Parish Life Ministries help build our church community. We are passionate about having fun together through food, fun and fellowship!”
Hospitality (Coffee Hosts)
The hospitality hosts provide coffee, juice and refreshments for the congregation on Sunday mornings in Sterling Hall after the 9:15 service. This ministry provides an inviting environment for fellowship. Each Sunday, approximately 50 parishioners enjoy the coffee and refreshments. After the coffee fellowship, the hosts also provide the kitchen cleanup.
First Sunday Breakfast
This ministry is divided into teams who are assigned the responsibility for each month’s First Sunday Breakfast. Each team is responsible for ordering the necessary foodstuffs and supplies. The teams cook the food, put out condiments, drinks and self-serve items, and serve as the cleanup crew when breakfast is over.
Mug Sisters
This ministry is similar to a secret sister program and provides an opportunity for women to connect, celebrate and encourage each other. Each year, the ministry begins with a secret exchange of mugs. Each woman contributes a mug containing information such as her birthday, wedding anniversary, hobbies and special needs for prayer. The mugs are distributed in such a way that participants do not know who received their mug. The ministry provides women the opportunity to focus on a fellow sister in Christ by offering prayers, monthly notes and cards, and small gifts, and often connects women who do not know each other. Approximately 45 women participate each year, and the program culminates at our annual Episcopal Church Women’s Christmas party when each woman’s mug sister is revealed.
Episcopal Church Women (ECW)
Good Shepherd’s ECW meets regularly, holds entertaining, and educational events for its members, and hosts many of our Parish gatherings.ECW is dedicated to serving the Lord through service, worship, education, evangelism and pastoral care. All women in the church are members.The ECW generously supports many of our ministries and provides outreach to the larger community.
The Brotherhood of St. Andrew
The Brotherhood’s ministry is to “spread Christ's Kingdom among men and boys in the Episcopal/Anglican Communion.”This men’s organization meets regularly to discuss current news topics and interpret the events through scripture, tradition and reason.The group offers prayers of thanksgiving and prayers for God’s intervention for healing, spiritual guidance, and peace.The Brotherhood supports the parish in many ways, particularly by cooking for Parish gatherings.For holidays, they cook brisket, chicken and other delectable grilled meats.The proceeds from these cook fests have funded upgrades to the Good Shepherd kitchen.The Brotherhood sponsors the Guy Stuff Ministry and is also responsible for organizing the visitation ministry to newcomers.
Guy Stuff
The Guy Stuff Ministry promotes men’s fellowship through various competitive events that have included horseshoe tournaments, golf tournaments and a “Texas Hold ‘Em” night.Guy Stuff participation is available to the men of Good Shepherd and the community.
Bridge Night
Parishioners and members of our local community enjoy Bridge Nights at Good Shepherd, which are scheduled on the first Friday of each month throughout the year. Experienced players and beginners are welcome!
The Classics
On the second Thursday of each month, “The Classics”, a group of retirees and those who have some leisure time and love to have fun meet at Good Shepherd. Members enjoy a pot luck salad luncheon, board games, bridge and fellowship. The group also goes on picnics, local scenic tours, and to local eateries. Everyone is welcome to be part of the Classics!
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is our biggest and most popular event of the year! The event offers live music, a silent auction and exciting live auction, authentic food, and fun for the entire family. This major annual fund raiser, held in October, is also a major outreach event to our local community, focused on building our church family through inviting people who would not otherwise visit Good Shepherd.
