Ministries
Students
How do we create an environment in which the Holy Spirit gives our children a “sticky” faith that will go with them when they leave Good Shepherd and enter the wider world?
What would a “graduate” of Good Shepherd look like? What would that person have learned and experienced at Good Shepherd and at home that gives them the faith foundation on which to build a wholesome and meaningful adult life in Christ?
Good Shepherd Student Ministries provide myriad opportunities for your to be formed as a Disciple, and sent as an Apostle.
Contact the Director of Student Ministries to learn more about our programs.
The Pilgrim's Way
The Pilgrim’s Way is an integrated and comprehensive attempt to give our students the “sticky” faith that comes from relationship with and through Jesus Christ.
Learn more about our efforts to offer Lifelong Christian Formation
Resources for Faith with social distancing
In structuring the Pilgrim's Way, we used 5 foundations on which to build what we teach and when. Using these five foundations, We've created for you some resources for creating a "Social Distanced Christian Community"
If you need any pastoral support, or need assistance of any kind, please reach out to the Good Shepherd clergy. We have a system in place to respond to needs as they arise. If you would like any of us to pray with you, in general or for specific needs, please call us:
Roger: 828-446-8105
Jinny: 706-836-9927
May God bless and keep you, and may you remember you are held in the hollow of God's hand. -Roger and Jinny
1. History and Practices:
Joining the Angels, Archangels, and all the Saints in worship and witness. Family Worship
A powerful tool we can use now--and always--to combat unsettling feelings is prayer. Prayer keeps us in spiritual relationship with each other and with God (and there is nothing we cannot prayerfully bring before God that will go unheard). Prayer is also “portable”--it can be carried out individually or communally no matter where we may find ourselves. This is true of certain forms of worship as well. All this suggests that religious practice is not confined to a particular space like Good Shepherd or EDS: your own home can be a place where God is honored and adored in a special way, and where you can lift up yourselves and others in prayer.
Chaplain Karen Ellestad and Roger Speer have created a resource to guide family worship at home.
2. Biblical Literacy:
Appreciating the story of God's redemptive love. Daily Biblical Devotions.
Faith@Home.org is a wonderful resource for daily readings, reflection, and hearing God's story. Each scripture has a short reflection followed by links to activities you can do: Watch, Listen, Read, Do, Pray.
3. Ethical Decision Making.
Choosing a life of virtue in service to the Neighbor. How you play is how you live.
It's estimated that the average adult makes about 35,000 decisions each day. The power of gaming is that it allows us to '"practice" making decisions in a safe space. Each moment becomes a teachable moment that describes how we treat each other. Squabbling kids? Play a game together and give their argument rules to follow. Cabin Fever? Play a game that engages the imagination to go to other worlds.
You have heard by now of my use of games to teach. If you'd like to learn more about how I run my Game Lab sessions, click here.
For a list of tabletop games to help you make use of downtime, click here.
Feel free to email Roger for other suggestions, personal attention to your situation, and for help running games.
4. Personal Faith Practices
Tending the Soul. Prayer for others, prayer for self.
It is difficult to put into practice all of our lessons when we are intentionally disconnected.
What we can ALWAYS do is pray. Send an email to Roger to request to be put on the Soul Tending Team. You'll be sent the name of every student at Good Shepherd in your grade so that you can wrap them up in prayer at your daily Family Prayers, or reach out to them with parents' support.
Taking time for your personal development is always important. As an artist, musician, and theater lover, I always go to any of these disciplines to "reconnect."
I have some copies left of Pathways of Faith, a religious coloring book illustrated by yours truly. You can order your own copy here. Or, you can download and print a few pages to get you started. You can find them here.
5. Christian Belief and Theology
Making sense of Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Small groups online for education and Praxis.
This Sunday, I'll have a video lesson prepared for you so that 6-12 grades can still attend a Sunday lesson. We are working to see if Atrium Presentations can be filmed and offered as well. Those videos will be sent in this newsletter, and saved on our website.
There are small groups meeting online throughout the week to play role playing games using discord servers. These story based games allow me to teach your teens to respond to challenges and obstacles like Jesus would. Contact Roger to get into a group.
Service Opportunities
Altar Servers
Students join other adults in the humbling privilege of leading worship services. For 6th grade and older – Leads must be in High School. Meets Sundays in the Acolyte Room. CLICK HERE FOR SERVER SCHEDULE
Leads
Altar servers who have discerned a specific call on retreat are trained to lead teams of other altar servers in public worship. For more info, order the book.
Hometown Missions
In partnership with the Diocese of Georgia, Student Ministry coordinates a weekend of service in the Augusta area, inviting youth from all local Episcopal congregations.
Mission Trips
Annual experiences to places we have never been to serve and learn from those we meet along the way.
VBS Crew Leaders
Students learn to lead and minister to the children of vacation bible school
Recurring Programs are post-poned until further notice
SUNDAY
Didache
A Greek word for teaching, referring specifically to a catechetical manual from the first century known as The Teachings of the Twelve Apostles. At Didache, we present the church’s foundational beliefs and understanding about God and life.
Sunday mornings at 10am at Setze Cottage.
Praxis
Activities and events specifically designed to give students an experience of the lessons we teach on Sunday mornings while preparing them to enter the world as leaders and team players.
Sunday evenings at 4:30pm (6-8 grade) and 5:30pm (9-12 grade) at Setze Cottage
The Table: Family Game Night
For all ages! Bring a snack, bring a game, and unplug from technology.
Fourth Sunday of every month, from 4:30 – 7:00pm, at Small Parish Hall
TUESDAY
Middle School Prayer Breakfast
We play, we pray, we hear scripture, and we eat.
Every Tuesday at 7am from mid-September to May, in the Small Parish Hall
WEDNESDAY
Lectio
Students gather to spend time in Holy Reading (Lectio Divina) and to discuss how Christian writing affects their lives.
Wednesdays when supper is served. 6:30pm at the DSM Office
Wednesday Adventures
Using tabletop role-playing games, we explore real life scenarios of hope, challenge, distress, love, and purpose.
Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00pm at the DSM Office.
SEASONAL
Second Sundays
We join with Episcopal churches across Augusta for a fun outing.
Church League Basketball
Good Shepherd participates in the annual Augusta Christian Basketball Association League, with co-ed teams from under 9 years old to under 19 years old. Teams are contingent upon having enough players and coaches for each age division. Practices in the EDS Gym. Click here for game schedule
Confirmation
Open to students who profess readiness for public affirmation of faith. Learn more.
Service Opportunities
Altar Servers
Students join other adults in the humbling privilege of leading worship services. For 6th grade and older – Leads must be in High School. Meets Sundays in the Acolyte Room. CLICK HERE FOR SERVER SCHEDULE
Leads
Altar servers who have discerned a specific call on retreat are trained to lead teams of other altar servers in public worship. For more info, order the book.
Hometown Missions
In partnership with the Diocese of Georgia, Student Ministry coordinates a weekend of service in the Augusta area, inviting youth from all local Episcopal congregations.
Mission Trips
Annual experiences to places we have never been to serve and learn from those we meet along the way.
VBS Crew Leaders
Students learn to lead and minister to the children of vacation bible school
Special upcoming Events
Safeguard God's Children
The safety and security of our children and youth is our highest priority. All volunteers must pass a background check, and take an online course detailing safety procedures and appropriate behavior when serving with young people.