Dear Friends,

My intention with these Advent editions of The Shepherd’s Fold is to highlight our opportunity to welcome visitors at Good Shepherd between now and Christmas Eve. Research shows that most first time visitors will decide within the first five minutes of their visit whether or not they will come back again. This means we have five minutes to show them who we are. No pressure!

Here is another example of what we can do to be more welcoming: try sitting in the pews at the front of the church. Yes, I know, that might mean moving out of the pew that your family has occupied for generations. It might even mean sitting near new people, but I’d like to explain with a story:

Brenda, a curious visitor, walks into the church just minutes before the 8:30 service one Sunday morning. Seeing that the back rows are already filled, our visitor has to sit where the open pews are: up front. Brenda hasn’t been to church in years and feels a bit exposed, maybe even awkward, as she is sitting in front of so many strangers. She is unfamiliar with Episcopal liturgy and hopes she doesn’t “mess anything up.” Brenda would have preferred some anonymity in the back and the opportunity to watch and learn how Good Shepherd “does” Sunday morning. It gets especially lonely during the Peace when no one is close enough to greet her. Brenda feels she is on the outside looking in, unsure whether she will come back…

This is a fictional story, of course, but it is also a realistic composite. We need to view this as an exciting opportunity! There is an evangelistic imperative to show true hospitality in front of us: by moving forward during church we are creating space for first time visitors and young families, two groups of people who have no desire to disrupt the service or sit up front. We can show strangers and visitors the love of God and the warmth of our church by leaving the back pews open. Let’s give each visitor a warm welcome at the door and a sense of ease when they walk into the Nave. Let’s practice this together for the next three Sundays as we prepare for our Christmas Eve services. And who knows…you might even find that God is present in every pew!

Peace,
Porter+

THE POSADA JOURNEY
Please join us as we host Good Shepherd's Posada Family on Friday, December 6th from 6-8pm! Gather with other young Church families for an evening of food, fellowship and fun. Nuggets, goldfish, fruit and juice boxes provided for the children. Beer and wine provided for the adults. Please bring an appetizer to share. RSVP to Amy Hagler at (706) 373-8007 by Sunday, December 1st.

MISCONCEPTION AT AU
Mark Swanson’s original musical, Misconception, will be produced at Augusta University in The Fine Arts Center Recital Hall one weekend only on December 13th-14th, at 7:30pm with a Sunday matinee performance on Sunday, December 15th at 3:00pm. All proceeds will be donated to the AU Music Department Scholarship Program. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at augusta.universitytickets.com.

ADVENT BOOK CLUB
Bishop Logue has selected The Love That is God by Fritz Bauerschmidt as his 1Book1Diocese Advent read. This is an amazing book and it’s only 128 pages! I encourage everyone to purchase a copy and read it. For those who want to “read together,” join me for a Book Club discussion on Sunday, December 22nd at 4:30pm in the Conference Room. All are invited and welcome! - Porter+

The Book Tavern has ordered 15 copies of the book for Good Shepherd parishioners. You can purchase your copy early next week.

NO 6:00pm SERVICE
This is a reminder that there will not be a 6:00pm service this Sunday. Instead, please join us for Lessons and Carols at 6:30pm in the Nave followed immediately by Jim Nord’s Retirement Reception in the Parish Hall.

STEWARDSHIP
Our Ingathering is this Sunday, December 8. You can still submit your pledge online, by return mail, or in the offering plate. Every pledge that we have received will be brought forward during the Offertory at both services and prayed over. I am inviting all members of our parish to 100% participation in financial support of the mission and vision of Good Shepherd in 2025. Your pledge will help us fulfill the ministry to which God has called us and turning your card in on or before will help us set our 2025 budget.

ADVENT BIBLE STUDY SERIES
Join us on Wednesdays in Advent for our three-week series, Crescendo: The Prophetic Songs and the Women Who Sang Them. The incarnation of Jesus is the crescendo in a series of songs sung by three women: Miriam, Hannah, and Mary. We will meet in the Parish Hall from 6:00-7:00pm on December 11, and 18. Nursery will be provided for families with children.

ADVENT RESOURCES
Printed copies of our three Advent resources (Resource Guide, O Antiphons Liturgy, and A Liturgy for the Lighting of Advent Candles) are now available in the Foyer. Stop by and pick up a copy if you prefer a print version. We created these resources to be used and to be shared – so please enjoy them and pass them along!

ADVENT PAGEANT
Rehearsal for the Advent Pageant will be held in the Chapel of Resurrection this Sunday at 9:45am. Sign-up sheet for Angels and Animals will be in the foyer. Children ages 3yrs - 5th grade are welcome.

CHRISTMAS ALTAR FLOWERS
Contribute to the altar flowers at Christmas by completing our Christmas Altar Flowers form. Make your gifts payable to Good Shepherd marked as Christmas Flowers. Forms must be received by December 15  at NOON in order to appear in the order of service. You can write a check, pay through Realm, or with paypal.me/cogsaugusta.

EDS IS LOOKING FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS
Episcopal Day School is looking for part-time substitute teachers, if you want to work with children, set your own schedule, and, as a bonus, get paid!  Training is required, but we will pay you to complete the training. If this list has you excited about your future as a substitute teacher at Episcopal Day School, please contact Mrs. Nina Tomlin, Assistant to the Division Heads, at nt*****@ed********.com or call the main office at (706) 733-1192. We can’t wait to hear from you!

GREENERY NEEDED
A small amount of fresh cypress, spruce and/or cedar is needed for greening the church for Christmas on December 23rd. If you have fresh greenery in your yard to share, please contact Sharon Enoch, Carol Bennett or Phyllis Strozier.

THE BIBLE STORY BOOK
If anyone has a set of the 1950’s vintage hardback books, The Bible Story, by Arthur S. Maxwell, please contact Robin Bailie at 839-273-0059 or Ro**********@gm***.com .

Head to the Shell Newsletter for details & to sign up for upcoming events.
For any questions, email mg****@go******************.org .

Sunday, December 8th

8:30 am

Organist, Jim Nord

Lay Readers, Cissy Bowden, Jennie Haynes

Verger, Robin Bailie

Acolytes, Clayton Adams, Porter Adams, Sam Bradford, Chip Matson, Martha Matson

11:00 am

Organist, Jim Nord

Lay Readers, Andrew Austin, Bob Nesbit

Verger, Fred Palmer

Acolytes, Mary Dennis Trotter, William Hargrove, Sam Hargrove, South Bryan, Cricket Bryan

6:00 pm

Organist, Nick Lowery

Lay Readers, Heather Wheeler, Lynn Tyson

All Services

Altar Guild Team V

Breakfast Team VI

Vestry Person of the Day, Paul Trotter

 CHILDREN’S FORMATION: 

•  Three Year Olds: Level I Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Room 305

•  PK-K: Level I Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Room 306

•  1st-3rd Grades: Level II Catechesis  of the Good Shepherd, Room 304

•  4th and 5th Grades: Weaving God’s Promises, Room 302

STUDENT FORMATION: 

•  Rite-13: Lead by Jessica Perry and Taylor McCutcheon, Room 208

•  J2A: Lead by Katie Wynn and Brice Wright, Room 303

ADULT FORMATION: 

•  Exploring Faith with Matt Matson: Meet in Room 209 at 9:45am

•  Sawmill Theology with Ken Hardy: Meet in the Conference Room at 9:45am

•  RECTOR'S FORUM: Meet in the Parish Hall at 9:45am

Back to the Bible Groups (for more info, go to goodshepherd-augusta.org/b2b)

• Sundays, 10 am & 4:30 pm (Bride's Room)
  • 4 pm at the home of Nancy Sutherland
• Tuesdays, 4 pm (Bride's Room)
• Wednesdays, 11 am (Bride's Room)
• Thursdays, 5:30 pm