News for this week:
- Calendar
- Sunday Schedule and Links
- Fellowship Time
- Backpack Donations by 7/27
- Announcements:
- Chorister Registration
- Mission Trip
- Pool Party 8/3
- Encounters with Faith in August
- CGS Seniors Lunch 8/13
- Little Free Pantry
- Men's Fellowship Lunch 8/14
- Rally Day 9/7
- Family weekend 9/19-21
- ONE Wake Update
- Forward Day by Day
- Parish Directory
- We are Hiring
- Prayer List
- Altar Flowers
- Support Our Parish
- Connect With Us
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Top of Mind:
More information below! Thanks for reading the Parish News.
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Worship with Us!
Sunday, July 27
8 AM
8:30 AM - 12 Noon
- Nursery Care Available (infant-4 yo)
9 AM
- Sunday School (kids 4-12 yo)
10:15 AM
11:30 AM
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Join us on Sunday for Fellowship Time
Fellowship Time on Sunday, July 27th will have a MYSTERY HOST. Please join us after the 10:15 service for the GREAT REVEAL.
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Support the Episcopal Farmworker Ministry - Donate Backpacks by this Sunday!
Again this year, The Church of the Good Shepherd is collecting back-to-school school supplies to benefit approximately 350 children served by Episcopal Farmworker Ministry. Our goal this year is to collect 80 backpacks by July 27! Thank you in advance for your generous support. This Sunday is the last chance to drop off a backpack. We are doing great but as of Thursday we need about 20 more backpacks. Please help out if you can!
Contact: Gerard McNeill or the Parish Office.
Learn more about this important ministry and get instructions on how you can donate a backpack in the blog article below:
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Chorister Program Register Now for 2025-2026
Information and registration form online
Do you know a child who loves to sing? The Church of the Good Shepherd is launching a chorister program this fall.
The Chorister Program at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd (CGS) provides musical education, community building, and faith formation through singing in choirs. Singers in grades K-12 have the opportunity to sing their faith and learn about the tradition of sacred choral music, which is musically enriching, challenging, and satisfying. This is one of the few opportunities for fostering intergenerational relationships in the community, as the choristers will regularly have opportunities to sing with the Chancel Choir. Choristers also learn that their voices are a gift from God and their love of singing will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Singing in a choir at church is also a wonderful way to share time and talents. And it’s fun, too! Please register your child today! Visit our website for more information.
Rehearsals will be weekly September-May, with a Fall Break, Winter Break, and Spring Break.
There will be two choirs at CGS for choristers beginning in September 2025:
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Junior Choristers – grades K-2 (Tuesdays 4:30-5:20pm) Our youngest singers will learn about how to sing with good tone, the basics of note reading, rhythm and pitch, and how to listen and work as a team. They will sing in worship once per month at the beginning of the service.
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Senior Choristers – grades 3-12 (Wednesdays 5:00-6:00pm; with an option to sing with the Chancel Choir for high school singers: 7:00-8:30pm) Singers in this choir will learn how to lead music with the Chancel Choir and continue to develop good choral singing skills. They will sing in worship once per month and lead all of the music in the service.
To learn more contact Kirsten Homdrom, Director of Music and Organist
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Mission Trip- this week!
It's an impactful week for the Church of the Good Shepherd's mission team! Deep in the mountains of western North Carolina, our dedicated group of teens and adults is actively engaged in Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Based at the Burnsville Rebuild Center in Yancey County, just north of Asheville, they are working hard on the ground from Monday through Saturday, with their return set for Sunday, July 27th.
Operating under the guidance of Baptists on Mission, a well-respected relief organization, our team is pouring their energy into rebuilding hurricane-damaged homes. Most of the demolition is complete, so the focus is now on reconstruction, making a difference in the community.
Beyond the rewarding labor, the group is enjoying precious fellowship time with each other, strengthening bonds and sharing in this truly great and impactful experience.
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Pool Party, August 3
Good Shepherd Families and Children are invited to a Pool Party next Sunday, August 3! Please RSVP so we'll know who to expect!
Sign up here!
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Ask, Pray, Read -- Encounters with Faith During August
This August brings a variety of opportunities for you to question, read, and pray with others. We warmly
encourage you to try something new, make new connections, and meet God real and alive in a new way.
Bible Amnesty – August 3 & 10
Good Shepherd’s Newcomers Committee is offering a new series called Bible Amnesty. We have invited
a select panel of our resident Bible scholars to answer all the questions about Holy Scripture that you’ve
always been too afraid to ask. Bible Amnesty will be held in the Ennis Suite at 11:30 AM on August 3
and 10. This event is designed for newcomers, but all are welcome to attend. If you would like to
submit a question in advance, place a card in the question box located in the hallway leading into the
sanctuary. These cards can be signed or submitted anonymously. You can also email questions to Rev.
Justin (justin.gabbard@cgs-raleigh.org). Stupid questions are not only permitted, they’re encouraged!
Morning Prayer – August 3 & 10 and Weekday Mornings August 4-7 & 11-14
Join us this August as we revive the ancient
rhythm of Morning Prayer—scripture, psalms, and quiet reflection offered to God at the start of the day.
Our diocesan intern, Brett, will be leading Morning Prayer at 8:30 AM in the chapel, Monday through
Thursday, August 4–7 and August 11–14. All are welcome to come and pray. No experience needed.
Interested in learning more? Brett will also offer two Sunday morning classes at 9 AM.
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August 3rd, exploring the history of the daily office and its roots in the Rule of St. Benedict
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August 10th, a hands-on training for anyone interested in learning to officiate Morning Prayer.
Whether you’re new to daily prayer or returning after many years, this is a great opportunity to deepen your spiritual life and discover one of the treasures of our Anglican heritage. Contact: Brett MacDonald
August Pop-Up Book Group - August 17th at 11:45 AM in the Ennis Suite.
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
By Robin Wall Kimmerer
Kimmerer is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology, and the founder and
director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment. Her book, Braiding Sweetgrass, has
become an international bestseller. If you've read it already, you know why. If (like Imogen) you haven't
read it yet, perhaps this is your chance. “Robin Wall Kimmerer encourages readers to consider the ways
that our lives and language weave through the natural world... to illustrate the culture of gratitude in
which we all should live.” (Publishers Weekly). Come join Rev. Imogen on Sunday, August 17th in the
Ennis Suite at 11:45 to discuss this book.
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CGS Seniors and St. Ambrose Silver Angels Unite ! August 13
On Wednesday, August 13th Our Seniors will host a luncheon - inviting our sisters & brothers from St. Ambrose Silver Angels to join us. A number of us join the Silver Angels at St. Ambrose on the second Wednesday of every month for lunch and a speaker.
We hope all of our Seniors will come to the Wednesday Noon Eucharist and join us upstairs in Shepherd’s Hall for a time of fellowship and lunch. Our own Lynn Hoke will be our presenter offering archival highlights for the 1896 St. Augustine to St. Ambrose name switch story.
We ask you to RSVP if you plan to attend – we want to make sure to have enough food! A call to the church office at 919-831-2000, or email to David Baggett no later than Friday, August 8th is requested - offices are open 9a-5p Monday – Thursday.
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Did You Know...
We have a Little Free Pantry
This year's Rally Day Festival lets YOU participate in one of our parish's important outreach ministries – Good Shepherd's Little Free Pantry! Proceeds from our Rally Day Festival activities such as the Dunking Booth, the Used Book Sale, and the Cookie/Bake Off (you'll hear more about these activities shortly) will fund supplies for our pantry. That's right...what you pay to play will go directly to support the Little Free Pantry!
Wait? What's CGS’s Little Free Pantry?
For about two years now, the Beyond Our Doors Ministry Team has lovingly and diligently supplied snacks, bottled water, and helpful items for our neighbors. The Little Free Pantry (in front of the Parish Life Center, beside the circular driveway) is stocked and available 24x7 on a self-serve basis to our neighbors who may need a bit of extra support. Bottled water, during our oppressively hot summer, has been stocked night and day by folks like Sharon Booth, Gerard McNeill, Susan Lewellen, Kathy McLeod, Whitney Cain, and many others.
In addition to the funds raised on Rally Day we'll also be asking folks to donate supplies to stock the Little Free Pantry. What can you contribute? Think about nutritious, easy to eat, non-perishable foods that can withstand extreme temperatures. That means low sodium vegetables or fruit in pop-top cans or easy open containers; canned meats and proteins, such as tuna, sardines or Vienna sausages; individual serving size crackers; and granola bars. We can also use travel-sized toiletries such as individual packages of tissue, toothpaste, and deodorant. Stand by...we'll provide a more extensive list of suggested items shortly.
Our Little Free Pantry makes a difference! Please know that your participation at Rally Day will help fund this ministry. If you'd like to know more about the Little Free Pantry, please contact Whitney Cain or Gerard McNeill
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Monthly Men’s Fellowship Lunch – August 14
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 ( 919.832.3641)
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Rally Day Festival! Save the date and plan to join us September 7
Rally Day is our parish-wide celebration to kick off our new church program year! This year's Rally Day Festival will feature fun, food, and fellowship (and more!) for everyone in the parish. Don’t miss it!
Here’s how you can help...
1. Plan now to be there!
2. Make a financial contribution to help offset costs. If you'd like to contribute, please send your check to the Parish Office. (Please send your check, payable to The Church of the Good Shepherd, to David Baggett's attention and note Rally Day on the memo line of your check).
3. Join the team! Lots of folks are needed to make the event a success. If you'd like to help, please fill out this form or contact Michael Riddle.
If you have any questions about Rally Day, please don't hesitate to contact David Baggett (919.831.2018). Thanks very much for your support!
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Family Weekend! September 19-21
Join us for Family Weekend at the Trinity Center * September 19-21, 2025 * Pine Knoll Shores
More information and registration link on our website:
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ONE Wake Accountability Assembly Resulted in Progress but Not the Goals Set
On July 12, eight members of Good Shepherd joined over 1000 ONE Wake members from 47 other churches, and non-profit organizations to press elected officials for more affordable housing. The wins were:
- Many of these officials pledge support for a future affordable-housing bond.
- A number of these representatives went to Brooklyn NY to see the success of the Nehemiah housing project that is a template for the proposed solution to Wake’s housing crisis.
In addition to the impressive turnout, there was reasonable coverage in Indyweek, News & Observer and Enlace Latino NC. So, our leaders clearly see the support.
The amount needed in the bond, and city/county land needed for a project was not met. Thus, there still needs to be a push towards public land and public funding to provide affordable homes.
Loving and supporting the diversity of our neighbors is a key thread in our Christian belief. This Church has many examples of promoting diversity of income, education, race, sexual orientations, political leanings and even religion. The non-partisan multi-organizations of ONE Wake offer a strong mechanism to express this fundamental belief.
Learn more on Rally Day. You can signup for CGS’s ONE Wake group and become more involved in ONE Wake by emailing Jeff Whittaker.
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New Devotional Issue Available
The August-October issue of Forward Day by Day, a daily devotional booklet, is now available.
Copies may be found in the Parish Life Center lobby and in the church (both in the narthex and in the east transept).
More info: Forward Movement has been a ministry of the Episcopal Church since 1935. The organization offer devotions, Bible studies, formation courses, and other resources to equip and support people in their walk with Jesus Christ.
Forward Movement is widely known for the popular daily devotional Forward Day by Day, which provides daily meditations based on scripture readings from the lectionary. Forward Day by Day is printed in Spanish and English—both pocket-size and large print editions. In addition, the daily devotion is available as an ebook or in Braille.
They also offer a free podcast and smartphone app (for Apple or Android). In addition, the daily meditation is also available for free, online.
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Parish Directory
Did you know we have a parish directory? It is available from the parish website and is refreshed about every 6 weeks. The file is password protected. If you need the password, please contact David Baggett, Parish Administrator.
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We Are Hiring!
Director of Children and Family Ministries
The Church of the Good Shepherd seeks a Director of Children and Family Ministries to sustain and expand our family ministry programs. The director will oversee all children’s curricula, programs, and activities, recruit and develop a team of engaged volunteers, and foster meaningful connections with the children and families of the parish. They will create a welcoming and nurturing environment and provide opportunities for children and families to grow in their love and knowledge of God, their call to serve others, and their unique significance in the life of the parish and the world.
| | The Church of the Good Shepherd Prayer List | |
- Roy Wright
- Catherine and Bob Williams
- Janet Gilliam
- Ralph Sanders
- Pete Taylor
- Martha Bailey
- Peggy Hawks
- Janie Ward-Newton
- William Short
- Paul Hoch
- JoAnn Kistler Lattimore and Charles Lattimore
- Brinley Harris
- Don Caudill
- Janet Watrous
- Jerry Smith
- Margaret Park
- Lynda Terrell-Rea
- Susie Rahal
- Josephine Currin
- Tamara Gregory
- Betty Metheny
- Larry Phearse and Family
- Bob Kirchgessner
- Josephine Placa
- Randy Roberts
- David Stroud
- Bob Wood
- John Anthony Allen
- Patricia Harris
- Lynn Wiss
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- Katie Beaudoin
- Rebecca Lamb
- Dawn Downs
- Jamey
- Jesse Murray
- Diane and Gary Gabbard
- Mike Newton-Ward
- Carolyn Lowery
- Ann and Afif Antoun and Family
- The Chestnut Family
- the people of Israel, Palestine, Lebanon and Iran
- the people of Ukraine and Russia
- victims of gun violence
- those affected by drought, heat, floods, storms, and fires, especially those suffering as a result of Tropical Storm Chantal and flooding in Texas
- We pray for all who are traveling, especially our parish missioners who are currently working in Western North Carolina
In the Diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for Church of the Good Shepherd, Rocky Mount; St. Andrew’s, Rocky Mount; and St. Mark’s, Roxboro.
In the Anglican cycle of prayer, we pray for The Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea.
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A note about our Deacon-in-Residence
Our beloved Deacon-in-Residence, the Rev. Sallie Simpson, will be stepping back from her diaconal responsibilities. I give thanks that Sallie plans to continue worshipping at The Church of the Good Shepherd, even as she makes space to rest and navigate some recent health challenges that have arisen. We lift up Sallie and her family in our prayers for her wellbeing in body, mind, and spirit, and I thank God for her loving presence and witness among us. -Rev. Imogen
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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.
| | Altar flowers from July 20. Photo by Peter Jezierny. | |
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If you are looking for meaningful ways to serve the parish, please consider the ministries listed below. The contacts listed will be excited to provide more information.
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News from the Diocese
The vision of the Diocese of North Carolina is to be a community of disciples committed to following Jesus Christ into the dream of God for us and for all creation, in Becoming Beloved Community.
Be sure to check out news and information from the Diocese and The Episcopal Church on their websites.
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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.
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Announcements and photos to share with our parish family are always welcome!
New! 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.
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