Ministries | Church of Good Shepherd

Family pROMISE

A network of Knoxville area churches who open their facilities to feed and house “situationally homeless” families in week-long rotations. A typical week at Good Shepherd involves parishioners and friends of Good Shepherd turningSunday School rooms into bedrooms, cooking and serving dinner and breakfast, playing ping-pong, and doing laundry.

Justice Knox

A grassroots organization working for social justice in our area by identifying problems, researching solutions, and bringing the community and decision makers together for positive change.

FISH Food Pantry

Once a month, shopping for, packing up, and delivering fresh food, staple items, and household supplies to individuals and families in need living in north and east Knox County.

Martha's Kitchen

Preparing and delivering meals every other week to those who are ill, homebound, or otherwise in need of love-infused nourishment.

The Men's Club

Supporting the parish by cooking for special events, fund raising, and promoting fun and fellowship.

Tyson House

Providing meals and fellowship and worshiping with our friends at the Lutheran-Episcopal Campus Ministry at the University of Tennessee along with supplying items for their food pantry.

Knoxville
Adopt-A-Stream

Caring for creation in our neighborhood by periodically donning boots and waders to clean up a section of First Creek in Fountain City.

bLESSING OF THE aNIMALS

A service celebrating the unconditional love demonstrated by our pets who improve the lives of their humans combined with collecting food and supplies for shelters.

sANTA eLVES, iNC.

A non-profit founded by a Good Shepherd parishioner that remembers children in foster care and their foster families. It’s a year-round process:fund-raising, buying and wrapping presents, hosting a Christmas party, and delivering Santa’s gifts.

But this is not the complete list of our ministry activities. When we see a need, we ask “How can we help?” Examples include:

Working with our next-door neighbor, Agape House.
Partnering with Tennessee Interfaith Power & Light (TIPL) to reduce our carbon footprint.
Providing both fiscal and physical help to various non-profits.
Building relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Kondoa, Tanzania.

Other areas of ministry that might not be noticed are the groups whose workbehind the scenes enhances our worship experience:

Altar Guild – preparing the sanctuary for services.
Worship Team – lectors, acolytes, chalice bearers, and ushers.
Choir – providing vocal music for the 11:00 am worship.

Still other ministries that are vital in maintaining our physical space and resources that support our ministries include:

The Guild of St. Francis – Volunteers “adopt a spot” and use their gardening talents to keep our grounds attractive to people, birds, and butterflies.
The Vestry – a seven-member leadership team that manages our physical and financial resources to support our mission and vision.