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eVOICE for April 30, 2026
GOOD SHEPHERD EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 3, 2026
We will be celebrating with Transfiguration Church via Zoom at 9:00 am and in-person at Good Shepherd Church at 10:30 am.
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Good Shepherd Mission Statement
We are a people who hear the Good Shepherd's voice.
We know by faith that we belong to God.
We are called to seek and love our neighbors as God loves us!
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The Vestry would like to organize a ‘Transition Team’ for our new rector. We are looking for some Vestry and members of the congregation to help orient Rev. Sarah and also to organize at least three get-togethers before her start date on August 23. Rev. Sarah is usually available Wednesday evenings (and we also have the church that night if we wanted to have a dinner) and on Saturdays. If you would like to volunteer for this committee, please let Debbie know. Thank you!!
Special Collection for May: Our friends at MUM (Midcounty United Ministries) have asked us for the following particular items this month in lieu of our usual food donation, so please keep this in mind when you do your shopping. Please place your donations in the bins at the rear of the sanctuary as usual, or in the drop-off tote outside the narthex entrance. We will deliver the donated items to MUM on May 12. As always, thank you for your generosity!
- Cooking oil (small bottles)
- Shelf-stable milk (does not need refrigeration)
- Disposable diapers (any size)
- Baby wipes
- Toiletries (regular size)
Celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month at Coffee Hour on May 3rd. May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in which we celebrate the diverse cultures, traditions, and vital contributions of AANHPI communities in the US. What began as a week-long celebration in 1979 was expanded to a full month by Congress in 1992. May was selected to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants' arrival (May 7, 1843) and the transcontinental railroad's completion (May 10, 1869). At Good Shepherd, we will mark the beginning of AANHPI Heritage Month with an AANHPI themed coffee hour after services on May 3rd. Come enjoy delicious foods, share in fellowship, and help us kick-off the month-long celebration of the AANHPI community!
Tomato and Basil Plant Sale - Owing to Evergreen School construction we will be doing a "light" version of our annual Plant Sale this year, focusing on tomato plants (15 different varieties) and Joe Burckle's homegrown basil seedlings. The plants will be available outside the narthex immediately following the 10:30 service on Sunday, May 3. Allen, Shaun, and Joe will be on hand to offer free gardening advice. As always, 100% of the proceeds will benefit Good Shepherd. Cash or checks only, please.
Wednesday Bible Study - 11:30am in-person with Deacon Linda Mahler
Telephone prayer meeting every Thursday at 9:15 am. The number to call to join the prayer meeting is 518-318-5354. If you have any questions contact Lynette Clark at 301-357-1726.
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WARDENS' MESSAGE
Welcome to Our New Rector!!!
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We have been waiting and praying for this moment, and we are overjoyed that it has arrived. After a thorough and prayerful search, we are thrilled to announce that the Rev. Sarah Akes-Cardwell has accepted our call to serve as your next Rector. We know this community has been patient, and we are so grateful — because that patience has brought us to exactly the right person.
Sarah is joining us as our half-time Rector — a model that is increasingly common in the Episcopal Church and one we believe is a wonderful fit for Good Shepherd at this moment in our life together. In practice, that means Sarah will be with us most Sundays, with one Sunday off per month, and in the office one to two days per week. We’ll share more about office hours and rhythms as her start date approaches. Sarah’s gifts as a preacher, a pastor, and a leader are a wonderful match for this community, and we cannot wait for you to get to know her. Her first Sunday with us will be August 23.
Please join us in welcoming Sarah, her wife Amanda (Rev Amanda Akes-Cardwell), and their son Sam as they make their home among us.
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From EPPN Office of Government Relations:
Join us each week as we share new prayers for the vulnerable among us facing challenges, fears, and threats. We will name many of the harms unfolding and acknowledge what is being erased, lost, and threatened. These prayers are not a replacement for action; they are meant to offer space for grounding and discernment as we seek to bear one another’s burdens in the love and way of Christ. Join by Zoom (click here) each Monday at 11:45 a.m. to hear the prayers aloud, in the context of a simple liturgy, prayed by members of the Community of Francis and Clare. Click here to read the prayers for this week.
Shepherd’s Table is asking Good Shepherd for volunteers. Please follow this link for opportunities to volunteer or reach out to Daniella Burgos dburgos@shepherdstable.org. Thank you!
Grocery Shopping for our Food Collection
All nutritious non-perishable food is welcome, but please consider:
- Small- to medium-size packages and cans, not mega-size
- No glass containers of any kind
- Unopened containers only
- No candy or cookies
Our recipient organizations have made a special request for:
- Cooking oil
- Lentils and beans
- Pasta sauce
- Shelf-stable milk in individual milk boxes
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The Fifth Sunday of Easter
The First Lesson: Acts 7:55-60
Psalm: 31:1-5, 15-16
Second Lesson: 1 Peter 2:2-10
Gospel: John 14:1-14
The Week of May 3, 2026
Sun 5/3 via Zoom 9:00 am, in-person at Good Shepherd 10:30, Panda computer class, 1 pm, Iglesia de Dios 2 pm, BS Troop 97 3 pm
Mon 5/4 Iglesia de Dios 7 pm
Tues 5/5 SDA service 6 pm
Wed 5/6 Bible Study 11:30 am
Thurs 5/7 Iglesia de Dios, 7pm
Fri 5/8 SDA 6 pm
Sat 5/9 SDA service 9 am & 6 pm
Sun 5/10 Zoom 9:00 am, in-person at Good Shepherd 10:30 am, Panda computer class, 1 pm, Iglesia de Dios 2 pm
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Zoom Readers (9 am):
May 3 Laura Meissner-Denmark
May 10 Florence Walters
May 17 Lillian Luksenburg
May 24 Sue Womack
LEM & Lector
May 3 Linda Campo, Araba Pobee
May 10 Debbie Beebe, Arlene Mahon
May 17 Donna Clemons-Sacks, Elisa Elliot
May 24 Liz Cocke, Greg Wood
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Ushers
May 3 Sal Campo
May 10 Sal Campo, Eric Reiffenstein
May 17 Shaun Hardy, Diane Janesko
May 24 Kirk Franklin, Florence Walters
Vestry on Duty
May 3 Ray Battistelli
May 10 Debbie Beebe
May 17 Eric Reiffenstein
May 24 Lillian Luksenburg
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Altar Guild
May 3 Millie Mautz
May 10 Debbie Beebe
May 17 Melissa Garcia
May 24 Millie Mautz
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A-V Lead
May 3 Ray Groshong
May 10 Allen Wyrick
May 17 Ray Groshong
May 24 Eric Reiffenstein
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OFFER PRAYERS INTENTIONALLY TO GOD FOR ALL HIS PEOPLE:
Nella Fisher (former GS member), Caroline Sparks (GS member), Pat and Christina Ogg (GS members), Don and Joan Lewis (GS members), John Elliott (GS member), Joan DeMoss (GS member), Gary Anderson (GS member), Patrick Townsend (friend of Florence Walters), Kathryn McMahon (Deacon), Jeanette Ottley (friend of Florence Walters), Ken Douglas (friend of Florence Walters), Liz DeVivo (friend of Eric Reiffenstein), Avi Ramsundar and Carole Boodoosingh, (friends of Arlene Mahon), Angie Karlene Lowe (friend of Florence Walters), Robert Rather, Jolene Grimmer (cousin of Eric Reiffenstein), Robert Rhodes (friend of Florence Walters), Merri Wolf (friend of Shaun Hardy), Judith Bowen (friend of Arlene Mahon), Mary Ann Marsh (friend of Arlene Mahon), Kosi Kumi (friend of Laura Meissner), Gladys Brooks (sister of Ana Curtis), Raul Calderon (relative of Maria Fernandez), Tony Stamp (friend of Florence Walters), Harrington Brown (friend of Florence Walters), Rita Brown (friend of Florence Walters), Hugh Walters (brother of Florence Walters), and Willpert McCalla (friend of Florence Walters).
REPOSE OF THE SOUL
Jacob Fayad (former parishioner)
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Clergy & Staff
Senior Warden
Deborah Beebe
sr-warden@gsecmd.org
Deacon
The Rev. Linda Mahler
deacon@gsecmd.org
Organist & Choirmaster
George Drumwright
music@gsecmd.org
Parish Administrator
Megan Kennedy
assistant@gsecmd.org
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Vestry & Delegates
Senior Warden
Deborah Beebe
Junior Warden
Eric Reiffenstein
Shaun Hardy
Ray Battistelli
Becky Parks
Lillian Luksenburg
Diane Janesko
Laura Meissner Denmark
Ana Janckson-Curtis
Delegates
Lynn Wood
Alternate: Ana Janckson-Curtis
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Counters & Recorders (All serve on a rotating schedule.)
Ray Battistelli
Elisa Elliot
Kirk Franklin
Arlene Mahon
Florence Walters
Greg Wood
Jim Woodhams
Allen Wyrick
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GOOD SHEPHERD EPISCOPAL CHURCH
818 UNIVERSITY BLVD. WEST, SILVER SPRING, MD 20901
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