 Even though the recent federal shutdown has ended, we will continue our efforts to feed the hungry this month. SNAP assistance for our vulnerable neighbors in Wake County has been seriously impacted, and the lag in support is causing hardship. To that end, I invite you to consider offering additional support to feed the hungry this November. At Good Shepherd, you can love your hungry neighbor by:
Donation baskets will be available at the church and in the Parish Life Center for food items and for monetary offerings. Online giving is now available through Realm and on the parish website. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me directly. Please join me in continuing to pray for our government, for mutual good will among legislators, and the vision to see what is possible when we commit to working together for the common good. In Christ's love as ever, Imogen+  Or, if you would like to ship items directly to Urban Ministries, use their Walmart wishlist here.
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 ONE Wake is a non-partisan, multi-racial, multi-issue group of religious congregations, associations, and other non-profits in the Wake County area with membership totaling in excess of 50,000 households. The Church of the Good Shepherd is joined with the members of nearly 50 other churches, mosques, synagogues, and non-profits to advocate for all voices. ONE Wake is a non-partisan, multi-ethnic, and focuses on multi- issues with a focus on affordable housing to equity, mental health and public transportation. I attended the ONE Wake Strategic Retreat on September 25 and am enthusiastic about the progress made and the plans to get help for Raleigh housing diversity. The top actions include:
I volunteered for Municipalities because Church of the Good Shepherd is a downtown church with members from the 12 surrounding towns. Connecting our members with their township political representatives is a logical goal. ONE Wake must expand our reach. What can you do?
 CGS representatives at a spring 2025 ONE Wake gathering. Join us this October at ONE Wake events:Please come to the ONE Wake annual meeting and the Cary Candidate Forum- October 21 If you are active in ONE Wake or want to know more about their actions in the Affordable Housing Campaign, please come to their annual meeting: Tuesday, October 21, 2025 7 pm Christ the King Lutheran Church 600 Walnut St Cary, NC 27511 ONE Wake will review the year, discuss current strategy and confirm fundraising goals. Be sure to RSVP so the number of handouts is appropriate. RSVP ONE Wake Annual Meeting If you want or need a ride to the Annual Meeting, please contact Jeff Whittaker. Please attend the ONE Wake Cary City Council Candidate Assembly - October 25
Use your presence and voice to show candidates that Affordable Housing is a key voter issue. If you've never been to an ONE Wake Assembly before, this is how it works:
ONE Wake Cary Council Candidates Assembly Saturday, October 25, 10 am Cary Presbyterian Church 614 Griffis St, Cary, NC 27511 RSVP for Cary Council Candidates Assembly The incarceration of a loved one can feel like a devastating and isolating experience. Families often struggle alone to navigate the complicated criminal justice system while enduring the trauma and stigma that surrounds this difficult reality. At the Church of the Good Shepherd, we believe no one should have to walk this path alone. That is why we are launching the Prison Families Support Group—a vital new ministry dedicated to providing support, community, and hope for friends and family members impacted by incarceration. A Support Group Rooted in Faith and Experience This group is organized and led by two members of our congregation, Ann and Shep Smith. They understand that the need for support goes beyond what is often available. In their experience, many existing faith-based groups focus solely on conversion. Their vision is to offer a different approach: a safe, compassionate, and nonjudgmental space where the focus is on emotional support, practical resource sharing, and simply being present for one another. The clergy and leadership at Good Shepherd fully support this effort, recognizing the urgent need to extend God's love and community to those facing the immense challenges of having a loved one in the justice system. Join Our Community This monthly support group is designed for friends and family members who are justice-impacted with a loved one who is incarcerated. Our goal is straightforward: to break the silence and stigma surrounding incarceration by building community. Together, we seek to strengthen families, foster resilience, and encourage hope for healing and restoration. We invite you to join us for our inaugural meeting and find a space where your experience is understood and your burden can be shared. You do not need to be a member of Good Shepherd to attend—all are welcome. Meeting Details
Share the Hope If you know of anyone in your own family, neighborhood, or other congregations who might benefit from this support group, we sincerely appreciate you sharing this information. All necessary contact and registration information is available on the flyer below. We look forward to meeting you and building a community defined by compassion and hope.  If we work together, we can end world hunger. That's why we're participating in the CROP Hunger Walk to support CWS and help families who are struggling with hunger. Please join The Church of the Good Shepherd with your steps and your donations as we walk on November 8! Together we will provide more meals for the growing number of people in our community who need them and create greater food security in communities around the world. Take a Step Towards Ending Hunger The Church of the Good Shepherd (CGS) is organizing a team to participate in the upcoming Greater Triangle Area CROP Hunger Walk! We invite you to join us on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 10:00 AM, as we walk together to support both our local neighbors and communities across the globe in their struggle with food insecurity. By signing up to walk, you help raise awareness and encourage your friends and family to sponsor your steps.  What is the CROP Hunger Walk? The CROP Hunger Walk is an annual, interfaith fundraising event sponsored by Church World Service (CWS), held every November. It brings the community together for a simple yet powerful mission: to combat hunger and poverty by raising money for essential relief and long-term solutions.
Event Details The 2025 walk will begin at the First Baptist Church Raleigh, located at 99 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC. We will gather at 10:00 AM to start our walk and continue our collective work to reduce food insecurity.  How to Get Involved If we work together, we can provide more meals and create greater food security in communities near and far.
Join or Donate Today! You can sign up to be a member of our walking team and/or make a donation using the link below: >>>Join The Church of the Good Shepherd Team Here<<< We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, November 8th, as we walk to end world hunger.  Want to take a tour? Join the Green Team on Friday, November 7 at the Walnut Creek Wetland Educational Center and Nature Park. Often environmental stories are sad and depressing, but we have a good news story that is the result of Episcopalians partnering with grassroots organizations to restore wetlands, resulting in the beautiful Walnut Creek Wetland Educational Center and Nature Park. Come and learn with us:
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Join us on an exclusive tour of these facilities! We have also asked our brothers and sisters at St. Ambrose to join us for this event! Don’t Miss This: Please see the short video below about the Walnut Creek Wetland Park and Partners for Environmental Justice:  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.
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