Weekly Update for August 13, 2026 | |
Building Together in Love
Over the years I’ve been at Good Shepherd I have seen and experienced God’s love in so many ways. I’ve seen people heal. I’ve known of countless times groups organizing to respond to the needs of others. I’ve served alongside people I’d never met and those with whom — as Van Giersch said once of being in the choir: “Oh we go through life together.”
I’ve seen people accompanied to the end of their life and witnessed surviving family members walk through the time that followed with grace as well as pain. All this happened at church.
I’ve had the remarkable joy of being in choir for about 15 years and working with children’s programs for more like 20. The more you get involved the more you receive. I promise.
If I had to find a theme for all these things I think it could be an extraordinary level of acceptance and welcome. I was telling a visitor just this afternoon I think many of us stay at Good Shepherd because we felt welcome when we came. And we work hard at trying to extend that welcome to others because we know how much it meant to us when we arrived.
I’ve felt a welcome and acceptance of the things and thoughts I wanted to contribute to Good Shepherd. Those things are me. I felt an acceptance of what I brought to the table. Honey, they let me decorate the sanctuary for kids to use for VBS, I mean really! A team of people have done a thousand things to make programs like Godly Play, Sunday School, Choristers, Vacation Bible School, the Christmas Pageant possible for kids. When I see these kids learning, growing, running to the door to go up to their sacred space - please let me tell you how worth the effort it is. I see community and friendships develop among these kids and I will tell you something we learned in Godly Play and we know is true: when we make room, God is there.
- Elizabeth Gant
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Service Dog Etiquette
Dear Friends in Christ,
Meet my new partner in mobility and independence. Please understand that she is a service dog, like those that accompany first responders, and NOT a pet. As with those other types of service dogs, interactions with the public can compromise the dog’s attention and the safety of their handler. I am, therefore, asking that you not pet, talk to, or make eye contact with my guide dog, since these are all distractions that can weaken our bond and be disturbing to her. Thank you sincerely for respecting my request, promoting my mobility, and protecting my safety.
- Laura McArthur.
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A Message from the Rector
Dearly beloved,
I am delighted to share the joyful news that we have called the Rev. Polly H. Robb to serve as our new Associate Rector for Family Ministry and Spiritual Life. This moment is the fruit of a long season of prayer, discernment, and faithful work by so many in our community. We offer our deepest thanks to the members of our previous search committees for their diligent efforts and faithful leadership and to the many lay volunteers who have given so generously of their time, gifts, and love to nurture our children and families over the years....
Polly's first Sunday with us will be September 6th. Please keep Polly and her family in your prayers as they settle into a new city and a new diocese and join us in welcoming them with joy and hopeful anticipation of what God will enable through our shared ministry together.
In Christ's love as ever,
Imogen+
Please see Rev. Imogen's complete letter here.
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Note in the Pocket Clothing Drive
The Church of the Good Shepherd will be doing a clothing drive until this Sunday, August 16th for Note in the Pocket. Note in the Pocket is a 501c3 organization with a location in Raleigh. Their mission is to provide quality clothing to homeless and impoverished children and families with dignity and love. All size clothing is acceptable for this drive. Please see Allison or Isabella Elliott for more information.
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August Book Study
Brett MacDonald's class on Peter Enns’ book The Bible Tells Me So continues this Sunday after the 10:15 service and continue through the rest of August in the Adult Formation Room (PLC 323). See below for the class reading schedule.
Contact: Brett MacDonald
● August 16: Chapters 3–4
● August 23: Chapters 5–6
● August 30: Chapter 7 and concluding discussion
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Back to School Blessing
Students of all ages, teachers, college professors--anyone starting (or has already started) a new school year--you are invited to bring your backpack, book bag, or briefcase with you to church on Sunday, August 23rd for our annual Back to School Blessing during the 10:15 worship service.
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EYC Fall Parents Meeting
The Fall Parents Meeting for the Episcopal Youth Community will be Sunday, August 30 from 5:30-7:30 PM. All youth and their parents are strongly encouraged to attend.
During this meeting we will discuss the fall calendar, the 2027 Summer Pilgrimage, and other future plans. Dinner will be provided. Contact the Rev. Justin Gabbard for more information.
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Out & About Potluck Supper
Out and About is a longstanding popular supper group started at CGS over 25 years ago to affirm and support our LGBTQ+ members and friends. We gather at 6 PM every third Sunday of the month at a host's home for a potluck meal, fellowship and lots of fun. Please join us! ALL ARE WELCOME. For more information contact Brother Paul Henry OSF by text (954)448-8931. Our next supper is tonight at the home of Anna and David Howard, 1200 Kimbolton Drive Cary, NC 27511
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EYC Summer Pool Party
Once again, Nan and Jack Boyne have graciously offered to host the EYC Summer Pool Party. The Boynes have a gorgeous home in the Five Points neighborhood, and their private patio and pool is the perfect place to spend the last weekend of summer.
All EYC members and their families are invited to attend. This is also the perfect opportunity to introduce an interested friend to our community in a casual environment.
The festivities will begin Saturday, August 22nd at 5:30 PM and continue until 7:30 PM. Hamburgers and hotdogs will be provided, and guests are invited to bring a side, salad, or dessert.
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Let’s Build a Community Prayer Chain
Don’t forget to contribute to the Community Prayer Chain! At the end of the summer, the chain prayers will be blessed and offered to God during Sunday services on Rally Day, Sunday, September 13th!
Throughout the summer,
- Pick up a colored strip of paper in your worship space or PLC foyer.
- Jot down a prayer--for yourself, for your loved ones, for our community, for our nation. Don’t feel limited to one prayer! Contribute as many prayers as you’d like, using one strip of paper for each prayer.
- Leave your prayer(s) in the basket on the round table in the PLC foyer.
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Books and Bagels Book Group
This is a photo of the CGS Book Group last week. We now meet on Thursday mornings at 8:30 AM at the Starbucks Coffee at 3800 Lake Boone Trail. We are currently reading the Pulitzer Prize winning All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. Our next book, starting in late August, will be the classic 1984 by George Orwell. Anyone is welcome to join us for any meeting! Contact Deb Moyer or Jean Knepley for more information.
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News from the Green Team - The Power of One
Have you ever sampled Chef Anthony Harris’ delicacies featured at a Beyond Our Doors Luncheon? Learn more about Anthony and his unique approach to Creation Care!
Anthony Harris is the exuberant force behind healthy dishes served at Beyond Our Doors Lunches which not only are from his own recipes, but his own garden. Even if you are not a fan of greens, Anthony’s excitement is contagious and it will beckon you to expand your tastebuds!
It only takes a few minutes of talking with Anthony before you understand that there is so much more to this young man and his commitment to food. He grew up in Florida and was introduced to gardening as a child in his grandfather’s fields, orchards, and vegetable gardens in nearby Alabama. Educated as a philosopher, he had an awakening that everything we have comes from plants after taking a botany class. This set in motion waves of learning in subsequent years that he used in the food and beverage service where he experimented with growing heirloom varieties of vegetables and herbs, combined flavors in unique ways and studied how to deliver higher quality food for all.
Today Anthony is involved in efforts such as seed saving and seed swapping to preserve heirloom cultivars and provide access to unique, open pollinated seeds. Seeds are an important link between humans and plants. Whether for corn or cotton, seed saving is “all one love” as he puts it.
Anthony feels that we have an obligation to carefully manage the environment. Conventional food production is often destructive, and we can do better by taking a bit of effort to grow or source food that is local without additives to provide access to better health for everyone. Anthony advises, “There is no one right answer or way to do things, but be as close to the source as possible for authenticity and integrity in what you are consuming.” It is a good reminder for all of us to start taking food as seriously as Anthony does.
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Help Wanted! Meals on Wheels
Good Shepherd presently delivers to 5 Meals on Wheels routes twice per month. We would love to be able to increase our number of PERMANENT routes, but we really ALSO need people willing to be SUBSTITUTES when one of our drivers needs to be off … it happens! Delivering a route takes around 2-2.5 hours out of your day - about 10 AM till 12 PM on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month. You will be trained … not throwing you to the wolves here! This is a wonderfully fulfilling service - I promise!!
You get to deliver a balanced, nourishing meal to people who may otherwise be lacking - but maybe above and beyond all that, you may be the ONLY person that person has contact with that day - and you have just a few minutes to make that person’s day a little brighter. How in the world can your day get any better knowing that? Please see/contact Jan Harris (or 919-815-2556) for more info!!
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Volunteer Opportunity
Each week Lowe's Foods on Strickland Road donates baked goods to the Shepherd's Table. And we need volunteers to pick up these donations and get them to the soup kitchen. Our wonderful volunteers sign up for one month at a time, covering each Sunday of that month. The commitment entails picking up the items after 10:15 AM and delivering them to the soup kitchen before 12:00 PM We are currently looking for volunteers to pick up during November and December. To help us with this wonderful ministry, please contact Paula Andrews at paula.andrews2112@gmail.com or (919)880-5701.
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St. Ambrose Episcopal Church Women
Save the Date
Our friends at St. Ambrose Episcopal Church ae putting on an Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Women's Retreat. It will be on Saturday, September 19th from 9-3:30 PM. More details to come.
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ReNew Mobile Showers
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Because of your generosity and encouragement, ReNew Mobile Showers continues to restore dignity and hope to our neighbors experiencing homelessness and hardship. Please help us spread the word about our upcoming mobile shower services by sharing the flyer below with your family, friends, churches, community organizations, and anyone who may know someone in need.
Thanks to supporters like you, ReNew Mobile Showers has already:
• Provided 219 warm showers to neighbors in need.
• Distributed more than 2,267 essential hygiene and personal care items during our shower services and street outreach.
• Engaged 295 dedicated volunteers who have contributed more than 958 hours of service.
• Heard from 100% of surveyed guests that access to our showers helped reduce barriers related to personal hygiene.
Thank you for believing in our mission and for helping us spread the word.
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Come Worship & Learn This Sunday
The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
8 AM
Holy Eucharist, Rite I
8:30 AM - 12 Noon
Nursery Care Available (infant-5 yo)
10:15 AM
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
11:30 AM
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Next Week (Monday-Saturday)
Monday, August 17
Tuesday, August 18
Wednesday, August 19
- 9 AM
- Morning Prayer
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Kaffeeklatsch Fellowship Group (at Cafe Carolina and Bakery, 2130 Clark Ave, Raleigh 27605); Contact: Jean Knepley
- 12 PM Holy Eucharist
- 5:30 PM Finance Committee Meeting on Zoom
Thursday, August 20
- 8:30 AM Books & Bagels Book Group at Starbucks (3800 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607)
- 9 AM Morning Prayer
Friday, August 21
Saturday, August 22
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Our Altar Flowers this past Sunday
Photo Courtesy of Peter Jezierny
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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; Margaret Park;
The Rev. Sallie Simpson; Patricia Harris;
Larry Phearse and Family;
Mike Newton-Ward; Rock Kershaw;
Bill White; NY Mike Smith;
Tamara Gregory; Lynda Terrell-Rea;
Elise Abernathy; Marsha Sample; Susan Doty;
The Fyfe and Simon Families;
The Pursley Family; The Cooke Family;
The Rahal and Anderson Families;
The Smith and Acton Families;
The Vitaglione Family;
the people of Colombia;
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,
Deborah Cooke, Susie Rahal,
Jerry Smith, and Guy Vitaglione.
In the diocesan cycle of prayer,
we pray for St. Mary Magdalene, Seven lakes
and St. Paul's, Smithfield.
In the Anglican cycle of prayer,
we pray for The church in Wales.
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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.
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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
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News from the Diocese & The Episcopal Church
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Parish Office Regular Hours
Monday-Thursday, 9 AM - 5 PM; Fridays by appointment
Pastoral Care Emergencies
Please call the Pastoral Care Support Line 919.831.2008
Prayer Requests
Please CLICK HERE to submit a prayer request.
Thank you for reading the Parish News.
Announcements and photos to share with our parish family are always welcome!
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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!
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