On June 25th at 5:00, Parish Life will be hosting a Pizza and Bingo Night in the Parish Hall. Watch for sign-up sheets so we know how many pizzas we'll need.
Fun Fact: Blueberries are nutrient-dense, low calorie "superfoods" native to North America that have been consumed for over 13,000 years. Known for their high antioxidant levels, these berries offer significant health benefits, including enhanced heart health, brainpower, and anti-inflammatory properties, with only ~80 calories per cup.
Save the Date for the Bethel-Guidry Golf Tournament on Saturday, September 26th. Shotgun Start at Mountain Harbour Golf Club 9:00 am. More details to follow. Please see Sandy Freeman or Jose Arias with any questions.
In Eucharistic Prayer C in our service of Holy Communion, there is this phrase, "God of our fathers, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ...." to which I always add, "God of our mothers, God of Sarah, Ruth, and Mary...." I choose these three women, of all biblical possibilities, for the role each has as a Matriarch in our faith story and experience.
I would like for us to explore and reflect on the role of MATRIARCH as we have seen it, in our faith story and, importantly, in each of our own stories. I like to identify myself now as being "on the Twilight Cruise." I want to own the wisdom I have accumulated and celebrate the time in my life when I can share that with my family generations following me. That's what Matriarchs do.
Let's get together to share our stories, to share THE story, and to celebrate and own our most excellent roles as Matriarchs.
If you would like to attend this year’s retreat, please contact Tawanna Dutton right away. Space is very limited. The cost for this year’s retreat is $275 and deadline to receive your payment is July 15.
Save the Date / Mark your calendar and come join us!!! Classes are 12:30p to 4p in the Parish Hall. The dates for the Stamping Class this year are:
Thurs. March 19th
Thurs. June 11th
Thurs. September 10th
Thurs. November 12th
Save the Date / Mark your calendar and come join us!!! Classes are 12:30p to 4p in the Parish Hall. The dates for the Stamping Class this year are:
Thurs. March 19th
Thurs. June 11th
Thurs. September 10th
Thurs. November 12th
Fr Bill is hosting another of his famous Newcomers Brunch on Sunday, June 7th, in the Undercroft immediately following the 11:00 o'clock service. If you are new to our church family in the past six months to a year, you are invited! Please come for a light lunch and this personal welcoming gathering to our church family on behalf of Fr Bill.
Sold Out!
Our Good Shepherd Parish family and the community are invited to a special concert featuring strings, woodwinds, keyboard and vocals performed by talented local and regional artists. Summer Classics…Beethoven to Broadway will be held Saturday, June 6, from 6:00pm to 7:30pm in the church nave.
Musicians include many local and regional artists. Harry Baughn will emcee. Organizer Phil Cox said, “We have remarkable talent in the area that we look forward to highlighting and sharing with our audience.” So invite friends to join us or send them to this web page to order tickets! Seating is limited. A champagne reception in the Parish Hall will follow the performance.
Tickets are $15 each and should be purchased in advance here, or by calling the church office at 828-389-3397 Monday through Thursday 9:00am to 3:00pm. (Sold out)
The Still Place is a Non-Profit Organization who offers a peaceful place for rest, relaxation, and enjoyment to individuals and families experiencing serious life altering illness or loss of a child. Healing and hope are fostered through uniquely designed, single family retreats at no cost to the family. Families enjoy art, nature, spirituality, and southern Appalachian culture and adventures. Good Shepherd has partnered with The Still Place since its inception through f inancial assistance as well as needed volunteers from our loving parish family.
On Sunday, May 31, after the 11 o'clock service, our parish will host a delicious spaghetti lunch as a fundraiser for The Still Place. Ron Dutton will be our principal chef in preparing his grandmother Rose's extraordinary, authentic pasta sauce. Please plan on staying after the service to enjoy this fine meal and to learn more about The Still Place.
On Tuesday, May 19th we are hosting our Cancer Support Group in the Parish Hall at 5:30pm. We are hoping to offer support to those on the journey of dealing with, surviving, and/or caring for someone with cancer. Bring something to share in thoughts, ideas, and of course some food. Contact Jose Arias by email if you can’t attend in person but would like to be part of the meeting by zoom: jose_m_arias@hotmail.com
Calling all Grazers to sign up in the information hallway for the next three months session (June, July & August). The weather has improved and it is getting lighter every day so no excuses. Enjoy a home cooked meal and lively conversation with other parishioners. Any questions, please see Nora Broszeit.
On May 16th, Parish Life is enjoying a hike at Duke’s Creek Falls in Helen, GA. We'll meet at church at 10:00am, then carpool or caravan. Don’t forget to pack a lunch & bring water! Sign up if you plan to attend.
THEN … We are meeting at 4:00pm, for fellowship at Crane Creek Stone House Tasting Room 1040 Crane Creek Rd, Young Harris, GA 30582
Please sign up for one or both events in the hallway.
Join us at Good Shepherd on May 8, 2026, at 7pm as we welcome the Valley River Ringers! The Valley River Ringers have been ringing together for about 12 years. They ring on 4 octaves of bells and choir chimes. They ring level 3 and 4 in handbell music which is commonly known as moderate difficult music. The ringers come from Georgia, North Carolina and they meet at the First United Methodist church in Murphy where their director, Suzanne West, is the music director
May 3rd, our Bishop will be visiting! We will have one service at 10:00am, followed by Brunch with the Bishop in the Parish Hall. Your donation of a side brunch item is welcome!
A Floral Design class is being sponsored by the Flower Guild on Friday, May 1, 2026, 10am – 12pm. Come learn the basics of flower arranging and stay for flower planting. We're asking those who would like to add a plant to the church garden to bring a small plant in honor of all mothers and stay after the floral class to plant them, with our Master Gardener’s assistance. If you can't make the class and you'd like to donate a flower, please contact Jeff @ 423-744-4107.
PLEASE JOIN US for the special reception celebrating the marriage of Beverly and Allen Lewis, following the Marriage Blessing and 11:00am service in the Parish Hall, Sunday, April 19. If you plan to attend, please sign the RSVP on the Bulletin Board in the Information Hallway. Food will be provided. Just bring your love and good wishes.
Gail Criss and Kathy Marcel are planning an Altar Guild workday on Saturday, April 18 at 10:00 am in advance of Bishop Jose's visit on May 3. There will also be a general indoor Parish cleaning workday on the 18th, 10am - 2pm. If you are available, please join us to make our Parish shipshape for the Bishop's visit. Lunch will be provided.
Attention Icon Writers - Our friends at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Blairsville, GA will host an Icon Writing Retreat from April 12 - 17, 2026. The retreat instructor will be Kara Gillette and the icon chosen is the Sacred Heart of Mary. The cost of the retreat, including all supplies, instruction, lunch and snacks, is $525. A deposit of $225 will hold your space. For more details contact Rita Casey at rbear11@hotmail.com or Kathy Marcel.
Come join our Church family for the Resurrection Celebration on April 5th after the 11:00 am service. Parish Life is hosting our annual Easter Luncheon. Sign-up sheets are in the hallway so that we can have a count as to how many people to expect. We will be providing Ham. Please sign-up and bring your favorite side dish or dessert to share. If you are able, please sign up to assist us with set up on Friday or clean up on Sunday.
Egg Donations & Egg Hunt - Church family, would you help us with egg donations, candy & stickers to fill our eggs? Any donations are appreciated! Our egg hunt is scheduled for Easter Sunday after our 11:00 am service on April 5th. Please have donations in by Sunday, March 29th, placing them in the nursery on the table. The eggs will be filled on Saturday, the day before Easter
The church requires that certain ministers undergo periodic training and licensing. Those include lectors, intercessors, Eucharistic ministers and Eucharistic visitors. The following are the date for those training meetings:
Lectors and Intercessors - March 22 at 12:30 in the Nave.
Eucharistic Ministers & Eucharistic Visitors – March 29 at 12:30 in the Nave.
Spring is here and we want to get the garden grounds in tip top shape. We'll be gathering at the church at 9am on Mar 28. If you're able and willing to join us, please sign the volunteer list in the hallway. Tools that will be of use are rakes, hand digger or clippers, wheelbarrow and gloves. Lunch will be provided (pizza). Questions call Jeff King.
I believe that it is well established in Scripture and Tradition that being a part of the folk who gather weekly around “Word and Sacrament” is a vital part of what it means to be a Christian.
I will attempt to explore this truth in this year’s “Wednesday Evenings in Lent.” Wednesday, Feb. 25 through Wednesday, March 25, we will gather in the Parish Hall for a light supper and some “Light Middleweight” theological sparring. We will look at four Statements:
We are the Church - Weeks 1 and 2
We are the Episcopal Church – Week 3
We are Church Together - Week 4
We are Church for the Sake of the World – Week 5
In preparation for your participation, you might do a little reading for extra credit.
Scripture - Acts 2:37-47, Hebrews 10:24-25.
Tradition – Book of Common Prayer p. 871, Article XIX “Of the Church”. BCP, p. 359, Nicene Creed, Third paragraph on Holy Spirit and the Church.
Reason – BCP, p. 854, Catechism, “The Church.” (We’ll talk more about Anglicanism’s “Three-legged Stool” approach to religion in Week 3)
I look forward to thinking, talking, and praying with you about what it means to be the Church in this time, and this place.
Good Shepherd will host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Monday, March 23rd, from 12:30 - 5:30pm in the Parish Hall.
The church requires that certain ministers undergo periodic training and licensing. Those include lectors, intercessors, Eucharistic ministers and Eucharistic visitors. The following are the date for those training meetings:
Lectors and Intercessors - March 22 at 12:30 in the Nave.
Eucharistic Ministers & Eucharistic Visitors – March 29 at 12:30 in the Nave.
This course is an introduction and refresher course on the Episcopal Church. If you are new to the Episcopal Church– its history, worship, theology, and way of life. If you are new to the Episcopal tradition, returning after some time away, seeking Confirmation or Reception into the Episcopal church, or have questions like “What is the origin of the Episcopal tradition?”, “How is the Episcopal church related to other traditions?”, “Why do Episcopalians do that?”, or ”What do Episcopalians believe?”, then this course is for YOU! Sign-up in the Information Hallway if interested.
Feb 8 - The Ancient Church
Feb 22 - The Church in England
March 1 - The Episcopal Church
March 8 - Anglican Beliefs
March 15 - Anglican Worship
March 22 - Anglican Mission
The rescheduled Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, March 22, following a single 10 AM Rite II service. The Vestry will provide ham and biscuits and invites your donation of a brunch item to share.
A Parish Life activity. See the bulletin board or contact Mili or Jose Arias for more information.
Save the Date / Mark your calendar and come join us!!! Classes are 12:30p to 4p in the Parish Hall. The dates for the Stamping Class this year are:
Thurs. March 19th
Thurs. June 11th
Thurs. September 10th
Thurs. November 12th
I believe that it is well established in Scripture and Tradition that being a part of the folk who gather weekly around “Word and Sacrament” is a vital part of what it means to be a Christian.
I will attempt to explore this truth in this year’s “Wednesday Evenings in Lent.” Wednesday, Feb. 25 through Wednesday, March 25, we will gather in the Parish Hall for a light supper and some “Light Middleweight” theological sparring. We will look at four Statements:
We are the Church - Weeks 1 and 2
We are the Episcopal Church – Week 3
We are Church Together - Week 4
We are Church for the Sake of the World – Week 5
In preparation for your participation, you might do a little reading for extra credit.
Scripture - Acts 2:37-47, Hebrews 10:24-25.
Tradition – Book of Common Prayer p. 871, Article XIX “Of the Church”. BCP, p. 359, Nicene Creed, Third paragraph on Holy Spirit and the Church.
Reason – BCP, p. 854, Catechism, “The Church.” (We’ll talk more about Anglicanism’s “Three-legged Stool” approach to religion in Week 3)
I look forward to thinking, talking, and praying with you about what it means to be the Church in this time, and this place.
On Tuesday, March 17 we are hosting our Cancer Support Group in the Parish Hall at 5pm. We are hoping to offer support to those on the journey of dealing with, surviving, and/or caring for someone with cancer. Bring something to share in thoughts, ideas, and of course some food. Contact Jose Arias by email if you can’t attend in person but would like to be part of the meeting by zoom: jose_m_arias@hotmail.com
This course is an introduction and refresher course on the Episcopal Church. If you are new to the Episcopal Church– its history, worship, theology, and way of life. If you are new to the Episcopal tradition, returning after some time away, seeking Confirmation or Reception into the Episcopal church, or have questions like “What is the origin of the Episcopal tradition?”, “How is the Episcopal church related to other traditions?”, “Why do Episcopalians do that?”, or ”What do Episcopalians believe?”, then this course is for YOU! Sign-up in the Information Hallway if interested.
Feb 8 - The Ancient Church
Feb 22 - The Church in England
March 1 - The Episcopal Church
March 8 - Anglican Beliefs
March 15 - Anglican Worship
March 22 - Anglican Mission
-Jesus Christ calls us to loving relationships that are healthy and helpful to each other. The obligation to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to respect the dignity of every human being is binding for all the baptized. Educating and empowering the people of our diocese is central to creating and maintaining safe churches and activities for everyone. The Diocese of Western North Carolina requires many ministry positions and volunteers to complete Safe Church Training.
Safe Church Training will be offered on two consecutive Saturdays, March 7 and March 14, 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM. Please see the sign-up sheet in the parish hallway.
March 7 - Vestry, Staff, Ministry Heads, Eucharistic Ministers and Visitors, and Hospital Visitors.
March 14 - Vestry, Staff, Youth and Children and Nursery Volunteers.
SAVE THE DATE: Your Vestry and the Mountain of Faith Endowment Fund Board of Trustees invite you to join them for a catered dinner on Friday, March 13th in the Par ish Hall. Watch for details on the bulletin board and in future Sunday bulletins.
The Ledford Chapel Boat Ramp Clean-up will be on March 12th at 11:00am, NOT at 8:00am, as shown in the March Calendar. Call Fred King at 828-361-4718 for details.
I believe that it is well established in Scripture and Tradition that being a part of the folk who gather weekly around “Word and Sacrament” is a vital part of what it means to be a Christian.
I will attempt to explore this truth in this year’s “Wednesday Evenings in Lent.” Wednesday, Feb. 25 through Wednesday, March 25, we will gather in the Parish Hall for a light supper and some “Light Middleweight” theological sparring. We will look at four Statements:
We are the Church - Weeks 1 and 2
We are the Episcopal Church – Week 3
We are Church Together - Week 4
We are Church for the Sake of the World – Week 5
In preparation for your participation, you might do a little reading for extra credit.
Scripture - Acts 2:37-47, Hebrews 10:24-25.
Tradition – Book of Common Prayer p. 871, Article XIX “Of the Church”. BCP, p. 359, Nicene Creed, Third paragraph on Holy Spirit and the Church.
Reason – BCP, p. 854, Catechism, “The Church.” (We’ll talk more about Anglicanism’s “Three-legged Stool” approach to religion in Week 3)
I look forward to thinking, talking, and praying with you about what it means to be the Church in this time, and this place.
