Weekly Parish News for Tuesday, December 30 | | |
Announcements
- Office Schedule
- Christmas Eve Photos
- Chrismon Tree Help
- New Adult Formation
- Vestry Nominations Due 1/4
- Youth Pilgrimage Info Session - 1/11
- News from the Diocese
- Save the Date- VBS
Worship With Us
Prayer List
Support Our Parish
- Vision Accomplished Concludes – Thank You!
- Planning Your End-of-Year Giving
Connect With Us
| | | |
The Parish Office closed on December 24 at 1 PM and re-open on January 5 at 9 AM (except as noted below).
Christmastide Schedule Adjustments
December 30: Parish Office open 9 AM – 1 PM; no Bible Study
December 31: no noonday Eucharist
Morning Prayer will be read every weekday (Monday-Friday), except Christmas Day, at 9 AM in the church.
| |
A Beautiful Conclusion to our Advent Journey
Thank you to everyone who worshiped with us this Christmas! It was a beautiful conclusion to our Advent journey as we gathered to celebrate the birth of our Savior across all our services.
The photos shared here were taken during the 5:00 PM Christmas Eve Festival Eucharist. From the soaring music to the candlelit sanctuary, the "joy and wonder" of the season was felt by all. We are so grateful to have shared this sacred Christmas with our parish family and neighbors alike, and we hope these images serve as a heartwarming reminder of the light and hope we share in Christ.
Visit our Facebook page for more photos.
Photos by Noom Baggett and Nan Boyne.
| | |
Can You Help?
It's time for our beautiful Chrismon Tree to come down. We'll be removing the decorations immediately following the 10:15 service on Sunday. If you can stay for a few minutes to help, please do. Many hands make light work!
| |
New Year, New Horizons
We kick off 2026 with two special adult formation offerings. Join us on Sunday mornings at 9am.
-
Starting January 11th, Rev. Hershey Mallette-Stephens leads a guided tour through Richard Rohr’s latest work, The Tears of Things. How do we find a compassionate way to keep going in the face of violence and injustice? When daily disappointments and grievances pile up, what authentic remedy might we find? Join us as we put out into the deep together.
-
In February, Ian Finley returns to introduce us to one of his favorite books - Making Sense of the Bible by Adam Hamilton. If you were able to attend Ian’s class on C. S. Lewis, you already know what an energetic and inspiring teacher Ian is. We are delighted to welcome him back to help us look at the Holy Scriptures with fresh eyes and ever more open hearts.
Copies of The Tears of Things and Making Sense of the Bible will be available for purchase at the front desk beginning January 4th. Feel free to purchase your own copies in the meantime.
| |
Vestry Nominations Due by January 4
The Parish will elect four new vestry members at the Annual Parish Meeting on January 25 at 10:30 AM. New vestry members will serve a three-year term beginning February 1, 2026. If you would like to serve or know someone who would make a great candidate for vestry, please get a nomination form by CLICKING HERE. Self-nominations are encouraged! Please contact Esther Hall Nominating Committee chair to chat further about serving. Nomination forms must be received by Sunday, January 4, 2026.
Read our latest blog article https://www.cgs-raleigh.org/blog/all-about-the-vestry to learn more about the vestry and what it means to serve.
| | |
2027 Youth Pilgrimage Information Session - January 11
The Good Shepherd Youth Ministry Committee is delighted to announce that we are in the beginning stages of planning an overseas Youth Pilgrimage for the summer of 2027. This event will be open to all students who are enrolled in high school during the 2026/2027 school year.
There will be an information session for youth and parents after church on Sunday, January 11, 2026 in the EYC Room. All those interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity are strongly encouraged to attend.
|
News from the Diocese
The Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina has completed a comprehensive rebranding project, and has a new seal and a new website! Learn about it here: https://episdionc.org/rebranding/
To celebrate the debut of its new look, the Diocese has created an online community as an offering to all the diocesan faithful. The Beloved Community of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina is built on Circle, a community platform created specifically for building spaces where those with similar interests can gather and grow.
The intent of the diocesan Beloved Community is to give every Episcopalian across the Diocese of North Carolina a place to connect, build relationships, work, learn, share resources and more. Join the Beloved Community here:
BELOVED COMMUNITY ON CIRCLE
For more, check out news and information from the Diocese and The Episcopal Church on their websites.
| |
Save the Date! Vacation Bible School 2026
June 15-18 (Monday-Thursday), 9 AM – 12 Noon
Ages pre-K through 5th grade. (Nursery care will be available for younger children).
| | |
Sunday, January 4
8 AM
- Holy Eucharist, Rite I
- DOK offering healing prayers
8:30 AM - 12 Noon
- Nursery Care Available (infant-4 yo)
9 AM
- Kids Sunday School
- Adult Formation
- Bible Study Led by Debbie Moyer in Room 303
10:15 AM
11:30 AM
- Community Lunch and Fellowship Sponsored by Beyond Our Doors Ministry Team.
_______________
Weekday Worship
- Morning Prayer at 9 AM, Monday through Friday
- Wednesday Eucharist at 12 Noon
| | |
You’re Invited to Lunch!
Good Shepherd’s Beyond Our Doors Ministry Team invites you to our monthly Community Lunch immediately following the 10:15 service this Sunday, January 4. Come enjoy great food and fellowship. Everyone is invited, and all are welcome!
| | The Church of the Good Shepherd Prayer List | |
- Catherine and Bob Williams
- JoAnn Kistler and Charles Latimer
- Roy Wright
- Janet Gilliam
- Ralph Sanders
- Pete Taylor
- Martha Bailey
- Janie Ward-Newton
- William Short
- Brinley Harris
- Don Caudill
- Jerry Smith
- Margaret Park
- Lynda Terrell-Rea
- The Rev. Sallie Simpson
- Patricia Harris
- Susie Rahal
- Larry Phearse and Family
- David Lovelace
- Dana Babbs
- Mike Newton-Ward
- Melissa Habel
- Gary Blaettler
- Dennis McKinnie
| |
- Rose Hoppe
- Bob Kochersberger and Family
- Susan and Jane Jackson and Family
- The Mogilski, Bormann, and Dangerfield Families
- The Ellington Family
- The Stroud Family
- The Wilson Family
- the people of Israel and Palestine
- the people of Ukraine and Russia
- victims of gun violence
- those affected by drought, heat, floods, storms, and fires.
We pray for those who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom, remembering especially Shirley Stroud and Tony Wilson.
And we pray for those who mourn, including the family and friends of Michael Riddle, Al Bass, Smith Lingerfelt, Paul Hoch, The Rev. Janet Watrous, Mary Best, A.B. Swindell, and Peggy Hawks.
In the Anglican cycle of prayer, we pray for The Church of the Province of Central Africa.
| |
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.
| | Christmas Eve Altar, photo by Noom Baggett | |
Vision Accomplished Concludes – With A Very Big Thank You!
As 2025 comes to a close, let’s take a moment to reflect on our very successful Vision Accomplished campaign – which concludes at the end of this year. Our gratitude goes to God for the many blessings we have received at The Church of the Good Shepherd, as do our thanks to our amazing parishioners, who answered the call to support of this effort!
When we announced the Vision Accomplished campaign, we set a fundraising goal of $150,000 (commensurate with CGS’s 150th anniversary), to help retire the debt on the Duncan-Giersch Parish Life Center. As you know, we exceeded that goal by nearly $80,000, thanks to the generosity of our congregation. Those additional pledges enabled us to pay off our mortgage early – and provided significant savings in future interest payments. All of the funds received in excess of the amount required to retire the debt are being held in the church’s Trust Fund and designated for upcoming and unbudgeted capital improvements.
Vision Accomplished enabled congregants to fulfill their pledges over a 2-year period, which will close on December 31. We have a few pledges that have not yet been received, so please take a moment to review your status to ensure you are up to date. All pledges received will be used to address the needs of our church.
Once again, thank you, Good Shepherd parishioners – and thanks be to God!
| |
Planning Your End-of-Year Giving
Some folks have been asking how to ensure end-of-year gifts are properly credited to their 2025 giving contributions, especially since the Parish Office is closed between Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Here are some options for your consideration:
- Make your online contribution by December 31.
- Mail your contribution to the Parish Office (check dated December 31 or earlier & envelope postmarked by December 31).
If you should have any questions, please contact David Baggett (919.831.2018).
| | | | If you are looking for meaningful ways to serve the parish, please consider the ministries listed below. The contacts listed can provide more information. | | |
Parish Office 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!
Please email your contributions to Dana Deaton at cgsnews@cgs-raleigh.org The deadline for newsletter submissions is Wednesday at 2 PM. Thank you! Announcements may be edited for content and space.
| | |
A Friendly Reminder…
Have you moved? Changed your phone number or email address?
If so, please be sure to contact Parish Administrator David Baggett at david.baggett@cgs-raleigh.org or 919.831.2018). Thank you!
| | | | |
