Good Shepherd Episcopal ChurchFriendswood, Texas

Welcome to Good Shepherd!

We are a healthy, vibrant, Program-size church situated between

Houston and Galveston, near the Texas Gulf Coast and NASA’s Johnson

Space Center. At Good Shepherd we believe that Jesus is all about

relationship, and we seek to model Jesus’ focus on relationship

through our vision of being a sanctuary. Staying centered on our

vision, which was wholeheartedly embraced by our congregation over

10 years ago, is what has kept us healthy and growing and strong.

Sanctuary for us is like home base in the game of tag. It is a safe place

to be healed, refreshed and reinvigorated, enabling us to go out into

the world and offer sanctuary to each other and our community,

extending the loving, healing hands of Christ to those who do not

know Him and those who desperately need Him. We are excited to see

God’s plans for Good Shepherd unfolding and are eager and ready to

embrace the change His plan represents. The Vestry, lay leadership,

congregation and staff of Good Shepherd are prayerfully and joyfully

looking forward to welcoming the Rector that God has already chosen

for us, and joining with our new Rector to make God’s plan for us a

reality.

1

Table of Contents

Introduction

Vision and Goals 4

Core Values 5

The Rector We Seek 6

Who We Are

Sunday Morning Worship 7

Children and Youth 11

Spiritual Growth 15

Newcomer Ministries 18

Pastoral Care 19

Good Shepherd School 21

Outreach 22

Parish Life 25

Administration 28

Appendices Parish Statistics 32

Demographics 33

Rector Profile 33

Parish History 34

Campus and Facilities 36

The Diocese of Texas 37

About Friendswood 38

Scrapbook 39

Open Hands Open Hearts

2

Episcopal Church of the Good ShepherdDiocese of Texas

The Rt. Rev. Charles Andrew

Doyle, IX Bishop of Texas

1207 W. Winding Way

Friendswood, Texas 77546

Phone 281.482.7630

Fax 281.482.4307

www.gshepherd.net

Sunday Services:8:00, 9:30, and 11:30AMOne Service 10:00AM onFifth Sundays  (Meal Following)

Wednesday Service of Holy Eucharist: 6:30PM OFFICE HOURSMON-FRI 9:00AM-4:30PM

Visit us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter@goodsheptx

Good Shepherd Episcopal SchoolMon-Fr. 8:30-4:30PM Phone 281.992.1357

SHEPHERD'S NOOK Resale ShopTues., Thurs., Sat.:10:00AM-3:00PM Phone 281-482-8603

3

VisionGood Shepherd seeks to

be a sanctuary for

equipping and

empowering people to

deal with the issues of

life in an atmosphere of

love, security and

support.  We find

sanctuary in Jesus Christ. 

We are called to model

sanctuary to others in

our community and the

world.

2016 Goals• A vibrant Newcomer Ministry that invites and engages our

newcomers to become active members of our church family.

• An atmosphere that enables and promotes spiritual growth and invites the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit through age appropriate educational programs and increased participation in Bible studies.

• Expanded family life ministries that include activities for children, youth, young families, and young adults, including intergenerational programs.

• Increased visibility in and interaction with the Friendswood community through outreach activities that make our name synonymous with sanctuary.

• A successful capital funds drive that retires our debt by 2014, enabling expansion and remodeling of our facilities and parking capacity to invite and accommodate our growing, changing community.

4

Core Values

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church is a SANCTUARY offering traditional and

contemporary worship and fun-filled fellowship that focuses

on meetingyour individual needs.

Scripture-based

Anglican tradition

Nurturing

Christ-centered; community outreach

Teaching

Unity in diversity

Always welcoming

Relationships

Youth

Live Love Laugh

5

The Rector We Seek We seek a joyful PRIEST who will provide a safe place for all to worship, using various worship styles in the Anglican tradition; who passionately shares his/her faith and knowledge in personal conversations and through sermons that relate to our lives.

We seek a loving PASTOR who is called to become part of the Good Shepherd family, who warmly welcomes all, truly values and cares for people, establishes relationships based on trust, and actively supports our pastoral care ministries.

We seek a TEACHER, who values the children and youth of the congregation and is called to provide programs they need to grow into strong Christians.  We seek someone who will encourage spiritual growth for a congregation of diverse ages, education, cultures and ethnic backgrounds, who are at all stages of the Christian journey.

We seek a dedicated DISCIPLE who has a personal relationship with Christ, who lives his/her faith in a spirit of joy and fun; who has a conservative understanding of Scripture and respects those with different understandings.

We seek a confident, vision focused LEADER with passion, joy and sustainable energy, who encourages members to share their gifts, builds and empowers effective teams, and inspires the congregation to participate fully in the life and ministries of Good Shepherd. 

6

Sunday Mornings at Good Shepherd

Sunday Morning Worship Services

Good Shepherd has three worship services on Sunday morning. Our 8:00AM service is Holy Communion Rite I, and is a spoken service. Our 9:30AM service is Holy Communion Rite II with choral music. Our 11:30AM service is a service of contemporary music offered with Holy Communion in the Anglican tradition, utilizing portions of the New Zealand Prayer book. Children ages 3 through 10 are invited to Children’s Church for their own worship service during the first part of the 9:30 service. The children rejoin their families during the Passing of the Peace before Holy Communion.

On “Fifth Sundays” we have One Great Service at 10:00AM, offering the opportunity for our entire church family to worship together. The One Great Service combines elements of worship from our 8:00, 9:30 and 11:30AM services.

At Good Shepherd we believe that worship is the primary purpose of the church, and many dedicated lay persons are actively involved in ensuring excellence in our worship services. These dedicated parishioners serve in numerous Worship Ministries, Music Ministries and Worship Support Ministries.

Worship Ministries

Good Shepherd has a small team of Vergers who rotate their service. A verger attends to the “big picture” so that the service can run smoothly, ensuring that the priests and chalice bearers have what they need to serve communicants and enhance the worship experience of the congregation. Chalice bearers have the honor of reverently serving the Blood of Christ to communicants. They receive yearly training in the philosophy and duties of a chalice bearer. Lay readers bring the word of God to life through readings from the Old Testament, the Psalms, and selected New Testament readings. Lay readers participate in yearly training in communicating the word of God effectively and enthusiastically. Our Acolytes are faithful and conscientious men, women, boys and girls, who love the Lord Jesus Christ and love serving Him at his sacred altar. It is an honor to be selected as one who serves God and His people as a Verger, Chalice Bearer, Lay Reader, or Acolyte.

During Communion at each worship service, trained Prayer Teams are available in the Prayer Room, just off the foyer. Experienced prayer ministers pray with parishioners and visitors confidentially. Parishioners and visitors may also request prayers through prayer cards in each pew rack, which can be placed in the offering plate.

7

Sunday Mornings at Good Shepherd (cont’d)

Music Ministries

The mission of the Good Shepherd Sanctuary Choir is to enrich worship at Good Shepherd and proclaim Christ through music. This choir provides music at the Sunday service at 9:30AM and provides music at all services on Christmas Eve and Easter. Special seasonal performances are often offered during Lent, Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. The choir is made up of 20 to 25 dedicated parishioners who feel that the highest and best way they can worship God is through music. The choir is committed to the ministry and each other. Members of the choir pray for and support each other, attend area musical events, and enjoy periodic off-campus gatherings. Anyone who loves to praise God through song is welcome to join!

The newly formed Good Shepherd Children’s Choir provides music at our 9:30AM Sunday service about once a month. We are very excited about what the future holds for this new ministry!

Each Sunday, Good Shepherd Lay Eucharistic Visitors deliver Communion to our parishioners who are home bound or hospitalized. Recipients are blessed by the gift of Communion, and the participants in this ministry are blessed by the act of sharing God’s presence in the elements.

Our Third Service Contemporary Praise Band is a small group of musicians offering strong voices singing contemporary praise songs for the 11:30AM Sunday service. The group includes members who play keyboard, drums and guitar.

Worship Support Ministries

Members of the Altar Guild are dedicated to preparing the altar for worship every Sunday. Altar Guild members serve on a rotating basis, ensuring that the table is prepared for Communion and the church is equipped with candles. They also ensure that the colors for the season or for special Sundays are reflected on the table and the hangings.

8

Sunday Mornings at Good Shepherd (cont’d)

In preparation for Sunday worship services, the Flower Guild arranges the flowers and greenery and places the arrangements in the sanctuary. For special occasions and seasons of the year, the Flower Guild provides flowers and greenery for the foyer and other areas of the church. At Christmas, the flower guild provides leadership for the Greening of the Church, and encourages members of the congregation to participate. The Guild fills the altar with poinsettias for Christmas, and adorns the altar with lilies for Easter.

Good Shepherd’s Nursery is available during all Sunday services, and for many parish events. Its mission is to provide care for the infants and young children of Good Shepherd’s parishioners and visitors in an attractive and loving environment. On Sunday this ministry enables parents and grandparents to worship fully, confident that their children are safe and lovingly attended. The nursery is professionally staffed and available to all children from infants through age 4.

Ushers provide a welcoming environment and distribute the Sunday Service Bulletins to parishioners and visitors at our Sunday worship services.

Christian Formation for Adults

“Clergy Corner and Coffee” is held after our 9:30 worship service. This class includes a topical presentation and discussion. Topics are generally determined by the class attendees, and the discussion is led by a clergy person.

In the recent past we have also offered a study of C.S Lewis’ “Mere Christianity”, and a class on the “50 Greatest Moments in Church History.” Both classes were very well attended. Based on the response to these classes, inputs received from our parish survey, and our 2016 Goals, clearly we are very interested in more Christian Formation opportunities for adults.

Christian Formation

Opportunities for Christian education for both children and adults are offered on Sunday mornings immediately following the 9:30AM worship service. For

children and youth, Christian formation is available from preschool (age 3) through the 12th grade. Classes typically run from September through May. Good Shepherd is blessed with a team of dedicated and inspired teachers. These leaders infuse their ministry with enthusiasm and devotion to providing a positive environment for age-appropriate learning.

9

Sunday Mornings at Good Shepherd (cont’d)

Godly Play 1 is for children in preschool through kindergarten, and Godly Play 2 serves children in grades 1 through 3. Godly Play is based on the understanding that children have an innate sense of the presence of God. All they lack is the appropriate language to help them identify and express it in order to explore and strengthen their understanding. The Godly Play approach teaches basic Christian language in a way that encourages natural creativity and enhances the child’s authentic experience of God. Godly Play is a way of preparing children to join in the worship and life of their congregation as they develop a deeper understanding of stories, symbols and rites.

Middle School classes are designed for children in grades 4 and 5. Junior High classes are for Good Shepherd youth in grades 6 through 8. These classes use the “Living the Good News” curriculum, an age appropriate curriculum focusing on the same cycle of readings found in weekly worship. Junior High Classes may include items for further study or use in family discussions.

High School classes are for teens in grades 9 through 12. Classes feature an open discussion of the lectionary focusing on the same cycle of readings found in weekly worship. For each of three readings, the leader introduces a question or provides a statement for reflection while the lesson is read. After the reading, the young people are encouraged to discuss their reactions, beliefs, and understanding.

Christian Formation For Children and Youth

10

Children and Youth at Good Shepherd

Children and Youth Ministries

At Good Shepherd, Family Matters. We care about the whole family, from our very youngest parishioners and visitors, to our seniors. We have programs and activities for all ages, including intergenerational activities, throughout the year. Special activities for the entire family are planned each quarter, typically on 5th Sundays. Family Matters events also include activities geared for younger children and their families, such as “Movie Night at Good Shepherd”. Our younger children also enjoy an annual Easter party, “Trunk or Treat” and the “Blessing of the Pets”.

Children’s Church is a scaled-down version of the typical worship service, and follows the same liturgical calendar. The service includes a children’s version of the Nicene Creed, the Gospel reading followed by discussion, Prayers of the People, the “Good Shepherd Children’s Prayer,” and an offering followed by the Doxology, and the passing of the peace. Children begin to learn and understand the basic parts of a typical Episcopal service while hearing the stories of the Bible in terms they can understand. Simple craft projects are often used to illustrate the Gospel lesson. We are blessed with four teams of Children’s Church ministers who rotate leadership weekly.

Good Shepherd’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) program is quite possibly the highlight of the year for our children! VBS is also a great outreach ministry to the children of our community. The number of children served has steadily increased over the years - approximately 100 children participate in our VBS. “Hometown Nazareth - where Jesus was a kid” was our VBS theme for summer 2011. Many dedicated parishioners, adults and teenagers devoted their time and talent to making VBS a very special event for all the children who attended. Even our parish hall was transformed into the town of Nazareth by one of our parishioners who is a professional set designer!

11

Children and Youth at Good Shepherd (cont’d)

Episcopal Youth Community (EYC)

The EYC is for all youth 6th grade and higher. EYC activities are designed so that adolescents and teens have fun, build their relationships with their peers, and share and strengthen their belief in Christ. EYC members participate in trips for fun, service projects and annual mission trips. We have over 40 members in our EYC and are continually expanding.

Starting in the fall of 2011, EYC will take place on Sunday nights as a part of our Sunday Nights Under God (SNUG) program. The Jr. High will meet from 5:00-6:00PM. We will share a meal with all who

are in attendance at SNUG from 6:00-6:30PM. The Sr. High will meet from 6:30-7:30PM and then head over to someone’s house for dessert, games and Compline from 7:30-8:30PM.

The EYC does at least one service project a month in and around the greater Houston area. Some of the projects we are involved with are the Shepherd’s Nook, Trunk or Treat, Christian Helping Hands, St. Vincent’s House, Sweet Jesus Season, Souper Bowl of Caring and sponsoring a child in Africa.

Every summer our Jr. High and Sr. High EYCs go on week long Mission Trips. The Jr. High EYC trips are in Texas and involve different service projects. The Sr. High EYC goes out of state on a Group Work Camp in which they work on homes for those in need.

We take other smaller trips throughout the year. Every summer, we travel to the beautiful Texas Hill Country for a weekend retreat at Wessendorf Retreat Center, where we relax, have fun and enjoy activities such as floating down the river, tacky dance and messy games. In 2011, we also took a Spring Break trip to visit all the amusement parks in the San Antonio area.

12

The EYC has many fundraising events that completely support our large budget. Our biggest fundraiser is a Concession Stand at Minute Maid Park, where the Houston Astros play. Good Shepherd adults, many of whom are not parents, volunteer to work the Concession Stand throughout the baseball season. Proceeds from Minute Maid Park make up about 75% of our budget. Additional fundraisers conducted by EYC members include activities such as serving breakfast tacos to the congregation once a month and

hosting the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Suppers.

Our EYC is heavily involved in many Diocesan events. We have youth who attend and regularly staff Y.E.S. and Happening. Youth Encountering Spirit (Y.E.S.) weekend brings young people in grades 7 through 9 together in Christian Community. The retreat focuses on Christ and helps foster a clearer appreciation of self, richer relationships with others, and a deeper experience with Jesus. Happening is a weekend for teenagers in grades10 through 12. Happening provides an exciting forum for teens to develop, nourish, and share the spirit of Christ within them. The Happening movement proclaims that Jesus Christ has made and will continue to make a difference in the world and in individual lives. Happening is a life affirming and life changing weekend!

Many EYC members attend various retreats throughout the year such as Mid-Winter, Jr. High and Intermediate Retreats. Good Shepherd is also the host twice a year for the Galveston Convocation Lock-In.

As you can see, our EYC program is thriving! We will continue to nurture and develop our youth as well as reach out to the community.

One of Good Shepherd’s 2016 Goals, “Expanded family life ministries that include activities for children, youth, young families and young adults including intergenerational programs”, confirms our church family’s enduring commitment to our youth.

Children and Youth at Good Shepherd (cont’d)

13

Wessendorf

Mission Trips 2011

14

Wednesday Evening Worship Service and Bible Study

This 6:30PM. worship service is a Litany of Healing with Holy Communion. The service is held in the chapel and is followed by a Bible Study.

Spiritual Growth at Good Shepherd

Good Shepherd offers many opportunities for spiritual growth. As we grow spiritually, our relationship with Jesus becomes stronger, and we become more like Him. The more we become like Jesus, the better we are at providing sanctuary to each other, our visitors, our community and the world. One of our goals for 2016 is to develop “An atmosphere that enables and promotes spiritual growth and invites the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit through age appropriate educational programs and increased participation in Bible studies.” We are eager to enhance our opportunities for spiritual growth.

Women’s Bible Study

In the fall and spring of each year, Good Shepherd offers Bible studies for women. Groups meet once a week, either at the church or in members’ homes. The women have enjoyed Beth Moore Bible studies and reading and discussing books such as those written by Max Lucado and Becca Stevens. The classes are designed to strengthen participants’ relationships with Christ and one another.

Discovery and Rediscovery Weekends

This on-campus lay retreat offers a relaxed environment for witness, discussion, worship, fellowship and food. Several different formats are grouped under this ministry, all of which follow the general pattern of lay talks on various subjects followed by discussion.

The Alpha Course has been offered several times over the past few years at Good Shepherd. Alpha is an opportunity to explore the meaning of life in a relaxed, friendly setting. The Alpha course usually meets once per week for 10 weeks. During each session, people enjoy great food, laughter and learning in a fun and friendly atmosphere.

Alpha Course

15

The Brotherhood of St. Andrew is a ministry to “spread Christ's Kingdom among men and boys in the Episcopal/Anglican Communion.” This men’s organization meets twice a month to discuss a current news topic and interpret the event through the Anglican three-legged stool of “scripture, tradition and reason.” The group also offers prayers of thanksgiving and prayers for God’s intervention for healing, spiritual guidance, and peace. The Brotherhood supports the parish in many ways, particularly by cooking for numerous parish events each year. For holidays, they cook and sell brisket, chicken and other delectable grilled meats. The proceeds from these cook fests have funded upgrades to Good Shepherd’s kitchen. The Brotherhood is active in outreach, sponsors the Guy Stuff Ministry and is also responsible for organizing the visitation ministry to newcomers.

The mission of The Order of the Daughters of the King (DOK) is to extend Christ's Kingdom through prayer, service, and evangelism. Our DOK chapter is alive and thriving with approximately 60 active members. The DOK meets monthly for prayer, study and outreach. Speakers and programs focus on forms of prayer and how to invite the Holy Spirit in as you pray. Various forms of prayer and prayer methods have been explored, such as reflective prayer, invitatory prayer, contemplative prayer, Taizé, prayer beads, walking the labyrinth, silent retreats, and use of the prayer book.

The Good Shepherd DOK chapter is active in outreach, with particular emphasis on the seafarers in the Port of Houston, and US troops serving in war zones, providing over 100 “Holiday Boxes” filled with toiletries, goodies, hand-knitted scarves and caps. The DOK also hosts a luncheon for visiting Seafarers Chaplains at the Howard T. Tellepsen Seafarers' Center.

Spiritual Growth at Good Shepherd (cont’d)

16

Lenten Series

Each year Good Shepherd hosts a series of Lenten classes. Each class starts with a covered dish meal (there is always food at Good Shepherd!), followed by a presentation by an invited speaker. “A Season of Invitation” was the theme for our 2011 Lenten series. Speakers included a clergy member, parishioners and speakers from the Diocese.

The Labyrinth

Good Shepherd owns a 40-foot square Chartres labyrinth, on three canvas panels. The labyrinth is set up in our parish hall for meditative walks. In the past the walks were held on a quarterly basis. These opportunities were well received. This ministry is currently inactive and we would like to “revive” it in the near future.

Cursillo

Good Shepherd actively supports the Cursillo program of the Diocese, which is a movement of the Christian church designed to help the laity better understand their individual gifts and callings to be Christian leaders. Good Shepherd teams have led many Cursillos, most recently Cursillo #233 in August 2011. It was the best Cursillo ever! Good Shepherd also supports reunion groups and Ultreyas, which are methods for staying accountable to one another in our Christian journeys.

Baptism and Communion Preparation Classes

Our clergy offer Baptismal classes by appointment with people who are interested in Baptism, either for themselves or their children. Communion preparation classes are offered once a year, usually during Lent, for young people whose parents want them to have instruction before receiving Holy Communion.

Spiritual Growth at Good Shepherd (cont’d)

17

Newcomer Ministries at Good Shepherd

While we believe that we do a great job of welcoming our newcomers to Good Shepherd, we desire to do a better job of engaging them and helping them “plug into” Good Shepherd. This desire is expressed as one of our goals for 2016: “A vibrant Newcomer Ministry that invites and engages our newcomers to become active members of our church family.”

We have applied for a Diocesan Strategic Mission Grant that will enable us to add a Newcomer Minister to our church staff. This person will be responsible for assessing our current practices,

planning a program of newcomer assimilation and integration, launching and activating a strategic plan of evangelizing new members, identifying their unique talents and needs through

direct interaction, and helping them move from a visitor to an engaged member of our church family.

Current Newcomer Ministries include:Newcomer Bags

Every Sunday during announcements, newcomers are invited to identify themselves. Each newcomer is presented with a Newcomer bag and welcomed to Good Shepherd. The Newcomer bag provides information about Good Shepherd that, hopefully, encourages them to return. Each bag also includes a half-pound bar of chocolate!

Newcomer Visitation

When new worshipers identify themselves by completing a visitor’s card, a pair of parishioners from the Newcomer Visitation Team visits them that day. The team thanks our visitors for visiting, answers any questions they may have and presents them with a loaf of homemade bread or some other welcoming gift, then bids them a good afternoon. The intent is to visit without intruding and for the visit to be restricted to the front porch of the home. This ministry has a tremendous impact!

Liturgy of Belonging

This liturgy is included in our 9:30AM worship service on a quarterly basis for those newcomers who have decided to join our church family.

New members come to us in a variety of ways and this is our opportunity, as a church family, to officially welcome them—whether they have transferred their letter from another Episcopal church, joined us from a different denomination, or have never had a church home. This short liturgy includes vows for both the new members and the congregation. The members of the congregation pledge to encourage and support the new members, and acknowledge that the body of Christ will grow in new ways with its growth in numbers. The Liturgy of Belonging is celebrated with a meal for all after the worship service!

New Member Dinner

New members of the church are invited to attend a dinner hosted by the Vestry, the Clergy and the Newcomer ministry leads. This dinner provides an opportunity for new members to meet one another and their hosts. The dinner is held soon after the Liturgy of Belonging and all participants are invited.

18

Pastoral Care at Good Shepherd

Stephen Ministry

Good Shepherd’s Stephen Ministry began in 1990. Over the last 20 years, 16 Stephen Ministry leaders, and more than 40 Stephen Minister caregivers have been trained. Stephen Leaders and Stephen Ministers have provided over 430 hours in one-to-one care in the last 4-5 years.

The Good Shepherd Stephen Ministry seeks to expand on Good Shepherd’s vision of “equipping others to deal with the issues of life.” Through this ministry, lay persons are trained to provide distinctively Christian one-to-one care. The ministry provides a loving listener to those who are experiencing a variety of needs including grief, illness, the care of aging parents or troubled family members, and transitions such as unemployment and divorce. The Stephen Ministry program is completely confidential, and those receiving care can be sure that their identity and their confidences will remain private. Stephen Ministers are committed to expressing God’s love through their lives and actions to others.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

The parishioners in this ministry gather each week to knit and crochet prayer shawls. These lovingly created shawls augment the Good Shepherd prayer ministry by extending a warm and physical touch—assuring the recipients of our prayers and God’s infinite love and care. Typically, the shawls are presented by a friend or loved one to someone experiencing a life-threatening illness. Experienced shawl makers are happy to assist anyone who is less experienced and would like to participate. All are welcome!

Prayer Card Ministry

This ministry remembers parishioners in special need by providing get well, sympathy, and other cards of encouragement that are signed by Good Shepherd parishioners on Sundays. For parishioners who are confined to their homes or in nursing homes, this ministry supplies birthday, Easter, Valentine’s Day and Christmas cards, which are also signed by parishioners.

Pastoral care is a key component of providing sanctuary. Our pastoral care ministries are always available for anyone in need, whether or not they are members of our church family.  At Good Shepherd, we are blessed to have so many compassionate parishioners who willingly give of their time and talent to share the love of Christ by reaching out, comforting and walking beside those who are going through difficult periods.

19

The Martha’s Guild provides direct care for those in need by organizing the provision of meals, transportation or other help for families celebrating the birth of a child or experiencing serious illness or loss.

“Walking the Mourner’s Path” is a Christ-centered support program for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. The mission of this ministry is to “transform grief into joyful living.” Over a span of eight weeks, these once-a-week gatherings provide tools to facilitate healing. The gatherings include short lessons, scriptures, questions to consider, and times of sharing. Each participant has the opportunity to share in an atmosphere of safety and confidentiality.

Pastoral Care at Good Shepherd (cont’d)

20

From the Director: With eyes to the future, not unlike the scientists, engineers and astronauts that guided NASA, Father Bill Sterling and several parishioners envisioned Good Shepherd School in 1980. Friendswood was growing with young families eager to move to our tree-filled community with hometown values and a patriotic spirit.

Good Shepherd Day School opened in one large room of the church’s Education Building, now known as the “Laura Building”. Three year olds attended on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and four year olds on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. The focus then, as it is today, centered on nurturing children through a daily interactive children’s chapel, hands on educational exploration, teamwork, sharing and positive reinforcement. Our experienced and loving teachers delight in the role of preparing children to be successful in life and to meet challenges with confidence, filled with God’s love.

Today the school has two three year old and two pre-kindergarten classes. Good Shepherd Episcopal School also offers pre-school care from 7:15AM and after school care until 5:00PM. We still begin each day with children’s chapel, led by the teachers. The staff includes four teachers, two assistants, the director (who also serves as a teacher) and a part-time Spanish teacher. Good Shepherd Episcopal School has earned a strong reputation for excellence in education in an atmosphere of love, security and support. It is a member of the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools.

The school has always enjoyed a strong bond with the Church. We are blessed to have parishioners serving on the School Board, as volunteers in the school office, making financial donations and obtaining matching grants from their employers. When a new playground was needed, parishioners even rolled up their sleeves, got their hands dirty and built a new one. It is now enjoyed by all children of Good Shepherd.

The clergy of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church have a strong presence in the school and join us as our story tellers in chapel. We look forward to our new Rector being our story teller. The children always delight in hearing the stories and save their most interesting questions for our clergy! The Rector serves as Headmaster of the school and sits on the Good Shepherd Episcopal School Board.

The Good Shepherd Episcopal School

21

The Shepherd’s Nook is a thrift shop founded in 1979 by the Good Shepherd ECW. The Nook is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that receives donations of clothing, toys, books and household items from individuals in the community and sells them at deeply discounted prices. The Nook is staffed solely by volunteers. Each year the Nook Board distributes 55% of net proceeds to Good Shepherd’s ECW, and 20% to local nonprofit organizations. This past January over $17,600 was distributed to the ECW and nonprofit organizations, including Builders Without Borders, Christian Helping Hands, Family Outreach, Friendswood EMS and Volunteer Fire Department, Good Shepherd Episcopal School, the Horizon School, the Laura Recovery Center, Meals on Wheels, the Resource and Crisis Center of Galveston County, St. James’ House and St. Vincent’s House. The Nook also provides free clothing and household items to clients referred from area churches and community service agencies such as Christian Helping Hands. Along with monetary donations, the Nook has provided free clothing, household items, videos and books to Galveston area residents, the Seaman’s Center at the Port of Houston, the Purple Heart ministry, The Lord of the Streets ministry, Bay Area community schools and others.

Outreach at Good Shepherd

Christian Helping Hands (CHH)

“…Therefore, I command you, you shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor in this land” (Deuteronomy 15:11). The mission of CHH is to fulfill this commandment in our communities through the cooperative efforts of local churches. CHH provides short-term assistance with basic needs, primarily food, and helps others become more self-sufficient. Monetary assistance for medicine, fuel, rent and utilities is provided on a case-by-case basis, as available. Good Shepherd parishioners donate non-perishable foods to CHH on an ongoing basis. Parish members also contribute generously toward CHH’s back-to-school campaign for school supplies and its Christmas campaign to collect gift cards from local grocery stores.

The people of Good Shepherd have open hands and big hearts! We are active in outreach to both local and far away communities. Our outreach ministries touch the lives of hundreds and hundreds of people.  There are many opportunities for members of Good Shepherd, from age 11 to 101, to serve.

22

The Horizon School at Good Shepherd welcomed its first students in 2009 to provide an educational opportunity for children with Down syndrome and similar developmental delays. The Horizon School offers its students tools and practical skills to enable them to become productive citizens. A structured learning environment in an atmosphere of love and understanding helps students achieve their full academic potential, contributing to their happiness and self worth.

The Good Shepherd Community Garden was initiated during the summer of 2011. The garden is available to parishioners and members of the local community. Half of each gardener’s harvest is donated to Christian Helping Hands. Needless to say, we hope for more rain next season!

Outreach at Good Shepherd (cont’d)

In October 2004 Good Shepherd reinstated its Blood Drive Ministry, holding four drives per year for the benefit of St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital. In 2006, at the request of St. Luke's Blood Center, the number of drives per year was increased to five. Since 2008, Good Shepherd’s donations have averaged approximately 167 units of blood per year. In total, Good Shepherd has donated over 118 gallons of blood. Parish participation averages about 10%, which is twice the national average for blood donation. This level of participation can be credited in large part to strong support from the clergy and lay church leadership.

23

The Friendswood Community Prayer Breakfast began in 1969. Once a month on Saturday morning, members of Christian denominations throughout the community meet for a time of prayer, fellowship and food. About 17 churches are represented, and Good Shepherd is among a dozen churches that serve as hosts on a rotating basis.

The United Thank Offering (UTO) begins with a yearly gathering of contributions from the congregation. It is traditionally collected on All Saints Day and sent to the Diocese, which forwards it to the National Office of the UTO. Each year, the National Office provides grants for worthy projects that have great need and little support from other sources. The grants support ongoing programs and “bricks and mortar” projects.

Good Shepherd’s Episcopal Church Women (ECW) is very active in outreach in our communities. Along with monetary support provided to Good Shepherd’s Clergy Discretionary funds, Good Shepherd Episcopal School, and many Good Shepherd ministries, the ECW provides educational scholarships for women enrolled in higher education, scholarships for youth summer camps, and donations to the Vera Gang Scott Scholarship fund. The ECW also provides monetary support to Christian Helping Hands, parishioners involved in medical or other mission trips, and partners with the EYC for local outreach ministry events such as an ice cream social at a local Women’s Shelter.

Outreach at Good Shepherd (cont’d)

24

Parish Life at Good Shepherd

Good Shepherd is blessed with lay leaders who generously offer their time and talent by providing classes on topics of interest to our parishioners and members of our community. Recent offerings have included parenting classes, “10 Great Dates”, “Fireproofing your Marriage”, and “Financial Peace University”.

We are excited about our newest program, “Sunday Nights under God” (SNUG). From 5:00-6:00PM, while Jr. EYC meets and elementary age children enjoy a class taught by our Sr. High EYC, adults of all ages (parents especially) will have an hour for small groups, Bible Study or a study of their choice. From 6:00-6:30PM dinner will be provided for all ages in our Parish Hall. At 6:30 the adults and those younger than Senior High will have a prayer and go home, and our Sr. High EYC will stay for their meeting and fellowship.

Many parishioners enjoy offering hospitality to our church family and visitors: Hospitality hosts provide coffee, juice and refreshments for the congregation on Sunday mornings in the parish hall after the 9:30AM worship service. This ministry provides an inviting environment for fellowship.

“First Sunday Breakfast” is hosted by our dedicated “First Sunday” Cook Teams. Good Shepherd parishioners enjoy a scrumptious made-to-order breakfast.

Our EYC treats parishioners to “Third Sunday Breakfast Tacos” each month. They prepare and serve delicious soft tacos for a crowd of hungry parishioners. Taco Sunday is a solid fundraiser for EYC activities!

Our Ministry Appreciation Dinner is a very special meal hosted annually by the Vestry for all ministry leaders, staff members, and their spouses. The objective of the dinner is to say “thank you” for the love and hard work the ministry leaders and staff members contribute throughout the year, and to enjoy good food and company!

We are passionate about having fun together and building our church community through food, fun and fellowship, and learning and growing together!

Parish Life Ministries

25

Parish Life at Good Shepherd (cont’d)

Good Shepherd has an active Episcopal Church Women (ECW) fellowship that meets regularly, holds entertaining and educational events for its members, and hosts many of our Parish gatherings, ranging from receptions for ordinations and visiting Bishops, to celebrations for our newest members who join our church family through The Liturgy of Belonging. ECW is dedicated to serving the Lord through service, worship, education, evangelism and pastoral care. All women in the church are members. The ECW generously supports many of our ministries and provides outreach to the larger community.

Our Mug Sisters Ministry provides an opportunity for women who may not know each other to connect, celebrate and encourage each other. Each year, the ministry begins with a secret exchange of mugs. Each woman contributes a mug and information such as her birthday, wedding anniversary, hobbies and special needs for prayer. The mugs are distributed so that participants do not know who receives their mug. The ministry provides women the opportunity to focus on a fellow sister in Christ by offering prayers, monthly notes and cards, and small gifts. More than 40 women participate each year, and the program culminates at our annual ECW Christmas party when each woman’s mug sister is revealed.

In the category of ‘Pretty Much Just For Fun’:Parishioners and members of our local community enjoy Bridge Nights at Good Shepherd, which are scheduled on the first Friday of each month throughout the year. Experienced players and beginners are welcome!

On the second Thursday of each month, “The Classics”, a group of retirees and those who have some leisure time and love to have fun meet at Good Shepherd. Members enjoy a pot luck salad luncheon, board games, bridge and fellowship. The group also goes on picnics, local scenic tours, and to local eateries. Everyone is welcome to be part of the Classics!

The Guy Stuff Ministry promotes men’s fellowship through various competitive events that have included horseshoe tournaments, golf tournaments and a “Texas Hold ‘Em” night. Guy Stuff events are open to the men of Good Shepherd and the community.

26

And in the category of ‘Fun and Fund Raising’:

Oktoberfest is our major annual fund raiser, held in October. It is the biggest and most popular event of the year! Oktoberfest has also become a major outreach to our local community, focused on building our church family through inviting people who would not otherwise visit Good Shepherd. The event offers live music, authentic food, and fun for the entire family. Monies are raised through t-shirt sales, opportunity tickets, dinner tickets, a silent auction and an exciting live auction. All silent and live auction items and a majority of items available through the opportunity tickets are donated by either parishioners or community businesses. Oktoberfest is made possible by a dedicated, creative leadership team and a small army of enthusiastic Good Shepherd volunteers each year.

Parish Life at Good Shepherd (cont’d)

27

Administration at Good Shepherd

Annual Stewardship Campaign

At Good Shepherd, we believe that even Stewardship Campaigns should be fun. Past Stewardship Campaign themes have included: “Hit the Pickle,” “Good Shepherd Clearing House” (patterned after the Publishers Clearing House), “Spot Man,” “Hold the Spoon,” and “Get Fit(ter) with the Shepherd.” Our Stewardship Campaign teams enjoy coming up with creative themes that engage parishioners in novel and entertaining ways.

Ministry Fair

Good Shepherd holds an annual Ministry Fair, where our ministries provide information about their functions and recruit volunteers. Creativity, fun, food and prizes are always involved. Because we value our people for who they are and not what they do, we also invite everyone to quit their Ministries every year.

Vestry

Members of the Vestry model sanctuary through their relationships with Good Shepherd’s numerous Ministry Leaders. All Good Shepherd ministries are categorized under a letter of the acronym “APOSTLES”. Each letter in the acronym represents a category of ministries: Administration, Pastoral, Outreach, Stewardship, Teaching, Liturgy, Evangelism and Service. Vestry members assigned to each letter of “APOSTLES” contact their Ministry Leaders to discuss how things are going each month, and offer assistance from the Vestry as needed. The Senior Warden and Junior Warden also contact Vestry members monthly to offer support and encouragement.

Buildings and Grounds Teams

The buildings and grounds teams assist the Jr. Warden in providing for the maintenance of the grounds, lawns, flower beds and buildings. Both teams accomplish their work by overseeing the contractors providing maintenance services and scheduling and organizing work parties to accomplish specific tasks.

Good Shepherd’s Finances and Capital Debt

Financial information is provided separately. Capital debt remains from the construction of our Worship Building.  Proceeds from the sale of Good Shepherd’s Rectory will be used to pay down the construction loan, and a Capital funds drive is planned to retire the remainder of the debt.

Legacy Society and Endowment Fund

The Vestry recently approved establishing a Legacy Fund for Good Shepherd in 2011. This ministry is currently in the planning stage.

28

Paid Staff and Volunteers

Administration at Good Shepherd (cont’d)

Gail Roe has been Adult Choir Director and Organist since May 2009, with over 20 years experience with churches in Delaware and Texas. Recently she has founded the Children's Choir at Good Shepherd and enjoys working with singers and instrumentalists, as well as teaching "How to Read Music". A native of Kansas, she has studied piano and organ in her home state (Bach. of Music - Wichita State), Germany (Hochschule fur Musik - Freiburg, Rotary Stipend), North Carolina (MM - UNC), and additional studies in Delaware, New Jersey and Texas. She and Nick, married in June, 1980, and are the parents of two sons. Since 1992 she has been on the music faculty at San Jacinto College South.

From Mary Smith: “As Parish Administrator I am your contact person for questions regarding membership, the parish data base, member financial statements, scheduling events and meetings, administrative office volunteers, and much more.  I'm a lifelong Episcopalian with a work background in retail management, buying and marketing.  My husband Randy and I have a young daughter who spent the first 18 months of her life in the Good Shepherd office building nurtured by a host of volunteer grandmothers and aunties.”

Suzy Spencer has served Good Shepherd as Youth Minister since January, 2010. She recently expanded her duties to include all ages as our Family Matters Minister. Suzy also serves as our convocation’s leader for Youth Ministry and hosts two convocational “lock-ins” each year. Suzy received her B. A. in Human Resource Management from Texas A & M University in 1995. She and husband Jay have two daughters. Suzy is a graduate of the Diocese of Texas’ “Crosspoints” course and is currently enrolled in the IONA program. Prior to moving to Friendswood in 2006, Suzy was employed in the Human resources Department of Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont. Suzy previously served as a member of our vestry and as our Junior Warden.

From our Associate Rector: “My name is Bob Moore. I was born in Galveston and grew up in Beaumont, attending St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. I am married to Nansi and we have two children, nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. I graduated twice from Sewanee with a B. A. in Biology (1972) and a D. Min. (1993). I received my M. Div. in 1975 from the Episcopal Seminary in Austin and I have served for thirty-six years in the Diocese of Texas. I retired in August of 2005 in order to build a home in League City and was called to serve as the associate rector in September of 2005. My areas of focus at Good Shepherd are pastoral care and Christian Formation.”

29

“My name is Carol Blaine, and I am the Interim Rector of Good Shepherd. A native Houstonian, I am a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. I taught in elementary, junior high, and high school for sixteen years, eleven of which were with HISD. After retiring from teaching, I worked for the Community of Hope at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital. Following my husband’s death in 1999, I attended the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin and graduated in 2002. I’ve served as priest-in-charge at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Marlin, Texas, and retired this past March as rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Houston. I am blessed with three wonderful children – a daughter and two sons – as well as three grandsons.”

From our Third Service Contemporary Praise Band Director: “My name's Brent Williams but people call me Toast. When I'm not at work formulating creative concepts to entice people into purchasing products and services they didn't even know they wanted, I mostly spend my time making life interesting for my wife Ellen and my young son. I've been associated with Good Shepherd longer than you think, having participated in the youth group's annual Wessendorff adventure every summer since the early, what, 2000s? In 2009 Nancy Browning decided that before she retired from youth work, she'd get me to take my talents to the contemporary service, and I've been doing that ever since. Aside from music and family, my favorite past times include watching sports, brewing beer, and smoking meat.”

Administration at Good Shepherd (cont’d)

Good Shepherd is blessed with many faithful, dedicated, volunteer lay leaders, including over 25 ministry leads, a 12 member Vestry, a Treasurer, a Communications lead, a Children’s Christian Formation Director, and multiple office volunteers.  Together with our gifted clergy and staff, they are the engine of Good Shepherd’s success, and provide an essential framework for our future.  Join us!

JoAnn (JoJo) Hocking has served as the Accountant for Good Shepherd since 2007. Prior to taking on this task, JoJo retired from her career in the financial side of the automobile sales industry where she served as the accountant and comptroller for major dealerships. JoJo grew up and lived in the Fort Worth area, moving to the Houston area in 1979. She has two children and one grandchild. In addition to serving as our accountant, Jojo is an active parishioner, supporting the EYC through volunteering to work the concession stand at Minute Maid Park to fund our youth programs and teaching “Godly Play” in Sunday School.

From Linda Ansell :“I have been the Director of Good Shepherd Episcopal School since 2004.  I have taught pre-school for twenty-one years, the last fourteen at Good Shepherd.  I attended the University of Texas in Austin, majoring in Education.  My husband, Rick and I and our five children moved from Galveston to Friendswood in 1991 and joined Good Shepherd Church.  My association with Good Shepherd Episcopal School began when I enrolled my fourth child as a pre-school student.  Prior to being employed as a teacher at Good Shepherd, I served for five years on Good Shepherd School’s Board of Directors.  In addition to serving the school, I volunteer in support of  the EYC.”  

30

Appendices

Fiftieth Anniversary~ Palm Sunday2009

31

Good Shepherd Parish Statistics

32

2010 2009 2008 2007 2000

Average Sun. Attendance 320 317 308 309 151

Joined via Liturgy of Belonging 44 17 43 56 n/a

Baptisms 26 15 12 9 15

Confirmations 7 17 8 16 0

Marriages 4 0 6 1 1

Easter Sun. Attendance 785 772 739 715 385

Parish statistics are provided for 2007-2010. Statistics for 2000 also provided to illustrate our growth over the past decade.

Demographics and Rector Profile Survey

We received 250 responses to our Parish Survey, which was conducted in May 2011.  Survey responses indicated 42 children under the age of 12 attend Good Shepherd.

33

The History of Good Shepherd

In the beginning there were 17 sheep and one shepherd. On Palm Sunday in 1959, the Rev. Mark Boesser, rector of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, League City, held Good Shepherd’s first worship service in the auditorium of the Friendswood School. In July 1959 a ground-breaking ceremony was held on a five-acre prairie tract in Galveston County located on the outskirts of Friendswood. The land had been purchased by the Rt. Rev. John Hines, an extraordinary man of vision who later became Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.

The Rev. Boesser served as priest-in-charge until 1963 when the Rev. J. Raper was appointed as the church’s vicar. The Rev. Bill Sterling served Good Shepherd from 1966 until he was elected Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Texas in 1989. For the first years, Good Shepherd continued to hold services at Friendswood High School. It was an exciting time ---NASA was developing its space program to put a man on the moon. Many of the people moving to the area to work for NASA or NASA’s contractors found their way to Friendswood and to Good Shepherd. Not only did they work together, but they prayed together as well. Our first building, a multi-purpose building designed for worship and community services, was dedicated in June 1969.

Friendswood, originally founded by Quakers, still prohibited dancing. Good Shepherd soon broke with the tradition and held the first high school dances in Friendswood. From the beginning, Good Shepherd had a reputation for offering sanctuary to those seeking it. The church doors were never locked, allowing entry to those who wanted to pray or who needed a place to escape or spend the night. Several people have shared with us that our church was a haven for them when they had nowhere else to go.

Good Shepherd obtained Parish status in 1977. In 1980, a new worship space was completed. The Rev. Robert Wareing served Good Shepherd from 1991 to 1999. On Palm Sunday, 1999, we dedicated our parish hall, Sterling Hall, named in honor of former rector Bill Sterling and his wife Evelyn. Considerable “sweat equity” was invested in the building of Sterling Hall, with many parishioners sacrificing countless hours in general planning and construction. The congregation participated in the raising of the walls, and provided much of the interior work.

34

The History of Good Shepherd (cont’d)

The Rev. James Nelson served Good Shepherd from 2000 to 2011. Our most recent building project was the significant remodeling of our worship space. We expanded the seating significantly, and added a chapel, choir room, prayer room and Bride’s room/parlor. We celebrated the grand opening and re-dedication of our beautiful worship space on Pentecost Sunday, 2004. God has continued to bless Good Shepherd over the past decade. We embraced our Vision of being a sanctuary in early 2001. Our average Sunday attendance has more than doubled from 151 in 2000 to 320 in 2010, and our capacity to provide sanctuary in an atmosphere of love, security and support has multiplied.

This message from Good Shepherd’s 20-year anniversary

pamphlet still holds true today: “Good Shepherd has continued to earn praise for the friendliness of its people and its worship environment. It is not a pretentious church. It is an active, worshipping community of people who are dedicated to their church and the Lord’s charge to be a servant to others. A caring church community begins with the leadership of the clergy and extends outward through the entire congregation. This atmosphere of caring appropriately explains the environment at Good Shepherd. People care about one another in a special kind of relationship that is difficult to describe but impossible not to notice and cherish. This pastoral relationship spreads outward to the community.”

This is the DNA of Good Shepherd, our story.

35

The Good Shepherd campus includes 5 acres of land, 4 buildings and covered walkways between all buildings. Our worship building was built in 2004. It includes our beautiful Worship Space, a Chapel, a Bride’s Room/Parlor, a Choir Room, 2 Vestry Rooms, a spacious Narthex, and a Prayer Room.

Sterling Hall was built in 1999. It includes our Parish Hall, a large, well equipped kitchen, four classrooms, and Good Shepherd Episcopal School offices on the first floor, and a large “Upper Room” on the second floor. The classrooms are used by our School during the week and as Christian Formation classrooms on Sundays. The “Upper Room” is the EYC room.

The Laura Building was built in 1977. It includes the Nursery, the Horizon School, and a large multi-purpose classroom that is used for Children’s Church and for Women’s Bible Study.

Shepherd’s Hall was built in 1969. It was the original church, and is now the Administration Building. It includes Clergy, staff and volunteer offices, a small kitchen and a medium sized meeting room used by multiple ministries and the Vestry.

Good Shepherd Campus and Facilities

36

About the Diocese of Texas

Diocesan Vision

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are One Church within the Anglican Communion and The Episcopal Church. All are sought and embraced in worship, mission and ministry in a spirit of mutual love and respect. We are:

Youthful:  Our congregations and institutions are continually renewed and revitalized through the infusion and inclusion of younger members.  Children, youth, young adults, their friends and families, find in our diocese significant and engaging programs and ministries that inspire, inform and support them on their Christian journey. Multicultural:  Our diocese is enriched through intentional efforts to reflect the communities in which we live. People of diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds find respect, dignity and opportunity in the life and ministry of the church. Forming and Growing:  Those seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus are nurtured and equipped to share the love of Christ in the world.  They find lifelong opportunities for spiritual formation and servant leadership grounded in scripture and our historic catholic faith. Reaching out to Serve: Those who serve and are served are transformed.  People who are in need and who struggle, find hope, care and restoration through the outreach and justice ministries provided by the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. One Church: We are a united, vibrant, healthy and growing community of faith. The world will recognize us as Jesus' disciples because we love one another as Christ loves us.

The Mission of the Diocese of Texas

We are one Church reconciled by Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, called by God through worship, witness and

ministry, building the Kingdom of God together.

The Rt. Rev. Charles Andrew Doyle, IX Bishop of Texas

Find the Diocese of Texas on the webhttp://www.epicenter.org

37

About Friendswood

Named by Family Circle Magazine and CNN Money as one of the top places to live in the USA.

“When residents decided in 2008 that Friendswood needed a veterans memorial, they raised $110,000 and got businesses to donate materials and labor. Today, the monument, which includes a steel flag flanked by granite columns, sits on a 3,500-square-foot site amid olive and oak.”

Friendswood is serviced by two excellent school districts, the Friendswood Independent School District (FISD) and the Clear Creek Independent School District (CCISD).  FISD earned the Texas Education Agency’s highest rating, Exemplary, in 2011. CCISD earned the second highest rating, Recognized, in 2011.For more information on these schools and the city of Friendswood:

 City of Friendswood Website: 

www.­ci.­friendswood.­tx.­us

Friendswood Area Schools Links:

Friendswood ISD

www.fisdk12.net

Clear Creek ISD

www2.ccisd.net

38

Victoria Seeks a Rector

39