Laurence K. Packard

Church of the Good Shepherd ~ 9350 Braddock Road, Burke, Virginia 22015 ~ 703-323-5400 ~ Fax: 703-323-9303 ~ Email Church