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.

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ACOLYTES
Contact: Diane Russell (scheduling); Younger children: Judy Brown and Liz Cocke
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: Rector
When: As scheduled (currently Tuesday evenings)
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.

BUILDING AND GROUNDS COMMITTEE
Contact: JuniorWarden
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 SING
Contact: Debbie Beebe
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 on the first and third 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 HOSTS
Contact: Althea Peters
When: Sundays of the month after both services
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: Kirk Franklin
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:  Lynn Wood
When:  Once or twice a 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.

FINANCE COMMITTEE
Contact: Francine Barrington
When: Monthly
Purpose: Overseeing budget issues, preparing and monitoring annual budgets, developing financial policies and procedures, overseeing audit.

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:  David Batty
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. The group knits and crochets hats and scarves for clients of Shepherds Table in Silver Spring.


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: Lynn Wood
When: During Lent
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.

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.

LATINO MINISTRY GROUP
Contact: Carol Lewis
When: First Monday at 7 PM
Purpose: To explore the possiblities of a Latino Ministry at Good Shepherd by conducting research, exposing the congregation to various experiences, soliciting feedback and advisng the Vestry. 

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 -- a drop-in potluck meal to which all are welcome.

MAUNDY THURSDAY FOOD BASKETS
Contact:  Diane Janesko
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.

HOSPITALITY TEAM
Contact: Vonnie Schopperei
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 TEAM
Contact: Elizabeth Quinn
When: Sunday mornings from 10 am to noon and otherwise as needed
Purpose: Proving childcare for families attending service. We seek to provide safe, fun, loving care to our youngest members. 

PASTORAL CARE MINISTRY
Contact: Diane Bendahmane
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. Trained Eucharistic Visitors take the Eucharist on their visits and may be accompanied by other Visitors.

PHONE TREE AND MEALS
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: 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, Director
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-week summer camp in June.

SHEPHERD’S TABLE
Contact: Jackie Wright, 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.

SHEPHERD'S TEAM
Contact: The Rev. Linda L. Grenz
When: Sunday mornings after worship and as needed
Purpose: To welcome newcomers, introduce them to others and assist them in finding their place in the life and ministries of Good Shepherd, the diocese and community.

THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE (Newsletter)
Contact: Patty Mitchell, Editor
When: Monthly
Purpose: Informative publication featuring Rector’s article, Vestry report, occasional spotlight on a particular ministry or committee, calendar of events, and any other timely announcements, articles, or reports. Parishioner submissions welcome.

SHRINE MONT RETREAT
Contact: Jocelyn Harmon and Dan Moore
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 TEAM
Contact: Lynn wood
When: Several times a year at 12 Noon on the 3rd Sunday of the month
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.
*All are welcome to participate in the "Bag Lunch" sandwhich making program the second Saturday of every month. The meals are delivered to the Montgomery County Men's Shelter.

STEWARDSHIP TEAM
Contact: Jocelyn Harmon and Lynn Wood
When: 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 PM
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.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Contact: Cecily Thorne
When: TBD
Purpose: To offer children an opportunity for learning about God and the Bible through fun activities and crafts.

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: Shaun Hardy, Sr. Warden
When: 3rd Monday of the month 7 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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