Welcome to the third issue of the Outreach News that seeks to keep Good Shepherd members informed about outreach ministry at Good Shepherd.

Last Sunday, a record of more than 60 parishioners participated in Be the Church. Participants engage in a variety of service projects throughout the community. We are all indebted to Lauren Goodpaster for the great job that she did in organizing the event. She extends "a big thanks to everyone who brought food and to Ann Plummer for making all the sandwiches."

A very exciting program is planned for the next Fellowship and Communications meeting on Thursday, May 10. Rev. Christopher Skidmore, the Executive Director of Mission Lexington, will give a presentation on this medical and dental clinic for low-income residents of Lexington. Good Shepherd was instrumental in starting the clinic and continues to support this mission in vital ways. Learn also about volunteer opportunities with this organization.  After the presentation, we will have our usual time for refreshments and fellowship. We will also discuss then prospects for doing a BeThe Church for victims of the recent tornadoes in eastern Kentucky.

So mark your calendar for May 10 at 6:30pm in the Undercroft for this event!

Best Season Ever: Room in the Inn  

Good Shepherd completed our seventh season of hosting 12-14 men on Tuesdays, twice a month from December-March. We cooked, we hosted, we made beds, we laundered, we made lunches, and we provided security for the homeless this winter season.With hands, with heart and with warm words, we welcomed the men in a spiritual setting and became acquainted with each person as an individual, not as a number. 

The following is part of a letter from Freeland Davis, Co-Director of Room In The Inn, Lexington:  

Let me extend a heart-felt THANKS to each of you and your teams who worked so faithfully week after week to welcome our Guests in your churches outpouring of love and fellowship. Without exception, all of our Guests commented on how loved and welcomed they all felt and expressed their appreciation for being the beneficiaries of this love.

This has been our BEST SEASON EVER!!!  God has continued to richly bless us with resources and relationships to make so many things happen that we've never been able to accomplish in prior years. Our RITI Clinic continues to be the hub of a number of resources to improve the health and hygiene of our Guests. In addition to the psychological and medical needs that were met, the Clinic helped forge a relationship with the Mission Lexington Dental Clinic through which many of our Guests received essential and much needed dental care. The Clinic also facilitated getting eyeglasses for some of our Guests.

In our 21 weeks of service, you provided approximately 2,945 beds serving 38 different Guests throughout the season.This also equates to 2,945 hot meals served for dinner and additionally the same number of breakfasts and sack lunches. Our Guests enjoyed having all 3 meals met each day they were with us!!

Again, may God richly bless you for your awesome works!!! I am humbled and privileged to serve along beside each and every one of you.

Thanks to all who gave freely of your time and gifts.  

Contact: Anne Pescke (abd43@me.com)

Blessings in a Backpack: Food is the Foundation for Learning  

Blessings in a Backpack is a non-profit organization that feeds over 55,000 children in 318 schools in 37 U.S. states and three countries (Canada, Columbia, and Haiti).Through this program, impoverished elementary school children are fed on the weekends throughout the school year. Better test scores, improved reading skills, positive behavior, improved health and increased attendance have all been attributed to the success of this program. Good Shepherd became involved with this program in the fall of 2011 with 30 students from Booker T. Washington Elementary in Lexington. At that time, over 100 students qualified for assistance through the program, and by January 2012, we were able to cover 60 students. Four volunteer groups from Good Shepherd, each responsible for one week a month, meet one  evening a week to pack the food and deliver it on Friday mornings to the school.Monica Hall, Family Resource Center Director at Booker T. Washington Elementary, then places the food in each of the children's backpacks before they go home.

This project could not be possible without the help of the many volunteers and Meijer Grocery.Lyn and Bob Shimp go to Meijer every two weeks and pick up the food that Meijer supplies, below cost, for the program. We can provide food for one child for the school year for only $80.We are committed to Booker T. Elementary to continue this project through 2014 and hope to support the Episcopal Church in spreading the program throughout Kentucky. Our intention is to continue to support at least 60 children and to increase the number depending on the need and donations received.  

New volunteer groups will be formed in late July 2012, with more information to come. Mother's Day provides one opportunity at Good Shepherd to donate to this ministry in the name of your mother or of any other special woman in your life. If you are interested in making a donation you will find envelopes inserted in the bulletin on May 13. Make check payable to Good Shepherd with "backpack program" on memo line.

Contact: Virginia Valentin (virginialvalentin@yahoo.com)

Ministry Notes    

United Thank Offering (UTO): Spread your own blessings by helping someone who has a compelling human need. The United Thank Offering is a personal and family devotional program of the Episcopal Church. Put your offering in the blue envelopes that you find in the church pews the end of May. The ingathering Sunday is May 27. If you write a check, mark the memo line UTO. Every cent that is collected is used to help people in need and for future outreach projects in our own parish. Contact: Vicky Shore (victoria.shore@insightbb.com)

Books for Eastern Kentucky Tornado Victims: The appeal for books has been heard! Thanks to those who have already brought books to the Loggia. The need for books is still great, and so we ask others for donations of gently used books for libraries in elementary schools destroyed by the recent tornado. Contact: Joyce Roth (jroth@goodshepherdlex.org)    

Mission Opportunity in the Anglican Diocese of Eldoret in Kenya: The Rev. Melanie Mudge is planning a trip to Eldoret October 1-10. Last year she traveled there with two individuals from Christ  Church Cathedral. She would like to find out if someone from Good Shepherd is interested in going this year. Scholarship funds are available to cover airfare for one individual.

If interested, contact the Rev. Brian Cole (bcole@goodshepherdlex.org).       

  
Schedule of Events 

May 10     Outreach Fellowship and Communications

May 27     UTO Ingathering

June 4-8   Vacation Bible School (Children and Volunteers from outside our parish are welcome)

June 14    Outreach Council

July 12      Outreach Fellowship and Communications

July 15      Church under the Bridge