Weekly Parish News for Thursday, December 4

Announcements

• Alternative Gift Giving
• Adult Formation this Sunday- ONE Wake
• Advent Sunday events
• Newcomers Class
• White Flag Shelter Nights
• Volunteer Opportunity
• St. Nicholas Tree wrapping up
• Men's Lunch- Dec. 11

Worship With Us

• Sunday Schedule
• Service Livestream
• Service Bulletin

Prayer List

Support Our Parish

Connect With Us

Advent

Advent is a special and busy time in the life of the parish. We hope that each of you will join us and bring friends to the special worship services and fellowship activities this Sunday and throughout December. Please read the newsletter, facebook page, and visit our Advent page on the website:

https://www.cgs-raleigh.org/advent.html

Alternative Gift Giving

Feeling like you, your family, or your friends already have too much abundance? Do you need a gift idea that transcends clutter?

Here is a thoughtful solution for the season: Alternative Gift Giving (AGG)!

Donating to a non-profit which upholds your loved ones’ values is a perfect way to honor, remember, or celebrate someone by making a real difference in the lives of people with very high levels of need.

This year, the Outreach Committee is focused on Loving Our Neighbors, supporting proven charities with either a direct CGS connection or those dedicated to serving disadvantaged children and families.

Visit our Alternative Gift Giving tables which will be set up in the PLC Lobby after both the 8:00 and 10:15 services on the first, second, and third Sundays of December:


• December 7 (After Both Services)
• December 14 (After Both Services)
• December 21 (After Both Services)


For more information and to see the list of charities your generosity will support, please read our blog article: Alternative Gift Giving

ONE Wake is the topic in this Sunday’s Adult Formation Class

You are invited to this Sunday’s Adult Formation Class (Room 323 at 9:00 am Sunday 7 Dec.) where we will continue a closer look at people at the Church of the Good Shepherd who are helping us “seek and serve Christ in all persons.” As a downtown church Good Shepherd has a tradition of outreach programs to our neighbors. This is evident in the Beyond Our Doors Monthly Sunday lunches, the Little Free Pantry, the Shepherds Table, Habitat for Humanity, St. Nicolas Tree, Community Resource Guides, White Flag Shelter, ReNew Mobile Showers, our participation in ONE Wake and more!

This week Jeff Whittaker, Good Shepherd’s liaison with ONE WAKE, will discuss this organization. ONE Wake is non-partisan county-wide organization that advocates with county, town and city leaders for those who have great need but little voice. ONE Wake is a network of churches and other organizations focused on bringing people together in partnership to help improve the lives of both individuals and communities.  

Please come to learn more about ONE Wake and we can also answer questions about most of the other outreach programs. Learn about all of our outreach programs here on the parish website.

Advent 2: Lessons and Carols, December 7 at 4 PM


New for 2025! Join us for a Service of Advent Lessons and Carols in the Anglican tradition. This festive liturgy alternates scripture readings (“lessons”) telling the story of salvation with seasonal anthems and hymns (“carols”) sung by the choir and congregation. Led by diverse voices throughout our parish family, this special service invites reflection and anticipation of the coming of Christ at his Nativity. The service will be followed by a reception in Shepherd's Hall. 

Advent 3: Service of Hope and Healing, December 14 at 4 PM

This year's Service of Hope and Healing at Christmas provides a holy space of stillness and comfort for all those for whom this holiday season carries a sense of grief, loss, or heaviness. Join us for a contemplative liturgy of music, prayer, scripture, and candlelight, as together we lift up the prayers of our hearts to a God who is ever present and ever with us, whatever we may be facing.

Advent 4: Christmas Pageant, December 21 at 10:15 AM

We warmly invite you to experience the joy and wonder

of the Christmas season at our annual pageant. Come celebrate the birth of Christ with us through a heartwarming pageant filled with music, laughter, and the true spirit of the season.


This year's intergenerational Christmas Pageant will take place during the 10:15 AM service on Sunday, December 21. 

All ages are invited to participate! It's not too late: PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP, or contact Rev. Imogen or Rev. Justin.

Newcomers Series Continues Sunday


Please join Rev. Justin on Sunday after the 10:15 service for the final session in a three-part Newcomers Series. If you missed one or both of the previous sessions, please don’t let that stop you from attending next week! These informal sessions provide an introduction to the Episcopal Church, Anglican theology, and our particular pattern of worship and give newcomers an opportunity to become better acquainted with our clergy and some of our other new members. This series will be followed by an adult confirmation class beginning in January. Confirmations, receptions, and reaffirmations will take place during the bishop’s visitation on Sunday, February 22, 2026. Contact: The Rev. Justin Gabbard

(919.831.2006)

Volunteer for White Flag Shelter Nights

We're currently in our 3rd round of White Flag nights. Current weather conditions are necessitating White Flag this week through Friday. Can you volunteer to help? Contact Rev. Justin

Here is a link to the signup page:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0B4EA8AB2BA3FA7-60794453-white

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 to cover one month at a time, covering each Sunday of that month. The commitment entails picking up the items after 10:15 a.m. and delivering them to the soup kitchen before 12:00 p.m. We are currently looking for someone to pick up April and November. To help us with this wonderful ministry, please contact Paula Andrews.

The St. Nicholas Tree- wrapping up this Sunday

Thanks to everyone who has participated in this year's Angel Tree! Remember to bring your WRAPPED gifts to church by this Sunday, December 7th and make sure EACH gift is labelled with the angel number and the letter "A" (e.g. #67A).

If you did not select an angel and still wish to participate, David Baggett will be happy to collect your monetary contribution that will be used to cover the cost of gifts for the angels that were not adopted.

 If you have any questions, feel free to contact Jennifer Tlusty. THANK YOU!

Monthly Men’s Fellowship Lunch – December 11


Men’s Fellowship Lunches take place on the SECOND THURSDAY of each month at 12 NOON at High Park Grill (625 E. Whitaker Mill Road). Come enjoy lively fellowship and a reasonably priced meal--no reservation is required and everyone is welcome! Contact: Jack Boyne

Worship With Us

Sunday, December 7

8 AM

• Holy Eucharist, Rite I
• DOK Healing Prayers

8:30 AM - 12 Noon

• Nursery Care Available (infant-4 yo)

9 AM

• Kid’s Sunday School
• Advent Formation Series: “Making Room to Encounter Christ” in Room 323 (second floor Adult Formation room)
• Bible Study Led by Debbie Moyer in Room 303

10:15 AM

• Children's Chapel and Godly Play
• Holy Eucharist, Rite II
• Service Livestream
• Service Bulletin
• DOK Healing Prayers

11:30 AM

Community Lunch and Fellowship Sponsored by

• Beyond Our Doors Ministry Team

11:45 AM

• Newcomers Class

5:30-7:30 pm

• EYC (Episcopal Youth Community)

Daughters of the King

Daughters of the King will be available during both services on Sunday morning to pray with anyone who desires prayers.


You’re Invited to Lunch!

Good Shepherd’s Beyond Our Doors Ministry Team invites you to our monthly Community Lunch immediately following Sunday’s 10:15 service. 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
• Melinda McIntyre and Family
• Dana Babbs
• Mike Newton-Ward
• Melissa Habel
• Gary Blaettler

• Bob Kochersberger and Family
• Susan and Jane Jackson and Family
• The Mogilski, Bormann, and Dangerfield Families
• The Ellington 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 The Rev. Meta Ellington.

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 Diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for The Episcopal Church.

In the Anglican cycle of prayer, we pray for The Church of Bangladesh.

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

If you are looking for meaningful ways to serve the parish, please consider the ministries listed below. The contacts listed can provide more information.

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 at david.baggett@cgs-raleigh.org or 919.831.2018). Thank you!