What is Grazers, you ask? Well, Grazers is a fun way to get to know your fellow parishioners and keep up to date on what is going on at Good Shepherd. Groups of 6-8 meet for dinner at each other’s homes (once a month for typically four months). Each participant brings a dish to create the meal.

On Saturday, September 28, we will have a Grazers Kickoff at the Lanwermeyer’s Staurolite Barn from 4-6pm. Bring a favorite dish to share along with your beverage of choice. We’ll tell you all about Grazers and those who wish may sign up for individual Grazers groups to finish out the year for October, November and December. We will begin anew in January with signups for new groups for January, February, March and April.

Come join the fun! We’ll see you on the 28th! Directions will be posted on the bulletin board in the hallway

Attention all Blood Donors: Good Shepherd will host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday, September 25th from 12:30 - 5:30 pm in the Parish Hall. Please save this date and make plans now to donate here at Good Shepherd. Thanks for your continued support of the Red Cross.

Save the Date! Saturday, Sept. 21st is the date of the annual Bethel-Guidry Scholarship Golf Tournament. Two students will receive a 4 year award worth $10,000 in total. Please help us with your donation marked: “Golf Tournament” and mailed or brought by the church. We will be collecting at weekly services in a few weeks also. We also need volunteers for the day of the event. See Kevin Conley or Sanford Freeman with questions.

Rabbi Yonatan Hambourger is coming for a visit! He has taught several classes at Young Harris College for the Institute for Continued Learning. His subject matter has varied, but he always brings a Jewish perspective to the class. Rabbi Hambourger is well versed in the Torah and Talmud. He has a wonderful sense of humor and is an engaging speaker. He has chosen to speak about What Christians Ask About Jews. 

He will be coming on Tuesday, September 17, at 5:30p.m. in the Parish Hall. The church will provide the coffee, tea, and water. You are asked to bring your own snack or dinner. This is NOT a potluck. 

Rabbi Hamborger will speak and answer questions 

On Tuesday, August 20th we are hosting our 2nd Cancer Support Group in the Parish Hall at 6pm. 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. We'll be discussing and planning a fall dinner to thank our Caregiv ers and congratulate our survivors. 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

The St. John’s Bible - the first hand-written and illuminated Bible since the invention of the printing press - is one of the most extraordinary artistic undertakings of recent times. The original Bible is housed at St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN.

Grace Church in the Mountains, Waynesville, will host an exhibit of 20 gallery sized prints of the illustrations in August - September 2024. They will also have on loan a copy of the Gospels and Acts for liturgical use during that time.

Your Arts and Spirituality Ministry is organizing a day trip to Waynesville on Saturday, August 17th to view the exhibit. We would leave Good Shepherd, at 9:30 am, have a light lunch in Waynesville, view the exhibit (between 1-3 pm) and then return to Good Shepherd. If you are interested in participating in this event, please sign up on the sheet on the bulletin board in the hallway.

If you would be interested in viewing the exhibit but cannot participate in the planned day trip on August 17th, the exhibit will be open to the public at the following times: Saturday, August 24th 1-3pm Sunday, September 1, 5-7 pm Sunday, September 15, 1-3 pm Saturday, September 21, 9 - 12 noon (a Quiet Day retreat)

Grace in the Mountains is located at 394 N. Haywood Street, Waynesville, NC 28786. The phone is 828-456-6029. For more information on the St John’s Bible, explore the St. John’s Bible website at: https://saintjohnsbible.org

Any questions, please contact Kathy Marcel.

In order to promote Cursillo group reunions, starting in September, we will begin to sponsor the coffee hour following the late service every 2nd Sunday and we will also provide an opportunity for parishioners to attend a group reunion in the Parish Hall. (On August 11, Kathy Wright is gifting the parish with her annual Mater Sandwich lunch!)

Everyone is invited to participate, even if you have not attended a Cursillo or other 3 day renewal weekend. Group reunions are Christ centered groups of 3 or more people who meet regularly to discuss their Christian life.

We typically try to focus on 3 three things: 1. What are we doing to draw closer to God (like prayer, worship, meditation, etc...) and have we had any moments when we felt close to Christ. 2. What are we studying to help us form our mind after the mind of Christ. 3. What apostolic action has the Lord accomplished through us. We will all walk through the process together.

Please come. For more information please contact Tom Griffiths (706-851-6852) or Carolyn Cline-Griffiths (770-364-7985)

Once again, Kathy Wright invites you to attend 'Mater Sandwich Day on August 11th, in the Parish Hall following the 11am service. This is a messy lunch event featuring handmade 'mater sandwiches with homemade mayonnaise. There will be iced tea, lemonade, some 'tater salad, and 'nana pud din'. Y'all come!

Choir rehearsal resumes on Thursday, August 1, 2024, at 6:30pm. The choir retreat to review anthems for the upcoming season will be August 3rd from 9:30am to 11:30am.

Please join us for pizza & game night at 5pm on Thursday, August 1st. Please sign up in the hallway so we know how much pizza to order.

Nothing says “summer” like fresh blueberries. Let’s celebrate everything blueberry with a pancake feast on Sunday, July 21st after the 11A service. In addition to delicious blueberry pancakes and syrup, “everything blueberry” baked goods will be available for purchase. Fun facts about blueberries will be scattered throughout the monthly newsletters and weekly publications beginning in June. Be prepared for a Trivia game with prizes! No tickets will be sold – a suggested donation of $10 is requested. Proceeds will be applied to the Dental Fund of GSEC.

Please, plan to join us for a time of kayaking and picnicking at the Chatuge Rec Park on Saturday, July 13, 2024 Meeting time: 10:00am Meeting Location: GSEC Parking Lot (We will caravan from church)

Cursillistas and anyone who has attended any 3-day renewal weekend…Our lunch get-together has been rescheduled for June 30th after the 11 am service. We will share memories, ponder future plans and break bread together and hopefully sing a few “blue songbook” songs. We will supply pulled pork and drinks, so please bring something to share. Please come! Contact Tom Griffiths or Carolyn Cline Griffiths with questions.

Postponed due to memorial service. Please check the bulletin board for the new date.

Please take note that the Hike and Picnic at Jack Rabbit has been changed from June 15 to June 29. We will meet in the church parking lot and depart at 10:00 am. Please sign up in the parish hall way. Feel free to invite family, friends, and neighbors to this and other Parish Life Events. There are picnic tables on site. However, you can bring camping chairs if you prefer. Bring your healthy lunch and refreshment to enjoy after the nature hike.

Join us for a day of camaraderie, learning and fun! Good Shepherd’s Arts and Spirituality Ministry is sponsoring a Medicinal Herb Class, led by our own Certified Herbalist, Carolyn Cline-Griffiths, on Saturday, June 15, 10am-3pm, in the Parish Hall.

Cost is $25 which includes herbs and oils, and 10% of fees are donated to Good Shepherd. A light lunch will be provided. Sign up will begin mid-May. Watch the Weekly Highlights for reminders. There is a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 for the class.

Carolyn has held this class at Good Shepherd previously and those who have attended declare it educational, rewarding and fun! Below are further details from Carolyn:

Carolyn Cline-Griffiths, Certified Herbalist

As an Herbalist this is my 18th year of growing, drying, and preserving medicinal herbs here in the North Georgia Mountains. In my home, (called the Briarpatch) I make herbal oils, tinctures, teas, and salves from the herbs I grow or from organic herbs I purchase.

I have taught about the gift of medicinal herbs for healing in several locations around our area and in TN. When we allow medicinal herbs to heal the way nature intended us to heal, we begin to build up our immune system and restore our bodies to wholeness and wellness. Pharmaceuticals have their place in our healing and are necessary. However, we often reach for over the counter medicines, when there are herbs all around us that would heal us naturally without chemicals. Shouldn’t we try to give nature an opportunity to heal us first? You will be amazed at the array of medicinal herbs you have right in your own yard! In the Medicinal Herb Class you will: 

Learn how to dry and preserve your herbs. 
Learn the shelf life of herbal oils, tinctures and salves, etc.. 
Make a medicinal tincture and/or oil for you to take for your own use. 
Become familiar with some herbs to use for healing various health issues. 
Learn how to make medicinal herbal salves.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL A LATER TIME - STAY TUNED!

“Cursillo get together— If you have attended a Cursillo weekend or another 3-day weekend, please come and join us for a get together after the late service on June the 2nd. We will share memories, ponder future plans and of course, break bread together. We will supply pulled pork and drinks, so please bring something (compatible) to share! Ultreya! Contact Tom Griffiths or Carolyn Cline-Griffiths with questions.

Join us for an evening of Asheville Tourists Baseball! $1 hot dog. Leaving the parking lot at 4pm.

Parish Life is planning a trip to Gibbs Gardens on Wednesday, April 17th, weather permitting, to view the beautiful spring flowers. If you’d like to join us, please sign up in the hallway by Sunday, April 14th to help us get a group rate. Car pools will leave from the church parking lot at 9:00am. Please contact Mili Arias for more information.