It’s difficult to decide who to thank first. Whether it be the kids who kept up the spirit of the trip, Ben being the organizer, or the adults who took time out of their schedules in order to ensure all of our events were conducted timely, efficiently, and safely. With that being said, I would like to thank everyone for a wonderful and memorable weekend. Before this weekend I couldn’t ski. After this weekend, well, I still can’t ski but I’m confident enough to give it another go. Everyone was very supportive and helpful to everyone else’s needs. Each person brought their own experiences, talents, and personalities to this trip making it a realization to most everyone. After speaking to all of the children, adults, and everyone at the Grace Church near wintergreen I would like to remain involved and strengthen the ties I had made over the weekend and contribute my own experiences, talents, and personality. Not to be over repetitive but just one more thank you to everyone from Mission, St. Andrews, and Good Shepard. May more good times be had by all.

Ramone Escalante

*Ramone is in the U.S. Navy and is new to Norfolk and Good Shepherd. He grew up in Chicago. Please say hello and give him a big Good Shepherd welcome!

The Classics of Good Shepherd (those 70 and above) are invited to a Valentine luncheon immediately following the 10:00 a.m. service on February 12th, 2012 in Memorial Hall.

R.S.V.P
757-423-3230

Youth and adults from Good Shepherd, The Mission of the Holy Spirit, and St. Andrews Episcopal Church, traveled together for a weekend of skiing, community, and to visit some old friends from Grace Episcopal Church.

A special note of thanks to Ellen Selig, John Meek, Rick Martin, Carter Fur, Shari Parker, Rosanna Cotoure, Bob Howell, Greg Murphy, Ramone Escalante, and Josh Stephens who served as team leaders for the weekend.

The youth were asked reflective questions about the weekend. Here are their responses:

1. If you were to write a book about the weekend what would you title it? (Remember…it’s a bestseller.)

• How To Have Fun In The Cold
• Therapy For Those Afraid To Be Without Their Cell Phones
• Carving The Journey
• I Left My Wallet In Bob’s Car And Other Stories From The Lift
• How To Have Fun With No Sleep
• Weekend With Schuwan
• Ouch! My Bum Hurts
• How To: A Survival Guide To Ski Trips Without Beds, Showers, Towels, Or Cell Phones.

2. What in particular about our time at Grace Episcopal Church will you remember in 5 years?

• The stuff about fornication from the scripture. That stuff about how our bodies are God’s bodies, we don’t own them. So did I forget deodorant this morning or was that God?
• The last verse of the hymn when everyone sang really loud.
• Everyone singing Lift Every Voice And Sing.
• Communion with my best friends.
• The priest said my name when she gave me communion.
• The church was so small and relaxed. They greeted us like we were their favorite grandchildren coming to visit.
• (This is Ellie btw) The story about the Bishop who gave his shoes to the other guy. I lost mine yesterday and Ellen found me some more to wear. Now Carter has them.
• I didn’t know Ben played the organ.
• How the priest remember my name from last year and said it during communion.
• The lady telling us about when the man had a shotgun pointed at her and Robert Davenport because he thought they were breaking in the basement.
• Singing in the choir for the first time in my life.

This past weekend the Vestry held its annual retreat; looking at the year ahead, joining in community with ongoing and new members and making plans.

The weekend started at the church on Friday evening. After some fellowship and preliminary work, we went to the Feast of the Epiphany Service as a group and then on to the Trinders for hot chocolate followed by dinner at the home of Robert and Lizzy Davenport.

Saturday we met as a group at Algonquin House, where Jeanne Schlegel was kind enough to arrange for us to use the big meeting room downstairs so that we could “get away” a little. Some years the vestry goes away to Camp Chanco or other places, but this year it was nice to join with the confirmands at the Epiphany service and to do something a little different.

The group worshipped, prayed, laughed, listened, learned, and made plans. In the next few weeks you will hear about the actions and decisions made during this retreat as we embark on another great year at Good Shepherd and, in particular, as we finalize and live into the Long Range Plan.

One Important decision of the Vestry Retreat is to post communications and minutes from our meetings on a bulletin board so that each of you can see the work of the group and learn about what was decided on any given month. STAY TUNED!!!! We want you all to be well informed. Lastly, please feel free to contact any member of the Vestry for information or clarifications. Your Vestry for the 2012 year are:

Sue Hill, David Driskill, Sue Bryant, Mary McCaffrey, Taylor Short, Tom Cherry, Rachel Cottrell, Pat Tayloe, Keith Byers, Rolf Williams, Gerry Smelt, and Frank Bond.

B.J. Taylor
Parish Administrator

January 12, 2012

The Creole aphorism “Men anpil chay pa lou” means “Many hands lighten the load.” And as The Church of the Good Shepherd proved, we share more than this aphorism with our brothers and sisters in Haiti. In 2011, you contributed $2418.30 toward rebuilding Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-au-Prince!

Your contributions are helping to rebuild the central pillar of a support system that was once very broad and strong. In a country with a per capita income of $480, The Episcopal Church in Haiti provided education in over 200 schools, medical care through health clinics, and cultural training through the Cathedral music school. The January 2010 earthquake wiped out 70% of the Episcopal Church’s properties in Haiti. But with our help, they are building back.

For making all this possible, special thanks go to Beth Parker for her organizational skills and leadership and to our Rector Robert Davenport for keeping us ever mindful of the needs of others.

The Church of the Good Shepherd joined 488 other parishes and organizations across the country in the Rebuild Our Church in Haiti campaign. For a list of parishes and dioceses across the nation who’ve lent a hand, go to www.episcopalchurch.org/HaitiAppeal.

On this second anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti, I want to personally thank all of you for your generous support of this effort!

Barbara Byers, Diocesan Coordinator