Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd

On the night before he died for us, Jesus gave us the gift of the bread and the wine and told us to remember him every time we took it together.

Holy Communion or Holy Eucharist is his gift to us. We take the bread and the wine at the altar as a sacrament and reminder of his living presence among us.

Jesus also gave us the gift of prayer for healing. That precious gift is separate and apart from the sacrament of communion.

It is customary to administer the Holy Eucharist at the altar and prayers for healing to one side, sometimes in a separate chapel.

The purpose of separating Holy Eucharist from prayers for healing is to honor both.

When we come to the altar, we remember Jesus and give thanks to God for his life and witness.

When we seek prayers for healing, we think of ourselves and our need for the healing presence of God.

Thanks to Bishop vonRosenberg who has given us the presence of the Reverend Lani Hubbard and the Reverend David Lovett, we now have three fully active clergy at Good Shepherd. That permits us to separate the Eucharist from the prayers so that you can give each your own undivided attention. When we do so, let us give thanks for the presence of God in everything we do.

Charles