 On Sunday, October 5th, at 4:00 PM, the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd invites you to join us on the North Carolina State Capitol grounds for our annual Blessing of the Animals. This tradition is a favorite for many in our community, offering an opportunity to give thanks for the loyal and loving creatures who share our lives. All are welcome—parish members, our neighbors, and every person who cherishes their animal companions. Why an Episcopal Church Blesses Animals At its heart, the Blessing of the Animals is a celebration of God's boundless creation. The tradition is rooted in the life and teachings of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. While St. Francis lived in the 12th century, his radical love for all living things continues to inspire us today. He saw every creature as a brother or sister, a part of the same divine family. For our parish, this service is a way to live out our call to be stewards of creation. We believe that God's love and grace are present in all things, and that includes our pets. They teach us about unconditional love, loyalty, and joy. This annual blessing is a visible expression of our faith that God's compassion extends to all creatures, and we, as their caregivers, are called to mirror that compassion. What to Expect at the Service The service will be a brief and joyful celebration, taking place on the beautiful grounds of the Morgan Street lawn of the NC State Capitol, just a short walk from our church. We will offer a prayer and a reading from scripture, and then our clergy will offer a personal blessing to each animal who comes forward. We encourage you to bring all your pets—dogs on leashes, cats in carriers, and even more exotic companions. If your pet is shy or anxious in crowds, you are welcome to bring a photograph of them to receive the blessing. It is a moment to connect with one another, share stories of our beloved pets, and simply celebrate the joy they bring into our lives. Join us on Sunday, October 5th, at 4:00 PM on the NC State Capitol grounds in downtown Raleigh. We look forward to seeing you and your faithful friends! Relevant Scripture and Tradition The Bible is rich with references that affirm God’s care for all of creation. A Blessing of the Animals service often draws upon these passages to remind us of our sacred responsibility.
0 Comments
 by Brett MacDonald This July I joined twelve EYC students and six adult parishioners from Church of the Good Shepherd (CGS) on a mission trip to Burnsville, North Carolina, for hurricane relief work. Going into the week, I was anxious. I didn’t really know anyone going very well and was nervous about working closely with a new group for an entire week. On top of that, I was asked to help lead spiritual reflections and activities for the youth. While I’ve worked with teenagers for the past two years and led mission trips before, those trips were with kids I already knew and with whom I’d built social capital. This time was different and teenagers can be intimidating. Would they like me? Think I was funny? Or “cool” enough to be worth listening to? If not, it was going to be a longgg week. However, the moment I walked into the Ennis Suite, my anxiety began to melt. I was greeted by a dozen friendly faces, each introducing themselves and telling me how glad they were that I’d be part of the team. That hospitality, present in the first moments, became the heartbeat of our week together. From Monday through Friday, we worked to help a woman named Linda, who had lost her house in Hurricane Helene. Our task was to help build an addition to her daughter’s house, so Linda could have a space of her own. When we arrived, only the foundation and walls were up. By the end of the week, we had carried heavy roof trusses up a steep hill, framed and decked the roof with plywood, laid shingles, and built a front porch. Every day was hard work under a hot summer sun, but each nail driven, each shingle, each deck hole set, felt like a small act of love. Evenings were filled with laughter and connection. As a group we played cards, various games outdoors with the volleyball, went for a swim at a beautiful mountain swimming hole, and even partook an escape room. Those moments of joy were as important as the work itself, as they allowed us to grow closer and closer together as a community. For me, the week became a living parable of what it means to be the Body of Christ. In Scripture, we hear again and again that loving God cannot be separated from loving our neighbor. Service is not an optional extra. Rather, it is the shape of Christian discipleship. Jesus himself “came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45), and he tells us that when we serve others, we are serving him (Matthew 25:40). Throughout the week, we, as a collective group, learned that the gospel is something you live with your hands, as much as you speak with your lips. This was the Church at its best: young people and adults, laughing and sweating together, giving ourselves away in love. Others on the trip shared similar reflections. Dan Harris, our senior warden, remarked: “I enjoyed getting to know Chris, our construction foreman, a Southern Baptist from Missouri, and learning how much we all had in common.” Ginger Harris reflected on both the youth and the impact of the work: “These kids are amazing, and if anyone has the chance to do anything with the EYC group, they should do it! And it was amazing to see how much this meant to Linda and her daughter…they were genuinely moved that people would give up time in the summer to help them.” For EYC student Allison Elliot, the week was a blend of service and joy: “Our mission trip to western North Carolina was so incredible! We served our community, learned some new skills, made lots and lots of fun memories, and got to experience being the hands and feet of Jesus. Between playing cards, almost slipping down the big hill while playing spud, solving an escape room, and jamming out in the car—we had some fun! I definitely want to go on another mission trip!” Her sister, EYC student Isabel Elliot, echoed that joy: “This year’s mission trip was such an incredible and rewarding experience. One of my favorite memories was learning how to shingle a roof (shoutout to Mr. Edward), and playing card games in the evening with our friends. I am so grateful for the opportunity I was given to learn many new things, meet new people, and share the joy of Christ.” Overall, mission trips are never just about the projects we complete. Instead, they are about the relationships formed, the faith deepened, and the witness we bear together to the love of Christ. Burnsville reminded us that when we offer ourselves in service, God uses even our smallest acts to build up God’s kingdom here on earth.  For the past two years, the Beyond Our Doors Ministry Team has been dedicated to supporting our community through the Little Free Pantry. Located in front of the Parish Life Center, right next to the circular driveway, the pantry is a self-serve resource available 24/7. It provides snacks, bottled water, and other useful items to neighbors who may need a little extra help. During the hot summer months, volunteers including Sharon Booth, Gerard McNeill, Susan Lewellen, Kathy McLeod, and Whitney Cain have worked tirelessly to keep the pantry stocked with bottled water. Their efforts, along with those of many others, ensure that a basic need is met during oppressive temperatures. How You Can Help Stock the Pantry In addition to the monetary donations we gratefully receive, we are asking for your help in donating supplies. When you're considering what to contribute, think about nutritious, easy-to-eat, nonperishable foods that can withstand extreme temperatures. Here are some suggested donations:
Your contributions truly make a difference! Rally Day: Funding Our Ministry You can also support the Little Free Pantry by participating in our Rally Day Festival on September 7, 2025. All proceeds from popular activities like the Dunking Booth, the Used Book Sale, and the Cookie/Bake Off will go directly toward funding the pantry's supplies. Your participation helps ensure this ministry can continue to serve our community. We ask that everyone bring a item for the pantry to Rally Day! If you'd like to learn more about the Little Free Pantry or get involved, please feel free to contact Whitney Cain or Gerard McNeill.   One of the great ministries here at Church of the Good Shepherd is “The Meal Train”. Nan Boyne serves as its “Chief Conductor” and she is always looking for additional volunteers to help deliver a meal or two when needed. Here are some important details for your consideration as a one-time or frequent volunteer:
For more details or to get your name on the Meal Train, contact Nan Boyne at [email protected]. All Aboard! You will be amazed how easy it is and how great you will feel when you ride this train!   Back-to-School Backpacks for Episcopal Farmworker Ministry Again this year, The Church of the Good Shepherd is collecting back-to-school school supplies to benefit approximately 350 children served by Episcopal Farmworker Ministry. Our goal this year is to collect 80 backpacks! Here’s how it works:
Thank you in advance for your generous support! Contact: Gerard McNeill or the Parish Office. Learn more about this important ministry below:  The Episcopal Farmworker Ministry: Support for Agricultural Workers in North Carolina The Episcopal Farmworker Ministry (EFWM) is a dedicated organization committed to "responding to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of farmworkers." As a collaborative effort between the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina and the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, the EFWM has been a vital resource for agricultural workers and their families across Eastern rural North Carolina since its inception in 1978. Mission and Reach Based in Sampson County, the EFWM primarily serves crop field workers and meat processing plant workers, along with their families. Their comprehensive approach includes direct services, educational initiatives, and various other programs designed to support this essential community that supports our nation’s agricultural system. A History of Service The EFWM's journey began modestly in 1978 as the "Clothing Closet Ministry." Over the years, it expanded its scope to address a broader range of needs:
 Programs and Current Focus Today, the EFWM continues its mission with a wide array of services and programs. While historically working with Latino migrant workers from other states and abroad, the ministry has expanded its reach to include Latino agricultural workers who reside in North Carolina year-round. This includes individuals working in meat processing plants, nurseries, packing houses, animal farms, and various field roles. Beyond their foundational services, the EFWM offers specific programs where community support makes a tangible difference in the lives of farmworkers:
Support the Ministry The Episcopal Farmworker Ministry remains a beacon of hope and support, continually adapting its services to meet the evolving needs of agricultural workers and their families in North Carolina. To learn more or to contribute financially to their work, you can donate directly through their website: https://www.efwm.org/donate. All photos and information above from the EFWM website. Please read and subscribe to their newsletter to get more involved: https://www.efwm.org/ Back-to-School Backpacks: Supply List Our parish goal is to fill 80 backpacks during July. Thank you in advance for your generous support! Contact Gerard McNeill or call the Parish Office if you have questions. Instructions:
Pre-K / Kindergarten School list ● Pencil pouch/pencil box pencils ● Scissors blunt tip/child size scissors ● Expo markers ● Glue sticks ● 2 boxes of Kleenex tissue ● Crayons ● One pair of headphones ● One pack of dry-erase markers ● 1 box of gallon-size ziploc bags ● Construction paper ● Pocket folders ● Backpack Elementary School Supply List (1rst grade through 5th grade) ● 2 inch 3 ring binder ● Wired Headphones (No earbuds) ● Pencil pouch ● 2 composition book ● Crayons ● Pencils ● Pink erasers ● Dry erase markers ● Scissors (2) Kids friendly ● Three plastic pocket folders ● Glue sticks ● 2 pack of loose leaf paper ● 2 Subject notebook/Composition notebook ● 1 box Tissue ● 1 box of gallon size Ziploc bags ● Colored pencils ● Highlighters ● Pens ● Backpack Middle School supply list (6th grade to 8th grade) ● 3 inch 3 ring binder ● 1 set of 8 tab dividers ● Glue sticks ● Wired headphones (No earbuds) ● Graph paper / squared paper ● Pencils ● Pencil sharpener ● Pens black red and blue ● Erasers ● 2 Folders with pockets ● 1 pack of highlighters ● Index cards ● Pencil case/bag ● 2 Composition notebook ● Colored pencil ● Ruler ● Box of tissues ● Backpack with padded laptop slot High School supply list (9th grade to 12th grade) ● Highlighter ● Pack of pens (Assorted colors) ● Colored Pencils ● Pencil pouch ● Pencils or mechanical pencils ● (1) 5 subject notebook ● Index cards ● Pencil sharpeners ● Erasers ● Sticky notes ● Index cards ● Ruler ● Wired headphones (No earbuds) ● Backpack with a padded laptop slot   By Brett MacDonald, Diocesan Intern What does it mean to love our neighbor as ourselves when that neighbor’s body or mind challenges our assumptions about what is “normal” or “complete”? July is Disability Pride Month and it invites us to consider this question. In response, I’d invite us to see disability not as a problem to be solved, but as a theological gift that helps the Church glimpse the mystery of God. Many traditions have linked the image of God (imago Dei) to traits like reason, autonomy, or moral capacity. But what happens when we tie dignity to abilities some people don’t possess to the same degree? Where does that leave those with intellectual or developmental disabilities? Theologian Warren Kinghorn warns that “capacity-based accounts of human dignity always fail individual human persons who do not display the capacities that are most valued.” 1 Rather than viewing the imago Dei as a quality that can be measured or marred, John Kilner emphasizes that it is an unchanging divine gift, and the standard to which humanity is progressively being conformed through the work of Christ and the Spirit. Kinghorn adds, “We are not said to be made in God’s image because we can think, because we can use language, because we can relate warmly to others, [or] because we can adhere to social norms and expectations… we are made in God’s image, rather, because God has created us so, in love.”2 In other words, we must realize humans bear God’s image not because of what we can do, but because of God’s unchanging love for us.3 Thus, human dignity rests not on any present resemblance to God but on God’s unwavering commitment to bring humanity into the fullness of that image. This means that disabled persons are not deviations from some imagined ideal of humanity. They are living witnesses to the diversity of God’s creative love. This truth shapes how we imagine resurrection hope. Too often, Christian visions of heaven assume that disability will be erased, as if perfection means able-bodiedness. But as Stanley Hauerwas remind us, to erase disability is to erase the person.4 Our resurrection hope is not about achieving some able-bodied ideal, but about being glorified in our full, particular selves. Like Christ’s risen body still bearing the scars of the cross (Luke 24), our bodies will bear the marks of our stories—transfigured in glory, not erased. If this is our hope, then the Church’s task is not simply to serve or accommodate disabled persons but to incorporate them as indispensable members of the Body. Disabled persons reveal the Church’s true nature as a community bound not by strength or achievement, but by unhurried love. Living this out means learning to love at a different pace. Our culture prizes speed, efficiency, and productivity. But as John Swinton writes, God’s love unfolds slowly. Time is best conceived,” he writes, “as an aspect of God’s love for the world.”5 Jesus, he observes, living in a society without motor vehicles, walked at three miles per hour—a pace that reflects not urgency but attentive presence. I am often reminded of this through my friendship with Alex, my roommate at Friendship House—an intentional Christian living community comprised of adults with and without intellectual disabilities. One evening, I was supposed to drive Alex, who has Down syndrome, to an event at a local Christian nonprofit that serves adults with disabilities called Reality Ministries. I was anxious to be on time, and as we prepared to leave, Alex kept stopping to chat with people. With each delay, my stress grew until I finally interrupted him: “Alex, we’ve really got to go if we want to be on time!” He looked at me, puzzled, and asked, “What’s the hurry?” I stammered, “We’re going to be late;” and he simply said, “We’ve got time.” In that moment, Alex revealed to me a different way of being, one where people matter more than schedules, where presence matters more than productivity. His friendship invited me into the unhurried nature of God’s love. Friendships like these don’t slow down the Christian life, rather, they are the Christian life. Disabled persons should not be seen merely as individuals in need of care. Instead, the Church must realize that disabled folks offer gifts that reconfigure the Church’s very understanding of itself. Disabled persons are not just welcomed so that abled-bodied Christians can serve them as a project or a charitable act; rather, they themselves are agents of God’s work who teach us how to be the Church. Disabled persons teach the Church not only how to care, but how to be: how to wait, how to rejoice, how to depend, and how to love without condition or measure. Disabled presence calls the Church to abandon worldly measures of worth, such as strength, efficiency, or productivity, and to embrace a community held together by love, dependence, and grace. In receiving these gifts, the Church learns more fully what it means to bear the image of God. Different ministries such as Reality, L’Arche, and Friendship House offer living models of this reality, where mutuality replaces hierarchy and the contributions of those with disabilities are received not according to worldly standards, but as revelations of God’s grace. Friendship with those the world too often overlooks teaches us to wait, to rejoice, to depend, and to love without condition. These friendships bear witness to the nature of God’s love and invite us to participate in it. As Amos Yong puts it, true friendship is not transactional or utilitarian; it is a gift of grace that disrupts our assumptions about value and teaches us how to receive one another as God’s beloved.6 Join us in celebrating disabled belovedness by attending the Disability Pride Parade in Durham Saturday, July 26th from 3:30PM – 6:30PM at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church. Sources: 1 Warren A. Kinghorn, Wayfaring: A Christian Approach to Mental Health Care (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2024), 155. 2 Kinghorn, Wayfaring, 155. 3 John F. Kilner, Dignity and Destiny: Humanity in the Image of God (Grand Rapids Cambridge: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2015), 114. 4 Stanley Hauerwas in The Deprived, the Disabled, and the Fullness of Life (Michael Glazier, 1984). 5 John Swinton, Becoming Friends of Time: Disability, Timefullness, and Gentle Discipleship, Studies in Religion, Theology, and Disability (Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press, 2018), 58. 6 Amos Yong, The Bible, Disability, and the Church: A New Vision of the People of God (Chicago: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 2011), 114. Links for more information:
|
