Get ready to start cooking and crooning, it is time Chili-oke chili & karaoke!

Saturday, October 19th, beginning at 6:30 PM in the Parish Hall. This is a great opportunity to break out your secret recipe for homemade chili to share. Some shenanigans are sure to ensue at this rockin’ event, and light hearted awards may be in the offing! Of course, for those who do not want to cook, there will be lots of food to enjoy as well as non-alcoholic beverages as you cast your vote for your favorite chili. We will also have beer and wine to purchase To add to the fun, we’ll have a karaoke machine and DJ for those who wish to sing for their supper...Who knows, there may be an American Idol talent scout undercover, looking for the next contestant. Free-will donations will be happily accepted to defray the cost of the event. Please contact Jason Davis for more information on bringing chili or to volunteer with some much needed help.

Turning a sad, untimely death into good for the world

Donna Heaney is offering an opportunity to do away with many single use plastic bags for free! Here is her powerful story: “When my son Tom suddenly died from a heart attack while walking his sister’s dogs, he was living with my daughter Sharon and her husband Stephen in Florida. . Sharon had a hard time coping with her grief and started sewing shirt shaped coasters for people to take from his Memorial Service as a way of healing, which blossomed into the lunch and snack bags of today. They help eliminate the use of plastic bags as they can be used over and over. Just wipe the waterproof liner out or wash in machine but don’t put them in dryer (apparently it gets ugly). They are free, she doesn’t charge for them! Some people do send her lengths of 100% cotton fabric sometimes in gratitude, which enable her to keep making them. It’s her form of therapy and turning a sad, untimely death into good for the world. If you would like some you can see Donna after the 10 am service, she often has them with her in various fabrics.

Jeanne Rikkers, Cristosal, discussing the important work in Central America

Cristosal is an Episcopal-based human rights organization working in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Since 2017, Cristosal has responded to over 2 million victims of forced displaced caused by violence. There is a crisis happening and they need our help. Click here to watch a video illustrating what is happening. Jeanne Rikkers, Research and Learning Director from Cristosal spoke at all services on Sunday about the important work Cristosal is doing and how Good Shepherd can be involved.

Cristoal has a four-pronged mission:

1. Equipping human rights leaders with knowledge and tools for action through research and learning

2. Protecting people displaced by violence through victim accompaniment

3. Repairing the lingering effects of rights violations through strategic litigation

4. Building environments where peace is possible through community development