The ministry of caring is at the heart of the church’s life. This ministry includes visiting parishioners, ministries of shared presence, listening, sharing of communion, and many other types of support for those in need and for those celebrating milestone life events. Pastoral care is provided by the ministers of the church, both laity as well as clergy who respond to share the love of God and are sent by the church into the world. Pastoral care ministries make the love of God visible. At Good Shepherd, we are committed to and responsible for caring for and encouraging one another.
To request prayers or to add someone to our prayer list, please click here or fill out a prayer request card found in the pews.
For pastoral needs please contact:
In case of a pastoral emergency outside of normal business hours, please call 512.476.3523 and follow the prompts to leave a message for the clergy person on call.
Lay eucharistic visitors bring communion and prayers from the church altar to homebound parishioners. At the conclusion of the communion portion of the service, lay eucharistic visitors are sent by the parish to bring the gifts of the Eucharist to those they are scheduled to visit. They offer a pastoral presence to those who cannot come to church and who desire to keep connected to their church family. New lay eucharistic visitors receive training and visit parishioners in pairs, following the Safe Church guidelines. For more information, please contact the Rev. Paige Alvarez Hanks.
For all who are grieving, experienced pregnancy loss, single parenting and in need of support, group work is an effective way for people to come together in a trusted environment. These groups are organized as needed throughout the year. If you find yourself experiencing a life event and traveling a grief journey, you may wish to embark on the journey with a group that can offer special care and support. Members of the group agree to maintain confidentiality. For more information, please contact the Rev. Paige Alvarez Hanks.
The Flower Guild breaks down Sunday’s altar flowers and curates them into several small arrangements which are then delivered to parishioners by Love on the Run volunteers. For more information, please contact Taylor Bowles.
Love on the Run serves by delivering flower arrangements from the Sunday altar to parishioners who are either home from the hospital, grieving the loss of a loved one, at home with a new baby or under long-term care. All you need is a car and a willingness to meet others. We’ll supply the flower arrangements. For more information, please contact Emily Price.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets monthly and through faith, fellowship and a love for all things creative, experienced and beginner knitters create prayer shawls for those in need of comfort and an awareness of God’s presence. For more information, please contact Judy Vance.
The Parish Care Committee prepares food for and serves at receptions following burial services, providing a much-appreciated ministry to families in the parish. If you enjoy event planning and execution, this is the guild for you. This is a tremendous and appreciated gift to grieving families. For more information, please contact Ruth Jones.
St. Brigid’s Guild prepares delicious meals that are then frozen and later delivered to members of the parish who have had a baby, who have recently been hospitalized, or who need a little extra support. The group cooks together in the parish kitchen once a month. No experience required – we will share our favorite recipes with you. For more information, please contact Louise Brown.
Volunteers in our newborn ministry visit families soon after the birth of a child – bringing a gift, food and support for the family. All you need is a car and a willingness to meet others. We’ll supply the gift and food. For more information, please contact Jessica Riels.