TODAY’S LITURGICAL MINISTERS Flower Guild-Janie Johnson, Riki Mottershead, & Jenny Williams Flower Delivery-no delivery The Sunday Paper Vestry Member of The Day-Bill Bullock & Boo White The Third Sunday of Advent December 13, 2009 8:00 AM Lessons, Psalm & Prayers-Ivan Price ● Chalice Bearer-Virginia Grochowski ● Altar Guild- Flo Alston & Lalor Smith ● Coffee Hour-H. I. Tharrington, Spencer Edmondson, & Charlie Neville● Belong ❖ Believe ❖ Become Hospitality Hosts– Sharon Eikelberger & Marion Stoga to the Church of the Good Shepherd. Whatever brings you here we are 9:00 AM Shepherds- Crucifer-Susanna Crestetto ● Torches-Bishop Godwin & Courtney Bondy ● Chal- honored by your presence and pray that the light of Christ may fill your ice Bearers-Ryan Bullard & Ernest Wills ● First Lesson-Jordan Harrison ● Prayers–Kim Bayless ● Altar Welcome heart with joy. There are guest cards at both ends of each pew, we wish to Guild-Tricia Harris & Arlene Sherburne ● Ushers-The Daughtry Family ● Hospitality Hosts-TBA ● Coffee Hour-Bruce Daughtry get to know you better. You are welcome for coffee, cookies and lemonade in the gathering space of the Parish Hall immediately following each of our three services. Follow the cloister walk all 11:00 AM - Crucifer-Emily Ferguson ● Clergy Cross-Sophie Ferguson ● Torches-Margaret Arroyo & the way to the end and enter through the glass doors. Emily Arroyo ● Chalice Bearers-Louis Booth & Stacey Abernathy ● First Lesson-Eddie Baysden ● Prayers-Louis Booth ● Altar Guild-Kelly Frohbose ● Usher-Bill Walker ● Hospitality Hosts-Cammy & Each Sunday we gather for worship. From September to May our services are at 8:00a, Fred Hodges ● Coffee Hour-Mary Tom Shannon & Luta Chipley 9:00a (a semi-contemporary service) and 11:00a (a service with our adult choir) and Christian For- mation for all ages is at 10:00a. During the summer (mid May to Mid September) our services are at 8:00 a (a quiet service without music) and 10:00 a (a service for all generations supported by our Adult Choir).

A Word About Communion—All baptized Christians are welcome to receive commun- ion. If you do not wish to receive the elements you are still invited to come forward with everyone else and cross your arms over your chest for a blessing. It is also acceptable to receive the bread only in which case you would cross your arms over your chest when the chalice bearer offers wine.

Today At Good Shepherd Christmas Stars—are due today to the church parlor. All gifts should be marked to coincide with the numbers on your Star. If you have any questions please contact Victoria Sowers at 908-0387.

A Service of Nine Lessons and Carols—will be held on Sunday, December 13, 5:00p. This much loved annual candlelight service sung by the Alleluia and Good Shepherd Choirs will include tradi- tional carols, hymns, and anthems. A wassail reception will follow the service. Childcare will be pro- vided.

Nursery Care—During our Sunday Worship we provide friendly and reliable nursery care begin- Church Staff - R. Scott White, Rector, Stephanie L. Allen, Asst. Rector, Louise T. Anderson, Deacon, ning at 8:45 a.m. and ending at 12:30 p.m. The nursery is located on the first floor of the Day Lawrence S. Goering, Organist & Choirmaster, Sheryll P. Barnes, Administrative Assistant, Virginia School facility. We can provide pagers to parents so you can be contacted if needed. If you have Turner, Bookkeeper, Hilda Erdman, Custodian, Jackie Wilkins, Day School Director. any questions about the nursery please contact Cacky Daughtry at 454-0788. Vestry (Lay Leadership Team) - Tom Stevens, Bert Godwin (Junior Warden), Pam Larimer, Bill Bullock (Senior Warden), (Class of 2009), Jenny Baysden, Mary Dawson, Fred Frohbose, Boo Luminary Sales and Coffee Sales—start today during coffee hour! The youth will be selling me- White (Class of 2010), Stephen Anderson, Kenneth Burnette, Angela Urquhart, Brent Wilson (Class morial luminaries to light the cloister walkway on Christmas Eve. Single luminaries are $3 or 3 lumi- of 2011), Lisa Godwin, Clerk, Louis Weeks, Treasurer, Virginia Grochowski, Assistant Treasurer. naries for $10. Proceeds of sale go to the youth ski trip. Coffee will also be on sale each Sunday in 231 North Church Street ● Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Advent. All coffee sale proceeds help fund the youth mission trip to Costa Rica – purchase some 252-442-1134 ● www.goodshepherdrmt.org coffee today!

The Real Story of Christmas—today at 10:00a in the Parlor by The Rev. Scott White & Judy Clayton - To understand the profound implications of Christmas, one must first ac- Worship and Prayer knowledge that the Nativity event did not just randomly pop up one day in historical isola- Compline—is read Monday-Friday in the reader’s home where they include the names of all per- tion. We shall probe the message it proclaimed to those who lived when it first happened, sons on our daily and Sunday prayer lists. Our reader this week is Angela Urquhart. and the implications of that message for us today. Daily Morning Prayer—is read on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, in the Baptistry of Next Sunday the church at 7:30a. Enter through the Parish Hall glass doors, proceed down the hallway to enter the church through the door closest to the pulpit. The Christmas Pageant—The Good Shepherd Christmas Pageant—is next Sunday, December 20 at 9:00a service. Invite all your extended family to enjoy this dramatic presentation of our Lord’s Choir Rehearsals—are held on Wednesdays with the Cherub Choir meeting at 5:00p, Alle- birth. Neighbors and friends are welcome as well. All households with children ought to have re- luia Choir at 5:30p, and the Good Shepherd Choir at 7:30p. ceived a special announcement in the mail with details on how to participate. If you did not please call the church office or contact Missy White at [email protected] or 903-0037. Immedi- Mid-Week Eucharist—is held on Wednesday at 7:30a & 12:10p in the church choir stalls. ately following the pageant the Men’s Group will be serving brunch in the Parish Hall. Plan to bring your family for a joyful morning. Parish Notes Annual Day School Christmas Program—will be held on Thursday, December 17 at 10:00a. The Men's Fellowship of Good Shepherd will be serving brunch—Sunday, December 20. Please come and share in the celebrations. From our babies; to our preschoolers; to our parents we Lunch is served in the Parish Hall from 10:00a until 1:00p. If you have attended at the 8:00a or the will be singing the sounds of Christmas. 9:00a services you can grab lunch following the 10:00a Sunday School hour or if you attend the 11:00a service you can still find a seat for lunch. Please note that the brunch will begin following the Poinsettias—will decorate the church for the Twelve Days of Christmas. Order your poinsettia(s) Christmas Pageant. All are welcome. in loving memory of or in thanksgiving for someone. The cost is $15 per poinsettia and may be ordered by using the envelope enclosed in today’s bulletin or purchased on the church website us- Ministry Teams and Small Groups ing a credit card. Pilates—a free Pilates class is held at The Church Of The Good Shepherd every Monday in Vestry Nominations—The Elections Committee of the Vestry is currently seeking members of the Parish Hall from 4:00p to 5:00p. The class is led by Purvi Desai. Direct any questions to Jackie Wilkins at 442-1092. Good Shepherd to serve on the Vestry. If you have a person you would like to suggest for service on the Vestry please contact one of the members of the Senior Class of the Vestry. To serve on the Yoga at Good Shepherd—A free Yoga Class is held at The Church Of The Good Shepherd Vestry one must have made an adult proclamation of faith in the Episcopal Church through the rite every Tuesday in the Parish Hall from 12 noon to 1:00p. The class is led by Emily Bondy and no of confirmation/reception or the renewal of baptismal vows and give of his or her time, talent and experience in yoga is needed to take the class. There will be a break in the yoga classes over the treasure to the life of the parish. The Senior Vestry Members are Bill Bullock (937-8171), Pam holidays, the last class in December is the 15th, and will resume classes January 26th. Anyone is Larimer (443-2527), Tom Stevens (442-1301), and Bert Godwin (442-8388). welcome just bring a yoga mat. Direct any questions to Sheryll Barnes at 442-1134 ext. 221. Five O'clock Christmas Eve Eucharist—will be held on Thursday, December 24. This service of Vestry Meeting—meet Tuesday, December 15, 7:00p Holy Eucharist led by the Alleluia and Cherub Choirs will begin at 4:45 p.m. with carols and music from the children’s choirs. Childcare is provided. Wonderful Wednesdays—has concluded for 2009. We will resume on January 6, 2010. The Adult study will be an in-depth look at the Book of Philippians through the sister program of our Eleven O'clock Christmas Eve Eucharist—will be held on Thursday, December 24. This can- recently completed Christianity Explored. The Program is called Discipleship Explored. dlelight service of Holy Eucharist led by the Good Shepherd Choir will begin with a chorale prelude of favorite anthems and carols. The Needle Work Group (formerly called Good Shepherd Knitters)—meet Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. in the parlor. Year End Pledges—Please make sure that your year end pledge payments are postmarked or re- ceived in the office by December 31st. Please note that the church office will be closed from De- Senior High Breakfast at Bojangles—will resume on January 5, 2010. cember 25 to January 1. If you have any questions regarding your pledge or your statement, please

Middle School Youth Group—will resume on January 6, 2010. call Virginia Turner at 442-1134 extension 223.