Category Archives: General
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
Annual Holly Fair: Saturday, December 4th, 2021, 9am to 3pm
Camden Christmas 2021 — Brotherhood of Saint Andrew
| Camden Christmas 2021 is scheduled and ready to go! This year, we are giving you the opportunity to participate by selecting the names of children that are hanging on the Christmas tree we have set up in the Parish Hall at Good Shepherd! You and your family can take as many Tags as you like! Beginning this Sunday, November 7th, you may go into the Parish Hall, take a tag off the tree. The Tag has the following information: 1. Child’s Name 2. Gender and Age 3. Classroom # (that will be either Room #5, Room #6, or Room #10) You purchase the gifts, bring the gifts to the Church, and make sure the Tag is attached to the gifts on November 21! It’s that simple! (Please, do NOT wrap the gifts.) On November 21st*, following the 10:00am service, we will bring the Christmas gifts into the Parish Hall and celebrate with a Hot Dog and smores Luncheon (in the courtyard and Parish Hall) – sponsored by the Brotherhood of St Andrew! So, beginning this Sunday, November 7th, take a tag and enjoy the feeling that comes from helping so many children. (While checking out the Camden Christmas gift tags, please sign up to volunteer for the Hol-Lee Fair!) Merry Christmas and thank you for bringing joy into the lives of children in Camden. Deacon Carl and all the Brotherhood of St. Andrew at Good Shepherd, 609 868 7102 *Gifts can be delivered to the church through Sunday, December 5th. |
The Shepherd’s Crook Newsletter for October 2021
Service Bulletin and Trifold for Sunday September 12, 2001
Homecoming Sunday information and registration
This Sunday, September 12th has been designated as “Homecoming Sunday”. A luncheon will be served in the Church Courtyard immediately after the 10:00AM service (Raindate: Sunday, September 19th). Our theme this year is “HOPE & GRATITUDE”. In addition to lunch, a couple of special surprises are being planned. We hope you will attend; and rejoice that we can gather together as a congregation in the spirit of fellowship and celebrate our youth as they return to Sunday School for the first time in 18 months.
A “Free-Will” offering will be taken-proceeds to go to the Episcopal Relief & Development fund to support relief efforts in Haiti & provide for Afghanistan refugees here in NJ. If you would like to help, please contact Beth Portocalis, Diane Wall, Brad & Jackie Davies, Lori Bathurst, Deb Prieto or Cheryl Burness.
Click on link below to register. There are 150 total “slots” available.
https://churchofgoodshepherd.flocknote.com/signup/67386?noteID=13447624
Sunday School Schedule – 2021 to 2022
In Person Worship Suspended [This information is outdated, in person worship has resumed – admin]
| After consulting with the Sr. Warden, I have decided to suspend in-person worship at Good Shepherd (effective immediately). The infection rate in Gloucester City is now 33.4 per 100K (next to Cape May county-which has a 52.5 rate- Gloucester City has the highest infection rate in the state of NJ). This means: #1. There will be no Saturday evening service this evening #2. The pulpit exchange with Fr. Todd Foster will be rescheduled #3. Tomorrow’s service will be broadcast on the YouTube channel #4. We will not resume in-person worship until the infection rate is below 25 per 100K (which is in harmony with what the Diocesan protocols recommend). We were hoping to avoid the suspension of in-person worship, but I am convinced that the most prudent thing (in the face of the threat of the Delta variant and a dangerous rise in the infection rate in our county) is to do precisely that. Thanks for your understanding and for your prayers. Fr. Dave+ |
In-Person Sunday School Returns!!
We have great news! In-person Sunday School will resume at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Sunday, September 12th (Homecoming Sunday).
Three classes will be offered: pre-K thru 1st grade; 2nd grade thru 7th grade; and 8th grade thru 12th grade.
All students and teachers will be required to wear masks (regardless of vaccination status), and recommended social distancing protocols will be in place.
If you would like your child to participate this year, please complete the Student Registration form link below.
Student Registration Form
Adults interested in volunteering to teach or serve as aides should complete the Teacher Registration form at the link below as well. Previous teaching experience is not required. If this is your first time teaching or assisting with Sunday School, don’t worry! We will provide guidance along the way!
Any questions regarding the Sunday School program may be directed to Jaclyn and Brad Davies at jaclyndavies77@gmail.com. We are so excited to see all of our Sunday School families again, and cannot wait for the new program year to begin! We hope that you will join us!!
A change in “In-Person Worship” protocols…
Based on the strong recommendation of the Reentering, Reopening, Reimagining (RRR) Task Force of the Diocese of New Jersey and in response to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s July 27th recommendations, we will be requiring all worshipers and visitors to the Church, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a face mask which covers the nose and mouth. This policy will remain in effect until community infection rates in Gloucester County improve. No one is happy about this decision, but we believe it is the most prudent thing we can do in the face of the increasing threat of the Delta variant of the Covid 19 virus as well as the marked increase in break-thru infections of the vaccinated. As a Church, it is incumbent upon us to follow Jesus’ teachings in protecting the most vulnerable in our community (especially our un-vaccinated children). Your co-operation and compliance with this change in our “in-person” worship protocols will be greatly appreciated.
Sent by David Snyder
The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd 