Reminder for all Committee Chairs, Team Leaders and Vestry Members: there is an important leadership training on Saturday January 29 from 8:30 am until noon. Our facilitator Jean Rutherford will help us explore ways to incorporate small group ministry techniques in our committees. We will also cover some of the “nuts and bolts” of getting things done at Good Shepherd.

If you haven’t already done so, please RSVP to B.J. Taylor at B.J.Taylor@goodshepherdnorfolk.org or Carrie Short at catshort@cox.net.

For all current and prospective Eucharistic Ministers who want to serve during the Communion service, a single, one hour, class will be offered in the church at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 27. This class will qualify you for appointment to this wonderful ministry. The class will be taught by Sallie Avery and Gerry Smelt under the watchful guidance of Robert Davenport. You are welcome to attend even if you did not previously sign up. Please register by calling Sallie (489-5330) or emailing to wavery8893@aol.com by January 25 so that enough reference manuals can be printed. We are looking forward to an enriching experience filled with information and shared expertise.

As any of you know who use the kitchen, we have had an oven or two that don’t work so well and the icemaker stopped working entirely right before Christmas. Well, it’s really no wonder since the kitchen gets absolutely GLORIOUS use on a regular basis. I remember particularly the holidays when Pound Cakes for Belize was a daily and recurring theme and many of us enjoyed the fruits of that labor.

We are happy to announce that two new ovens and an icemaker were delivered and installed in the kitchen Tuesday, January 18th. Part of the costs were absorbed by a fund already in place and part by a generous donation from a parishioner.

Enjoy the picture of Robert Taylor and Keith Hope wrestling the icemaker. Robert Davenport enjoyed taking that picture, as you can imagine and I will enjoy my afternoon pepsi over crushed ice!!!

Thanks to you all!

Peace
B.J.

A very sincere thanks to everyone who participated in and/or made the services possible during Holy Week & Easter!

As God’s people, we share in one communion and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread and in the prayers. In our parish Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs) facilitate this work by passing the chalice to those receiving the bread and the wine of the Lord’s Supper , and read the Prayers of the People.

Lay Eucharistic Visitors (LEVs) take the sacramental bread and wine each Sunday to those who are physically unable to come to worship. As the service ends, they come forward for a prayer before they are sent out.

Training sessions for all those who are interested and for all those already participating are on the following Tuesdays:

• April 7th   -  “Some Dos and Don’t for LEMs”
• April 14th -   “Some Dos and Don’ts for LEVs”

If you are already participating and wish to continue, we ask that you attend the sessions for your group. If you have been asked to participate and wish to do so, please mark your calendar and join us. If you would wish to share in this ministry of the parish, and have not communicated with anyone about it, please do so now by contacting the Rector at 423-3230.

We will celebrate confirmation on April the 26^th at 10:00 AM with the Rt. Rev Charles Vache welcoming more deeply into this communion and fellowship those presented to him for the laying on of hands.

For youth grades 9 and older confirmation classes have been held at the Parish retreat, and more sessions can be scheduled for early Sunday evenings. For adults who wish to be confirmed (or reaffirmed) and for those who are just curious, classes will be held on Wednesday evenings April 8, 15, 22 from 7 to 8:15 PM.

All those being confirmed will have a joint session on Saturday afternoon, April 25^th at a time that suits everyone.

Please call the Church office if you are interested in participating.

Nothing says ‘Christ has risen indeed! Alleluia’ like a cross flowered with all our home offerings of new life. This Easter, remember to step outside and bring a few blooms to add to the cross when you arrive for worship at both the 8 or 10AM services.

Click image to enlarge, or download a PDF.

The Office staff could use your help answering the phones and greeting visitors. If you’d be interested in volunteering, please contact us at office@goodshepherdnorfolk.org or 423-3230.

Recently, with the presidential election, the inauguration, Advent and Christmas, we are reminded of the many ways we are fortunate to live in the land of the free. Being able to shop for clothing and shoes would be a luxury for many people around the world. Residents in many of the rural communities of Afghanistan struggle in the long harsh winters. (NO Wal-mart available). Anne and Kathleen Redfern have a sailing friend, David Ostwind, who is in the reserves working for Homeland Security and was called up suddenly last summer. He went to Afghanistan on October 18th for a year. When Anne emailed David what he needed, his immediate response was to ask for any SIZE OF USED WARM CLOTHING and SHOES (any size from children on up) so he could distribute them to the Afghan military to deliver to the locals. (Thus, they don’t know they are from Americans.) David did not ask for food, DVD’s, or anything for himself. What a role model and ambassador for our country!!! Through our contacts and neighborhood, about nine packages have been mailed. Let’s all try and spread the warmth in Afghanistan this winter. Here is his address:

LT DAVID OSTWIND
ARSIC-S
RCAC/FOB LINDSEY/NAVY GARRISON
APO AE 0935

Thank you.
The Redferns

We are excited that we are going to create a new pictorial directory of our church family! The directory will help to connect names with faces in our growing church. Please participate! All we ask is that you have your picture taken by the Olan Mills professional photographer and view your proofs afterward. Reserve your appointment time before or after our Sunday church services on January 25, February 1, or February 8 Appointments can also be made online at http://www.signup.olanmills.com.

• Use the church phone number (7574233230) for the entry password and fill in your family information.
• The data is for informational purposes only. None of your information will be used for marketing.
• Click Save to bring up the appointment calendar.
• Advance the calendar to February. Our dates will be in red.  Other dates may be available for appointment sign up at the church. Gray dates are full or unavailable online and appointments vanish as they are filled. The more families that have their pictures taken, the more directories the church will receive at no cost! Please help us meet our goal of 100% participation! Every participating family that selects a pose will receive a FREE pictorial directory and a free 8” x 10: portrait!  You will have the opportunity to order additional portraits if you wish. Dress casual or in your very best, whichever you prefer. Thanks to digital photography, you will come to the church only once for photography and for portrait viewing! This program is available at no cost to the church budget and will bring our parish family closer together by putting names with faces! We look forward to seeing everyone in the directory. Our new Pictorial Directory won’t be complete without you!

The scheduled dates and times for photography are:

• Thursday Feb. 19, 2009 – 3:00 pm – 9:30 pm         
  
• Friday Feb. 20, 2009 – 3:00 pm – 9:30 pm
  
• Saturday Feb. 21, 2009 – 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

Please contact Kathy Nolen-Martin (423-4930 or mknole@wm.edu) for more information or to volunteer to help our church with this project.