Come Enjoy Our Ministries

Good Shepherd's many active ministries and committees provide ample opportunities to become involved in the spiritual and social life of our parish. For information on any of the activities and programs listed, please get in touch with the contact person listed. A parish directory listing phone numbers and e-mail addresses is available to all members -- please contact the church office to obtain a copy.

ACOLYTES
Contact: Patricia Downing
When: Serve on a rotating schedule
Purpose: Providing assistance at worship services. Duties include preparation of the altar for Eucharist,
leading the processions, assisting at the collection of alms and food, and helping the service flow smoothly.

ADULT EDUCATION
Contact: Patricia Downing
When: Tuesday evenings in Advent and Lent (Evening Prayer at 6:30 pm, simple supper at 7:00 pm,
class begins at 7:15 pm)
Between Sunday services during Epiphany and Easter
Purpose: Deepening our understanding of our faith through exploration of basic Christian beliefs, history, theological movements and concepts, liturgy, prayer, and other topics. Parishioners serving on the committee meet with the Rector and help plan what topics and issues will be explored.

ALTAR GUILD
Contact: Doris Hurdle
When: Each team serves one week a month
Purpose: Preparing the altar and sanctuary for all services. Regular Sunday duties include preparing the flowers, linens, and vessels. The Altar Guild also sets up the Church for baptisms, memorial services, mid-week services,
weddings, and special holiday services.

BIBLE STUDY
Contact: Patricia Downing
When: Wednesdays following the 10:00 am Eucharist service
Purpose: Learning and exploring the Bible. The group selects a book of the Bible that interests us for study. We explore context, language, and cultural practices, and attempt to apply what we learn to our everyday lives.

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUPS
Contact: Alison Verdi and Sylvia Eliot
When: Varies; these groups arrange their own day, time, and frequency of meeting; some meet weekly, others less often.
Purpose: Reading and discussing books, usually related to Christian growth and faith exploration. The groups select the books to be read, usually based on suggestions from the Rector or group members.

BUILDING AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE
Contact: Senior Warden
When: As needed
Purpose: Ensuring the Church grounds are kept in good condition. The committee members do minor repairs themselves and rely on volunteers for clean-up days and planting days. In conjunction with the rector, the committee contacts and serves as liaison with contractors that do work on the building and grounds.

CHALICISTS
Contact: Diane Russell
When: Serve on a rotating schedule
Purpose: Assisting in the Eucharist by serving the communion wine to the congregation.

CHILDREN’S CHAPEL
Contact: Patricia Downing
When: Sundays 10:15 to 10:30 am
Purpose: Providing a time of worship for the children in our congregation prior to the start of Sunday school. We gather for song, prayer, and story.

CHOIR (ADULT)
Contact: Don Schimmel
When: Rehearsals Wednesday nights 8:00 to 9:30 pm; and Sunday at 10:00 am
Purpose: Leading the congregational singing at the 10:30 am Sunday service and special services, and providing opportunities for individuals to use their musical talents to glorify God.

CHOIR (CHIMES)
Contact: David Batty
When: Rehearsals weekly on Wednesdays 7:00 to 8:00 pm
Purpose: Performing on an occasional basis at the Sunday 10:30 am service and at special services, either as chimes choir presentations or as accompaniments to soloists or choirs.

COFFEE HOUR
Contact: Althea Peters
When: 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month after 10:30 am service
Purpose: Promoting fellowship by providing coffee and other refreshments for parishioners. Any individual or group can host a coffee hour; there is a sign-up sheet outside the sanctuary or speak to Althea. Assistance is available to those who volunteer to serve as hosts; no one has to do it all on their own!

COUNTERS
Contact: Jim Woodhams
When: Once a month on Sunday mornings after the last service
Purpose: Counting money offerings and depositing them in the bank. Teams of two work one Sunday per month.

FAIR TRADE COFFEE PROGRAM
Contact:  Ray Batistelli
When:  1st and 3rd Sundays of the month after both services
Purpose:  Supporting small farmers in developing countries by selling Fair Trade coffee, tea, and cocoa to Church members and friends at cost.  Fair Trade goods are grown and processed under conditions which are not harmful to the environment and growers are guaranteed a fair price for what they produce.  Volunteers staff a Fair Trade sales table in the narthex on Sundays with coffee hours.

FIG TREE GIFT SHOP
Contact: Althea Peters
When: Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Purpose: Featuring handcrafted items by parishioners and local crafters sold on a consignment basis with proceeds going to the church. Donations, new consignors, and customers always welcome!

FINANCE COMMITTEE
Contact: Vestry Members
When: As needed
Purpose: Overseeing budget issues, preparing annual budgets.

FOOD COLLECTION
Contact: Morgan Hoover
When: Sunday mornings
Purpose: Collecting non-perishable food and staples for distribution to the needy in our community. The collected food is weighed and delivered monthly to the pantry at St. Luke Lutheran Church.

FOREST KNOLLS READERS GROUP
Contact: Jim Woodhams
When: Monday through Friday during school hours
Purpose: Helping children at the Forest Knolls Elementary School improve their reading skills. Each volunteer spends one or two hours once or twice a week. The program runs from October to June; there is also a two- or three-week summer session.

GATHERING OF MEN
Contact:  John Eliot
When:  1st Monday of the month, 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Purpose:  Providing Good Shepherd’s men with an opportunity for fellowship, camaraderie, and spiritual growth.  Meetings include prayer, study, book discussion, and time for sharing concerns.  Refreshments are served.

GOOD SHEPHERD NEEDLERS
Contact:  Anna Gillespie and Marca Woodhams
When:  4th Saturday of the month
Purpose:  Fellowship for crafters in the congregation.

GOOD SHEPHERD VISITORS
Contact: Effe Gyabaah
When: Serve on a rotating schedule in teams of two
Purpose: Visiting with parishioners who may be in need of support and pastoral care, whether hospitalized, shut-in, or dealing with a personal or family crisis; reminding them they are being held in prayer by the congregation. Visitors take direction from and report to the Rector. Their visits are in addition to, not in place of, contact by the Rector.

GROCERY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
Contact: Florence Walters and Shaun Hardy
When: After each Sunday morning service
Purpose: Assisting in parish fundraising by providing members and friends the opportunity to purchase gift certificates/cards for use at local supermarkets. By taking advantage of bulk purchase discounts, the program generates profits that are regularly passed on to the Church. Program volunteers staff a sales table after both Sunday services. Volunteers serve about once a month.

HEIFER PROJECT COLLECTION
Contact: Eloise Achhammer
When: During Lent (Mite Box offerings)
Purpose: Assisting in the alleviation of world hunger, poverty, and environmental degradation. Heifer is an international program that offers developmental assistance by providing animals, training, and technical assistance to those in need around the world. Funds are used to enable families to attain self-reliant, environmentally sustainable food production and income generation, with methods that enhance their dignity and allow them to pass on what they have learned.

HUNGER GLOBE
Contact:  Office for information
When:  Every Sunday during church services
Purpose:  Collecting donation for hunger relief in our community and throughout the world.  The funds collected are given to Episcopal Relief and Development, Ministries United Silver Spring/Takoma Park, Shepherd's Table, and the Diocesan Hunger Fund.

INCOME RECORDERS
Contact: Mary Drak
When: Weekly
Purpose: Accounting for monetary donations to the Church and attributing the contributions to the donor, by inputting data into our parish computer. This ensures proper charitable documentation for tax records for parishioners. We also maintain a supplementary ledger that should agree with the treasurer’s accounting. The output we provide includes a weekly summary of income to the Church treasurer, year-end statements to individual parishioners, and other reports as needed.

JOURNEY TO ADULTHOOD (J2A)
Contact: Kim Hartman
When: To be announced
Purpose: Providing a program for spiritual formation for our young people ages 11 to 18 that seeks to give them a liturgical frame for their experience in our modern culture and that celebrates their individuality and creative potential. The program prepares young people for adulthood by teaching them six basic skills: active listening, negotiation, assertion, research management, partnership, and leadership.

LAY EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS (LEMs)
Contact: Diane Russell
When: Serve on a rotating schedule
Purpose: Assisting with the worship service, by leading the congregation in the psalm, Creed, and Prayers of the People, reading aloud the second scripture lesson, and administering a chalice during the Eucharist. LEMs receive training in their duties.

LECTORS
Contact: Diane Russell
When: Serve on a rotating schedule
Purpose: Assisting with the worship service, by reading aloud the first scripture lesson.

LUNCH BUNCH
Contact: Doris Hurdle
When: 2nd Wednesday of the month, 12:30 to 2:00 pm (excluding July- September)
Purpose: Gathering for food and fellowship. The Lunch Bunch was originally a lunch for Rummage Sale Wednesday workers, but has grown into a regular monthly gathering. It is a drop-in potluck meal to which all are welcome.

MAUNDY THURSDAY FOOD BASKETS
Contact:  Eloise Acchammer
When:  Maundy Thursday evening, in conjunction with our parish simple supper
Purpose:  Collecting groceries for Shepherd's Table in Silver Spring.  Parishioners are asked to bring a bag of groceries that would provide a nourishing and tasty meal for a family of four.  Those unable to bring groceries may make a financial contribution instead.

MINISTRY OF WELCOME
Contact: Patricia Downing
When: 1st Wednesday of the month from 7:00 to 8:00 pm
Purpose: Providing an environment of caring, comfort, support, information and hospitality to all guests of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church.

NURSERY
Contact: Trina Kerns and Ouafae Mrini
When: As needed
Purpose: Proving childcare for families attending service. We seek to provide safe, fun, loving care to our youngest members. 

PASTORAL CARE COMMITTEE
Contact: Pecky Sullivan
When: As needed
Purpose: Providing meals to parishioners at times of illness or other emergencies. Meals are delivered up to three times a week for two weeks to the home of the individual or family. The committee also manages the Phone Tree which sends urgent information throughout the parish as needed. Individuals volunteer to call a certain number of parishioners (usually no more than six) to get the word out.

PRAYER AND MEDITATION GROUP
Contact: Sylvia Elliot, Maggie Silberstein and Diane Bendahmane
When: 1st Saturday of the month 9:00 to 10:15 am
Purpose: Providing a communal setting for prayer and meditation. We seek to learn more about prayer and meditation, to deepen spirituality, to share spiritual journeys, to explore silence, and to support each other.

PRESCHOOL
Contact: Mary Lureau
When: Weekdays during the school year (MCPS calendar)
Purpose: Providing quality preschool education to children between the ages of 2 and 4. In the Sunshine room, the 2’s meet on Tuesday and Thursday, and the 3’s meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday. In the Rainbow room, older 3’s and 4’s attend two to five days a week. Classes run from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. Extended day care is offered twice a month on Wednesday from 12:30 to 2:30 pm. There is a two- to four-week summer camp during June and July.

RUMMAGE SALE AND WEEKLY WORKSHOPS
Contact: Doris Hurdle
When: Sale is held the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday after Labor Day; Workshops are on Wednesdays, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, July through early September
Purpose: Preparing for our annual rummage sale, a Good Shepherd fund-raising tradition. Donations are accepted during the summer. Volunteers sort and price donations on Wednesday mornings and then share lunch together. Additional volunteers are asked to sign up to assist with various sale duties, such as set up and clean up, work tables at the sale, direct traffic, etc. The Rummage Sale celebrated its 32nd anniversary in 2004!

SHEPHERD’S TABLE
Contact: Gayle Batty and Carol Lewis
When: 1st Friday evening of the month, about 4:00 to 8:00 pm
Purpose: Helping feed the homeless in our area. Shepherd’s Table is a soup kitchen run by Montgomery County, which provides one hot meal a day to the homeless. Volunteers set up tables, help prepare food (a chef does most of the hot food), set out bread, salt and pepper, serve the meal, and assist with clean up.

THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE (Newsletter)
Contact: Catherine Schupp, Editor
When: Monthly
Purpose: Informative publication featuring Rector’s letter, Senior Warden’s report, occasional spotlight on a particular ministry or committee, calendar of events, prayer list, children’s activity page, and any other timely announcements, articles, or reports. Parishioners’ submissions welcome.

SHRINE MONT RETREAT
Contact: Kristen Hawley
When: Last weekend in October
Purpose: The congregation’s annual retreat to Orkney Springs, Virginia. All ages are welcome to attend. Volunteers lead activities, which include both the spiritually oriented and the just plain fun. Activities vary, but may include Bible study, hiking, prayer, horseback riding, antiquing, sitting on the porch telling stories, campfires, and napping. Volunteers also help supervise children’s activities.

SOCIAL MINISTRIES COMMITTEE
Contact: Eloise Achhammer
When: Meeting dates are set by committee and posted; usually the second Sunday of each month at 9:30 am
Purpose: Coordinating the activities of all the social ministries at Good Shepherd, discussing and developing new projects and programs, and distributing the money the parish has budgeted for social ministries programs.

STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
Contact: Lisa Mondori and Mary Drak
When: 2nd Tuesday of the month
Purpose: Assisting the parish to deepen its understanding of stewardship by exploring the abundance given to us by God and how we use those gifts of time, talent, and treasure

SUNDAY SCHOOL
Contact: Elisa Elliot
When: Sundays, 10:30 to 11:15 am
Purpose: Giving Christian education to children in the parish, through engaging them in conversation and fun activities related to Bible stories that follow the lectionary. There are three different Sunday School classes offered, usually divided into these age-based groups: Pre-Kindergarten through first grade; grades 2 and 3; and grades 4 and 5. Teacher volunteers sign up to teach one age group for a month at a time. Teacher books are provided for lesson and activity planning. There are also Booklets and take-home sheets for the children. Activities include stories, art projects, skits, songs, and prayer. Materials required are usually simple household or craft items, and many are available in the Church supplies. Teachers are asked to attend teacher meetings once or twice a year and to find substitutes if they are unable to teach when scheduled.

USHERS
Contact: Diane Russell
When: On a rotating schedule at Sunday Church services and other services
Purpose: Assisting with the service in a variety of ways, including: arriving early (about 15 minutes before service begins) to greet the congregation and hand out bulletins and other needed materials, helping people find seats when the Church is crowded, counting those attending service and Sunday School, taking up the general offering; “directing traffic” as the congregation goes to the altar for the Eucharist, and tidying up at the conclusion of the service.

VESTRY
Contact: Jackie Wright
When: 3rd Monday of the month 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Purpose: The Vestry is the elected body of Good Shepherd that, in cooperation with the rector, oversees the affairs of the parish as directed by canon law and provides parish leadership. The rector serves as the chair of the Vestry. The Vestry consists of nine elected members and the Junior and Senior Wardens. Meetings are open to members of the congregation.

WEBSITE COORDINATORS
Contact: Shaun Hardy, Diane Janesko, Quentin Olson
When: As needed
Purpose: Working with our webmaster to maintain the parish web site; making us visible in the larger community by providing information about the parish, our ministries, and contact information, and highlighting special events.

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