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Parish Guilds
If you are looking to become more involved in the Church or wish to
donate some time this is the place to start! Click a group and learn how to get involved!
Fellowship Groups:
Youth Group
Fun Bunch
Women's Group
Men's Group
Senior's Group
Parish Guilds:
Sunday School
Choir Singers and Instrumentalists
Acolytes (Children & Adults)
Readers & Lay Readers
Chalice Bearers & LEMs
Lay Eucharistic Visitors (LEVs)
Altar Guild
Coffee Hour Host/Hostess
Parish Life Committees:
Mission & Outreach Committee
Stewardship Committee
Buildings and Grounds Committee
Landscape & Garden Committee
Memorial Garden Committee
GS Memorabilia Team
Birthday Card Committee
Leadership Groups:
Vestry
Diocesan Committees and Groups
Youth Group
The Good Shepherd Youth Group meets on a monthly basis to plan
for the various events it participates in each year.
Events include trips to New York City to site-see,
hiking (and sometimes ski trips), volunteer days at
local outreach centers. Members of the Youth Group
also regularly read the New Testament Lesson at the Sung Holy Eucharist.
If you (or your children) would like to join the Youth Group please
contact Jan Corning or Father Matt.
Fun Bunch
The Fun Bunch is the Parish 21+ Group.
We go on Brewery Tours, visit BBQ restaurants, go bowling and ice skating, make hot sauce and pizza, watch sporting events, watch movies
and do lots of other fun stuff. There is a Fun Bunch event about once a month at Good Shepherd.
All are invited, in-house events hosted within the church grounds always have childcare,
and the only requirment is a willingness to have a good time and meet other parishioners!
There is no need to join the Fun Bunch, just keep an eye out for events and come and enjoy yourself!
Women's Group
The Women's Group at Good Shepherd is known as the WOCOGS: "Women of the Church of the Good Shepherd". The WOCOGS have an
active book club which meets every month for fellowship and
discussion of the current book. Past activities have also included art
and exercise classes and arranging a church "Christmas Gala."
All women of the church are welcome to join the group and to propose
new activities. Your time commitment is however much you would like.
If you are interested in joining the WOCOGS, please contact Amanda Slattery, Arlene Flurry or Father Matt.
Men's Group
The Men's Group at Good Shepherd is known as the Brotherhood (short for the Brotherhood of Saint Andrew).
The Brotherhood meets on a monthly basis to plan
for the various events it hosts and sponsors. Among the events
offered each year by the Brotherhood: Chili & Chowder Competition
on Candlemas (February 2), Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras Pancake and
Sausage Festival, Saint Patricks's Day Party, Sunday Cookout in June,
BBQ Pork & Brisket in honor of Our Lady (Sunday closest to August 15),
Oktoberfest at Michaelmas (September 29)... and many more!
The Men's group also hosts a number of events at members' homes: including Sunday Night & Monday Night Football games!
If you would like to join the Brotherhood, please contact
Phil Levy or Father Matt.
Senior's Group
The Senior Fellowship Lunch Group at Good Shepherd is an open interest group which meets on the third Tuesday of every month.
Meetings are divided between lunch and conversation events beginning at 12PM at the church and local trips to sightsee or particpate in activites.
All off-site trips are planned so that everyone can join the trip and take part in the activity.
In-house lunch and discussion meetings usually have a particular theme:
in December we talked about the history of and sang a few Christmas Carols, etc.
Transportation to and from events is provided if needed.
If you would like to join the Senior Fellowship Lunch Group, please contact
Bruce Barber or Father Matt.
Sunday School
The Good Shepherd Sunday School meets on Sundays (September through June) at 10:00 AM.
If you are interested in becoming a teacher or enrolling your child in Sunday School, please contact Glenn Hintze or Father Matt.
Please click here for more information about Sunday School.
Choir Singers & Instrumentalists
The Good Shepherd Choir (adult and children) sings on Sundays (September through June) at the
10:00 AM Holy Eucharist and on certain Holy Days (Christmas Eve, Holy Week, etc.) during the Liturgical Year.
Instrumentalists (children and adults) also play at various services throughout the year.
If you are a singer or an instrumentalist, please contact our Music Director and Organist, Cecilia Sparacio.
Please click here for more information about Music at Good Shepherd.
Acolytes
All children in kindergarten through the 12th grade are invited to become
acolytes at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Adults are also welcome to serve as
acolytes. An acolyte assists in the service by leading the Entrance Procession
as a torchbearer or crucifer, partaking in the Gospel Procession,
leading the Offertory Procession, and leading the Recession at the conclusion of the service.
Later in training acolytes may become servers and
participate in the service by helping the Priest prepare for
Holy Communion. The acolyte program is coordinated with the Sunday School
so that the younger acolytes can attend school first and then join the Mass
afterwards. Please contact Rick Vesperman or Father Matt if you or your child is interested in becoming an acolyte.
Readers & Lay Readers
Readers read the lessons at the Holy Eucharist or at the Daily Office. Lay Readers assist in leading the Daily Office. \
If you are interested in becoming a Reader, please speak to Father Matt.
Chalice Bearers & LEMs
A Chalice Bearer, or Lay Eucharistic Minister (LEM), is a layperson licensed by the Bishop of the Diocese
to administer the chalice at the Holy Eucharist, usually after a period
of study and training. Please contact Father Matt if you are interested in becoming an LEM.
Lay Eucharistic Visitors
A Lay Eucharistic Visitor (LEV) is a layperson licensed by the Bishop of the Diocese
to bring Holy Communion to a person who is hospitalized or homebound. LEV's are licensed after a period
of study and training. Please contact Father Matt if you are interested in becoming an LEV.
Altar Guild
The ministry of the Altar Guild members is one of service and dedication.
Each week Guild members care for the altar furnishings, candles and torches,
vestments, vessels and linens - all of the elements of the worship service.
They set up and reset for every service, and they assist the Rector, Chalice
Bearers, Acolytes and Lay People participating at each service.
They plan for and arrange all the floral and decorative displays for
regular and special services and prepare the altar for all weddings and
funerals. Members of the Guild are always in attendance at these events
to help as needed. It is our privilege to serve God and the people who
worship in His Church. Estimated time commitment: 1 hour per person per
week except when special occasions arise. Please contact Arleen Flury or Father Matt if you are interested in joining the Altar Guild.
Coffee Hour Host/Hostess
Coffee Hour takes place after the 10:00 AM service each
Sunday. It is a time when church members can take time out from their
hectic schedules to share fellowship and good cheer. Coffee, tea and
various goodies are provided by the church each week. A volunteer
host or hostess provides the "main course" - bagels, muffins, cake, or really anthing at all!
The host or hostess for the week arrives
20 minutes before the 10:00 AM service to help set up
and stays after Coffee Hour concludes to clean up. Anyone can provide food and be a host or hostess.
In the summer months coffee hour is often outside on the lawn and hosts and hostesses often provide BBQ or
grilled goodies (hotdogs, chicked wings, burgers, BBQ pork, etc.).
There is always a signup sheet available in the parish hallway for people interested in hosting Coffee Hour.
Please speak to Diane Buschel or Father Matt if you have any questions.
Mission & Outreach
The Good Shepherd Mission, Inreach & Outreach Committee meets several times a year to discuss, organize,
and plan all outreach and inreach opportunities and events that are happening at Good Shepherd or being organized by parishioners.
If you are interested in Mission, Inreach, or Outreach please contact Jan Corning or Father Matt.
Please click here for more information about Mission, Inreach, and Outreach.
Stewardship
The Stewardship Committee organizes the annual Stewardship Campaign
and encourages all parishioners to give their time, talent and treasure to God.
Our year is focused around Covenant Sunday, the second Sunday in November, when
each church member is asked to make a pledge of time and money to help the church
plan its activities for the coming year. To accomplish our goals, we have monthly
to bimonthly meetings and include two monthly columns in The Shepherd's Voice,
. The first Stewardship column speaks directly to parishioners about this very important part of spiritual living.
The second Stewardship column is called "Why I Love Good Shepherd",
a short peice written by a different parishioner each month speaking from the heart about what Good Shepherd means to each of us.
Each year we do several mailings to the congregation. We coordinate the 24 hour Prayer Vigil before and Stewardship luncheons offered each year.
If you are interested in joning the Stewardship Committee, please contact Maria Kaprielian or Father Matt.
Please click here for more information on giving and stewardship at Good Shepherd.
Building and Grounds Committee
The Building and Grounds Committee helps to maintain the property, inside and outside.
A group of about 25 of us meets for several work sessions during the year.
Work sessions are generally all-day events on Saturday, at which lunch is provided and fellowship time
is always offered at the end of the day; members of the Committe may commit to the entire day or part of the day, any help is appreciated!
Members of the Committee also do a variety of individual projects that are not part of work session days.
Please contact Bruce Barber or Father Matt if you are interested in joining the Building & Grounds Committee.
Garden Committee
The Garden Committee maintains the beautiful and scenic landscapes and gardens at Good Shepherd.
These gardens include the flowers and entryway paths at the front and back of the church, the front lawn flowers, and the Memorial Garden flowers.
Please contact Amanda Slattery, Dorothy Light or Father Matt if you are interested in joining the Garden Committee.
Memorial Garden Committee
The Memorial Garden Committee is responsible for the maintenance, record keeping, fundraising, and future expansion of the Memorial Garden.
Please contact Bruce Barber or Father Matt if you are interested in joining the Memorial Garden Committee.
GS Memorabilia Team
The Memorabilia Team offers a variety of Good Shepherd Memorabilia items to parishioners: Shirts, Mugs, Commemorative Glasses, Hats, etc.
Items are for sale at various church events. All proceeds are split between the parish operating fund and specific outreach efforts.
Please contact Diane Buschel, Arleen Flury or Father Matt if you are interested in joining the Memorial Garden Committee.
Birthday Card Committee
The Birthday Card Committee provides an opportunity to
send best wishes and blessings to parishioners on behalf of the Good Shepherd Parish.
A volunteer is responsible for writing and addressing cards for one month (you choose
the month). You are provided with the cards, stamps, return address labels, suggested
messages and procedures. It is a simple way for an individual, family, or two friends
sharing coffee to provide a rewarding ministry to our parish. Please contact Nancy Anderson or Father Matt if you are interested in joining the Birthday Card Committee.
Vestry & Parish Officers
The Vestry serves as the board of trustees for the
Parish Corporation and consists of the Rector, two church wardens
and nine vestry
members. It has custody and control of all Parish property,
real and personal, and manages the temporal affairs of the
Parish in accordance with the by-laws of the Corporation, the
Episcopal Church in the United States of America, the Dioceses
of New York and applicable state law. The wardens and vestry
members are elected by ballot at the Annual meeting. The Vestry
meets on the third Wednesday of every month to discuss church
matters. Estimated time commitment is 2 - 3 hours a month.
In additon to elected Vestry members, there are several appointed offices that are required by the parish by-laws.
The Treasurer, Clerk, and Financial Officer are appointed each year by the Rector and Vestry.
These three offices do not require election to the Vestry.
If you are interested in being nominated to run for a vestry position or if you are interested in serving as Treasurer, Financial Officer, or Clerk,
please contact Jim Corning or Bruce Barber, the wardens.
Diocesan Committees
Members of the parish occassionally serve on Committees of the Diocese of New York.
Two members of the Congregation are elected every year to serve as Deligate and Alternate Deligate to Diocesan Convention.
The Deligate and Alternate attend Convention with Father Mead, the rector.
Father Matt Mead serves on several committees in the Episcopal Diocese of New York:
he was elected to Diocesan Council in 2007 and relected in 2010;
he was elected in 2010 to the Committee to Elect the XVI Bishop of New York;
he was appointed to the Congregational Support Plan Committee in 2007;
he was appointed to the Hispanic Grant Committee in 2008;
he was appointed to the Commission On Ministry in 2009;
he was appointed to the Episcopal-United Methodist Dialogue in 2009.
If you are interested in getting involved on the Diocesan level, please speak to Father Matt Mead!
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