Wishing you a blessed Eastertide!

Weekly Update for April 23, 2026

Reminders...

This Sunday, April 26

Come Celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday!

The fourth Sunday of Easter is known, liturgically, as Good Shepherd Sunday, which is the perfect day to celebrate our beloved parish. On Good Shepherd Sunday we remember our past, give thanks for our present, and joyfully anticipate our future! This Sunday we are excited to baptize our newest sibling in Christ, June Anna Linnell, to recognize those who have joined the parish during the past year, and to commission our parish's Pastoral Care Ministers. 

Continuing this Sunday, April 26th

Adult Formation in April: Philadelphia Eleven Film Series

This April, the Rev. Justin Gabbard is leading a three-part Adult Formation series on The Philadelphia Eleven. This award-winning documentary marks the 50th anniversary of when eleven courageous women and three brave bishops shattered the stained-glass ceiling in the Episcopal Church. Good Shepherd hosted a screening of this film in 2024, but many parishioners were unable to attend and have requested another opportunity to watch. During each session, we will watch a portion of the film and then discuss the theological and pastoral issues it raises. This series continues with part three at 9:00 AM on Sunday, April 26th in Room 323. Contact Rev. Justin

This Sunday!

Evensong Service on Sunday, April 26

This Sunday, April 26, at 4:00 PM, we welcome the Choir of St. Michael's Episcopal Church to The Church of the Good Shepherd for another musical collaboration. This special Evensong service will feature the combined choirs of both churches under the direction of Kevin Kerstetter, with Kirsten Homdrom at the organ. Please plan to join us for what promises to be a beautiful afternoon of worship and song. Please also enjoy the video below taken at rehearsal last night. Kevin Kerstetter conducts the combined choirs of The Church of the Good Shepherd and St. Michael's Episcopal Church in singing Stephen Paulus's Pilgrims' Hymn.

Music Celebration Series

Please join us as we celebrate The Church of the Good Shepherd's Music Ministry! As we approach the end of the program year, this is a great time to say thank you to everyone in Music Ministry and acknowledge their hard work this year. 

• Sunday, April 26 - Evensong at 4:00 PM, led by the choirs of Good Shepherd and St. Michael's
• Sunday, May 3 - Handbell Choir plays opening and closing voluntaries at the 10:15 service
• Sunday, May 10 - Chancel Choir and Good Shepherd Choir sing at the 10:15 service; choristers recognized; today's plate offering (i.e., undesignated or “loose” offering) goes to the Music Fund.

The church's annual operating budget supports the church's regular month-to-month music ministry expenses, but the Music Fund is used primarily to support large one-time purchases. For example, this past program year the Music Fund has been used for:

• Christmas Eve and Easter Sunday guest musicians.
• New choir robes for child choristers.
• Platform in organ pit.
• Palm Sunday Concert featuring the Lyricosa Quartet.

Save the Date!

Pig Pickin'

The Church of the Good Shepherd is delighted to announce that the Mike Beard Annual Pig Pickin' will return on Saturday, May 2, from 4-7 PM. This family-friendly BBQ and picnic is one of our parish's signature fellowship events of the year. The Pig Pickin' will once again be held at Tara Farm, a majestic horse farm owned by the Pugh Family, our gracious hosts. If you are planning to attend the 2026 Pig Pickin', please click on the link below and RSVP. On the registration page, you can also sign up to contribute to the potluck and/or volunteer to help with set-up, clean-up, and kids’ games. Read more.. Register/Volunteer here

2026 Summer Mission Trip -- Registration Is Open

July 19-25, 2026

Both adults and teenagers (over the age of eleven) are invited to join the Good Shepherd work crew.  We have reserved twenty-five beds and are hoping to have equal numbers of teens and adults. We are especially interested in those who have construction or home improvement experience. Read more about it... Contact: Rev. Justin REGISTER HERE

Vacation Bible School Registration Is Open!

VBS 2026 for children pre-K through 5th grade will take place June 15-18, 9 AM-12 Noon. To register your child(ren) please CLICK HERE. The registration deadline is Tuesday, May 26.

PS: adult & youth volunteers are needed to make VBS a success! If you'd like to help out, please CLICK HERE. Thank you!

Did You Know?

Welcome St. John's MCC! 

Our siblings in Christ of St John's MCC recently lost their regular worship space. For the next few weeks, as they prayerfully discern their future, they are meeting at 10 AM on Sunday mornings in Good Shepherd's choir room.  

Scammers Are Hard at Work

Please be alert! Clergy and staff never send emails soliciting gift cards or cash transactions. Also keep in mind that legitimate emails from The Church of the Good Shepherd always

• contain Good Shepherd branding, like this one does.
• come from a church email address ending in cgs-raleigh.org.

If you ever have a question or concern about an email received, please call the Parish Office (919.831.2000).

Diocesan History Day 2026: The Road to Disestablishment: Church-State Relations in Colonial North Carolina & the Constitution of 1776

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. But North Carolinians have two other landmark events to observe. On April 12, 1776, three months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Provincial Congress met in Halifax and adopted the “Halifax Resolves,” making North Carolina the first colonial government to call for total independence from England. Later that same year, the Provincial Congress met again in Halifax and adopted the state’s first constitution. Among other provisions, that constitution did away with Anglican establishment. Halifax, then, is the perfect setting for a History Day devoted to looking at the established church in Colonial North Carolina and the subsequent impact of disestablishment.

Read more.. Register here

Movie Screening: Racist Roots

Our friends at Raleigh Mennonite Church (on the 3rd floor of the Parish Life Center) are hosting a screening of the short film "Racist Roots" on Monday, May 18th from 6:30-8:00 PM. See below for further information.

We'll gather in Shepherd's Hall with Noel Nickle, Executive Director of the NCCADP (North Carolina Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty) and Ed Chapman, NC death row exoneree and author. There will be a time to gather, view the film, and take part in a conversation with Ed Chapman. Snacks and drinks will be provided by the Hospitality Committee. The event is free and open to the public. Please invite anyone who may be interested. RSVP-ing is encouraged using the QR code on the flyer or this link, so that we can get a head count for the food. 

Come Worship & Learn This Sunday

8 AM

Holy Eucharist, Rite I

8:30 AM - 12 Noon

Nursery Care Available (infant-5 yo)

9 AM

• Kids Sunday School (5 yo-5th grade)
• Adult Formation
• Join Rev. Justin in Room 323 for the third session of a three-part series: Philadelphia Eleven Film Series. During each session, we will watch a portion of the film and then discuss the theological and pastoral issues it raises. 
• Join us Sunday morning in Room 303 as Debbie Moyer continues to lead our study of the Gospel of Matthew.

10:15 AM

Holy Eucharist with Baptism, Rite II, with Children's Chapel & Godly Play

• Service Livestream
• Service Bulletin

11:30 AM

Fellowship Time with snacks and beverages hosted by the parishioners living in the 27608 zip code Contact: Sarah Boney

4:00 PM

Evensong

• Service Livestream
• Service Bulletin

5:30-7:30 PM

EYC

Next Week (Monday-Saturday)

Monday, April 27

• 9 AM Morning Prayer
• 6 PM Vestry Meeting in Room 303

Tuesday, April 28

• 9 AM Morning Prayer
• 10:30 AM Bible Study with Rev. Imogen (Ennis Suite)
• 4:30 PM Jr Choristers' Rehearsal
• 5:30 PM Bible Study with Van Giersch at Van & Gigi Giersch's home (6433 Chapman Ct, Raleigh 27612)

Wednesday, April 29

• 9 AM
• Morning Prayer
• Kaffeeklatsch Fellowship Group (at Cafe Carolina and Bakery, 2130 Clark Ave, Raleigh 27605); Contact: Jean Knepley
• 12 Noon Holy Eucharist, Rite II
• 6 PM Handbells Rehearsal
• 7 PM Chancel Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, April 30

• 8:30 AM Books & Bagels Book Group at Chanticleer Coffee & Bakery (6490 Tryon Rd, Cary 27518); contact Jean Knepley
• 9 AM Morning Prayer
• 11 AM Flower Guild Meeting in Room 303

Friday, May 1

• 9 AM Morning Prayer

Saturday, May 2

• 4 PM Pig Pickin' Parish Picnic at Tara Farm

News & Updates

Good Shepherd to Host Arts Together Summer Camps

A variety of exciting camps is being offered this summer, July 15-August 14, for kids ages 3-12 yo at both Good Shepherd and Arts Together's facility (114 Saint Mary's St, Raleigh 27605). Read more about it ...

Parish Prayer List

Catherine and Bob Williams; JoAnn Kistler; Roy Wright; Janet Gilliam; Ralph Sanders;

Pete Taylor; Martha Bailey; Janie Ward-Newton; William Short; Brinley Harris; Don Caudill; Jerry Smith; Margaret Park; The Rev. Sallie Simpson; Patricia Harris; Susie Rahal;

Larry Phearse and Family; Mike Newton-Ward; Rock Kershaw; Anne and Pete Crum;

Dave Bowman; Elise Abernathy; NY Mike Smith; Tamara Gregory; Michael Blake; Holly Rogers; Patti Head; Nancy and Gregory Clemmons; Bob Kochersberger and Family;

Susan and Jane Jackson and Family; The Fyfe and Simon Families; The Pursley Family;

The Cooke Family; the people of the Middle East; the people of Ukraine and Russia;

victims of gun violence; and those affected by drought, heat, floods, storms, and fires.

And we pray for those who mourn, including the family and friends of

The Rev. Janet Watrous, Mary Best, A.B. Swindell, Peggy Hawks, Charles Latimer,

Nolan Simon, Karen Pursley, and Deborah Cooke.

In the diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for

Church of the Holy Innocents, Henderson, and St. John’s, Henderson.

In the Anglican cycle of prayer, we pray for The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

Prayer Requests

The people of The Church of the Good Shepherd are eager to join you in lifting your prayers to God. Please tell us how we can pray with you by clicking here to submit a prayer request. Prayer requests added to our public prayer list will be refreshed every month; please feel free to resubmit them if you would like them to remain on the prayer list.

Support Our Parish

Ministry Opportunities

If you are looking for meaningful ways to serve, please consider the ministries listed below. The contacts listed can provide more information. More opportunities are listed on our webpages: Serve our Parish / Serve our Neighbors

Our altar this past Sunday

Photo courtesy of Peter Jezierny

Parish Partners

• Shepherd's Table Soup Kitchen
• Raleigh Mennonite Church

Connect with Us

A Friendly Reminder…

Have you moved? Changed your phone number or email address? If so, please be sure to contact Parish Administrator David Baggett or 919.831.2018. Thank you!