COFFEE HOURS, SOME GREAT GROUPS, SPECIAL EVENTS

Fellowship is an important ingredient in any recipe that makes up a church home!  We have numerous opportunities available for folks to gather together in Christ’s name.

The Fellowship Commission and its many dedicated volunteers host Coffee Hour following the 10:15 service each week (roughly on the same calendar as the schools—starting up after the Church Picnic, and drawing to a close on Father’s Day each year).  Individuals, families, friends, and church groups sign up to provide coffee, juice, and items ranging from baked goods–homemade or Danny Wegman-made–to munchies etc. Whatever you “bring to the table” is always welcomed with grateful hearts.  Our primary goal is to provide an opportunity for folks to be together—learning and sharing with one another in friendship—after gathering at the Lord’s Table.

We occasionally turn our coffee hours into special events, such as on Confirmation or Recognition Sundays, yet another very important role for Fellowship is that of hosting receptions, (eg. funerals or memorial services).  Depending on the families’ wishes, this might range from setting up coffee and collecting donated trays of sandwiches, cookies, etc., to helping oversee fully catered events.  There are many parishioners (truly unsung heroes!) who regularly participate with arranging tables/chairs, serving, and cleaning up.   Many hands make light work indeed; plus families/fellow congregants are deeply appreciative of such caring, helping hands in times of loss or need.

If you would like to help host a Coffee Hour, or you would like to volunteer your time or food items for the aforementioned special receptions, you can check with Laura Rosato.

There are many other avenues for fellowship at Good Shepherd (check your Updates, Newsletters and this website for dates), such as:

CHURCH PICNIC: in September, the Sunday after Labor Day: an outdoor Eucharist, dish-to-pass (always a smorgasbord), and the enticing scent of hots/hamburgers cooking as we worship together and welcome folks back from summer.  Field games for the kids!

GOLF:  Each fall, Good Shepherd hosts its annual Bruce Mason Memorial Golf Tournament.  This fellowship tradition honors the memory of Bruce, a beloved parishioner who took up the game later in life.  Entry fees are modest compared to most charity events, but we always seem to raise

enough (through hole sponsors and area businesses) to
be able to donate to various charities each year in Bruce’s name.  Dinner, cart fees, prizes, and a lot of laughs!  Golfers of every age and ability are most welcome!

EUCHRE:  Players of any skill level are welcome to join us in the Fellowship Hall each month.

MEN’S BREAKFASTS/WOMEN’S BREAKFASTS: monthly at area restaurants.

BOOK CLUB:  We find a book of spiritual interest to parishioners—we read on our own, then gather together to chat about what we have learned.

QUILTERS AND CRAFTERS:   Quilting, sewing, crocheting, knitting…anything “crafty” you would like to do in a warm and friendly setting: twice a month in the Fellowship Hall.  Beginner to expert, we share our talents together in fellowship…you might even pick up a new skill or two!

Additionally, there are many other opportunities that combine
fellowship with outreach, education, and worship, such as:

TEEN CONCERT (Spring):  This is another beloved event that perfectly blends fellowship with worship—our Teen Choir performs anthems together, and individuals/ensembles offer to their audience the blessed gift of music through voice and myriad instruments

FELLOWSHIP for kids and teens also includes  our Youth Group