All posts by jwynkoop75

The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey has elected its Thirteenth Bishop

The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey has elected the Rev. Canon Dr. Sally French to serve as the thirteenth bishop of the diocese. She will be consecrated and installed as the bishop of New Jersey on June 24, succeeding Bishop William H. “Chip” Stokes, who is retiring.

French currently serves as Canon for Regional Ministry and Collaborative Innovation in the Diocese of North Carolina. Prior to joining diocesan staff, she spent twenty years in parish ministry, serving congregations of many sizes and types. Raised in Toronto, Canada, French earned a bachelors degree from Trinity College, University of Toronto (Economics, History), a Master of Divinity through the Toronto School of Theology, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Virginia Theological Seminary. She was ordained a priest in 2001. She and her husband Clarke have two children living at home.

In brief remarks delivered via Zoom after the election results were announced, French thanked the voters, the Transition Committee, and her fellow candidates. Concerning her forthcoming position as bishop of New Jersey she said, “I look forward to serving with love.”

The bishop-elect was chosen from a slate of five nominees by clergy and lay leaders representing each congregation of the diocese during a special hybrid convention held on Jan. 28 at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton and online via Zoom. She was elected on the third round of balloting with 68 percent of the clergy votes and 56 percent of lay votes. A majority of both clergy and lay votes in the same round was needed for election.

“I believe the Holy Spirit has led us to a remarkable leader who is deeply grounded in the faith and love of Jesus Christ,” Stokes said. “Canon French brings gifts and skills in ministry that are well aligned to address the needs and challenges facing the Church and the Diocese of New Jersey at this moment in its life and history. I look forward to welcoming her and her family to the Diocese of New Jersey and serving with her in this exciting time of transition.”

The other nominees were The Rev. Canon Dr. Dena Cleaver-Bartholomew, Canon to the Ordinary, Diocese of Rhode Island; The Very Rev. Troy Mendez, Dean, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Phoenix, Arizona; The Rev. Janine Schenone, Rector, Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, San Diego, California; and The Rev. Dr. Mauricio Jose Wilson, Rector, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Oakland, California.

Advent & Christmas Services

The Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church of Pitman is pleased to announce its schedule of Advent and Christmas services for this season, including New Years.   Good Shepherd, which celebrated its 110th anniversary in 2017, has an active and vital congregation, as well as one of the larger church schools in the diocese. 

The schedule is as follows:  

December 10th & 11th – Third Sunday of Advent

Saturday, Holy Eucharist – 5:30 pm
Sunday, Holy Eucharist with Choir – 10:00 am 

December 17th & 18th– Fourth Sunday of Advent

Saturday, Holy Eucharist – 5:30 pm

Sunday, Holy Eucharist – 10:00 am including the Christmas Cantata performed by the Choir, and the “Greening” of the sanctuary after the service

Saturday, December 24 – Christmas Eve  

7:00 pm     Our Family Eucharist celebrating the Birth of our Lord, Jesus
10:00 pm   Festival Eucharist with special music

Sunday, December 25 – Christmas Day 
10:00 am   Holy Eucharist with Carols

December 31st and January 1st  — Christmas #2

Saturday, Holy Eucharist – 5:30 pm

Sunday, Holy Eucharist – 10:00 am

Good Shepherd is conveniently located at 315 Highland Terrace (at Wildwood Avenue) in historic Pitman, Gloucester County. It is easily accessible from Route 55, Delsea Drive (Route 47), Woodbury-Glassboro Road (Route 553) and Broadway/Main Street.

All services are open to the public, and all are welcome to attend!  Good Shepherd also live streams and hosts previously recorded Sunday morning services and special holiday services on our YouTube page.  Please see our website for additional information. 

For more information, please visit the Church’s website: https://www.goodshepherdpitman.org

email goodshepherdpitman@gmail.com

Or call the church office at 856-589-8209. 

Good Shepherd also maintains a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/GoodShepherdPitman/.

2023 Stewardship Pledge Cards

Please see the 2023 pledge card below. Download it and type in your information directly. Once completed please print your completed form and mail it via US Post Office or bring it to church and place it in the collection plate:

Church of the Good Shepherd
Attn: 2023 Stewardship
315 Highland Terrace
Pitman, NJ 08071

If you wish to email your pledge card please send ONLY your pledge card. Email is not a secure method of communication. Do not send your Simply Giving Program Authorization as it contains banking information that can be compromised. If you still wish to email your pledge please copy the following email address to your mail app and attach the previously completed form.

treasurer.goodshepherd315@gmail.com

Brotherhood of Saint Andrew Luncheon

The Brotherhood of Saint Andrew is pleased to invite everyone to a celebratory Luncheon following the 10AM service on Sunday, November 20, 2022. Lunch is on us to thank everyone for their support over the last year.

This year in our continuing support of Camden Christmas we are giving you the opportunity to participate by selecting the names of children that are hanging on the Christmas tree that will be set up during the lunch. You and your family can take as many tags as you like!  Please return the gifts by December 13th to a table that will be set up in the Parish Hall. Monetary contributions are also welcome. Please make the check out to Church of the Good Shepherd and write “Camden Christmas” on the memo line.

We hope you can join us! A sign up sheet will be sent via Flocknote shortly to assist with our preparations and purchases.

Merry Christmas and thank you for bringing joy into the lives of children in Camden.

The Brotherhood of St. Andrew and Deacon Carl

 ANNUAL HOLLY FAIR CALL FOR CRAFTERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FROM:  THE CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD                                                October 2022
CONTACT: April Mae Rugletic, Parish Administrator                                   (856) 589-8209

                                          
                                             

          The Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church of Pitman is pleased to announce that it will again hold its annual “Holly Fair” on Saturday, December 3rd, 2022 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
        

          Popular with area residents celebrating the start of the Christmas season, the Holly Fair invites crafters to display and sell their unique and home-made (hand-crafted) specialties. Good Shepherd will offer up to 25 spaces on a first-come, first serve basis.  Six foot tables and 2 chairs are provided, and electricity is available on a limited basis.

            Good Shepherd also offers home cooked breakfast, lunch, soups, bake shop, and platters to go; live music and holiday carols;  a “$1 and More” Thrift Shop; fresh wreaths & grave blankets, poinsettias, and a kid’s activity area, all of which brings more people to the Church to shop.
    
            The cost for each space is $35.  Applications are now available on the Church website at www.GoodShepherdPitman.org;  or to request an application, call the Church office at 856-589-8209;  e-mail goodshepherdpitman@gmail.com. Applications are due as soon as possible, but no later than November 28th.

            Good Shepherd is conveniently located at 315 Highland Terrace (at Wildwood Avenue) in historic Pitman, Gloucester County. It is easily accessible from Route 55, Delsea Drive (Route 47), Woodbury-Glassboro Road (Route 553) and Broadway/Main Street.
       
For more information, please visit the Church’s website at  www.goodshepherdpitman.org or call the church office at 856-589-8209.

Sunday School Has Resumed!

Hello to all of our wonderful families!

We have great news! Sunday School resumed at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Sunday, September 18th.

We are in the process of securing volunteer teachers and preparing a new, fully Episcopal curriculum modeled on our Sunday worship, and are hoping to be able to offer four classes this year, including: infant to pre-K; 1st through 3rd grade; 4th through 6th grade; and 7th thru 12th grade. We will also plan monthly group sessions where all classes will come together to work on a fun and enriching project, and will plan to host monthly group sessions throughout Summer 2023.

If you would like your child(ren) to participate this year, please complete the Student Registration form at: https://forms.gle/L5n4xwxkXS7UeKW47

Adults interested in volunteering to teach or serve as aides should complete the Teacher Registration form below as well. Previous teaching experience is NOT required. If this is your first time teaching or assisting with Sunday School, or if you have questions about our new curriculum, don’t worry! We will provide guidance along the way! A training session and information relating to the new curriculum will be available in advance of our start date. The Teacher Registration form can be accessed here: https://forms.gle/YYzQ8zQkcXhzp8mp9  

Any questions regarding the Sunday School program may be directed to Jaclyn and Brad Davies at jaclyndavies77@gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing you all soon!
~Jackie and Brad

[edited by admin 9-27-2022]

From the Vestry of Good Shepherd, Pitman

The CDC has established COVID-19 Community Levels, which are a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data. Levels can be low (green), medium (yellow), or high (red); and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. Data Provided by the CDC with updates every Thursday by 8 pm ET. The link to the CDC Community levels can be found here:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html

Gloucester County is currently rated Low/Green. If rated as Low, the CDC states people may choose to mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask. (If you are immunocompromised, learn more about how to protect yourself.)

Vestry at their meeting on Sunday amended the existing COVID policy, and in accordance with the current CDC guidelines, effective immediately masks will now be optional as long as Gloucester County remains in the Green/Low level.

The CDC updates will be checked every Friday morning, and if Gloucester County’s level has changed to yellow or red, the requirement for everyone to wear masks will be re-instituted.

Interview with Reverend Andrew Reinholz

Please enjoy this short Q&A with our incoming Rector, Father Andrew Reinholz. Hear from Father Andrew for the first time around these topics and more:

How was he called to the priesthood?

How did he find us here in Pitman? What’s his favorite church season?

What can we do to help the transition for him, Mother Kim, and the children?

This introductory conversation was hosted by Jeff Bathurst, who served as Chair of the Discernment Committee. Look for other opportunities to ask Father Andrew questions in the coming weeks, and make sure to join us for services on March 20th to welcome him for his first Sunday at Good Shepherd!

Zoom Coffee Hour announcement from Beth Portocalis

In follow-up to multiple requests and as endorsed by Vestry, I have scheduled a Zoom “Virtual Coffee Hour” to immediately follow this Sunday’s 10am service.   

Please see your Flocknote email for meeting details as they will not be made available publicly.

This is an appropriate time to roll it out, as the increasing infection rate may discourage parishioners from attending in person and instead utilizing the YouTube live stream.   

I will host the Zoom – if you are willing to host in the future, please let me know!   

Many thanks, and wishing you each a safe, healthy and blessed New Year. Beth