Good Shepherd Episcopal Church Friendswood, Texas

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
Friendswood, Texas

Welcome to Good Shepherd!
We are a healthy, vibrant, Program-size church situated between
Houston and Galveston, near the Texas Gulf Coast and NASA’s Johnson
Space Center. At Good Shepherd we believe that Jesus is all about
relationship, and we seek to model Jesus’ focus on relationship
through our vision of being a sanctuary. Staying centered on our
vision, which was wholeheartedly embraced by our congregation over
10 years ago, is what has kept us healthy and growing and strong.
Sanctuary for us is like home base in the game of tag. It is a safe place
to be healed, refreshed and reinvigorated, enabling us to go out into
the world and offer sanctuary to each other and our community,
extending the loving, healing hands of Christ to those who do not
know Him and those who desperately need Him. We are excited to see
God’s plans for Good Shepherd unfolding and are eager and ready to
embrace the change His plan represents. The Vestry, lay leadership,
congregation and staff of Good Shepherd are prayerfully and joyfully
looking forward to welcoming the Rector that God has already chosen
for us, and joining with our new Rector to make God’s plan for us a
reality.
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Vision and Goals 4
Core Values 5
The Rector We Seek 6
Who We Are
Sunday Morning Worship 7
Children and Youth 11
Spiritual Growth 15
Newcomer Ministries 18
Pastoral Care 19
Good Shepherd School 21
Outreach 22
Parish Life 25
Administration 28
Appendices
Parish Statistics 32
Demographics 33
Rector Profile 33
Parish History 34
Campus and Facilities 36
The Diocese of Texas 37
About Friendswood 38
Scrapbook 39
Open Hands
Open Hearts

Episcopal Church of
the Good Shepherd
Diocese of Texas
The Rt. Rev. Charles Andrew
Doyle, IX Bishop of Texas
1207 W. Winding Way
Friendswood, Texas 77546
Phone 281.482.7630
Fax 281.482.4307
www.gshepherd.net
Sunday Services:
8:00, 9:30, and 11:30AM
One Service 10:00AM on
Fifth Sundays
(Meal Following)
Wednesday Service of Holy
Eucharist: 6:30PM
OFFICE HOURS
MON-FRI 9:00AM-4:30PM
Visit us on Facebook and follow
us on Twitter@goodsheptx
Good Shepherd Episcopal School
Mon-Fr. 8:30-4:30PM
Phone 281.992.1357
SHEPHERD'S NOOK Resale Shop
Tues., Thurs., Sat.:
10:00AM-3:00PM
Phone 281-482-8603
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Vision
Good Shepherd seeks to
be a sanctuary for
equipping and
empowering people to
deal with the issues of
life in an atmosphere of
love, security and
support. We find
sanctuary in Jesus Christ.
We are called to model
sanctuary to others in
our community and the
world.
2016 Goals
• A vibrant Newcomer Ministry that invites and engages our
newcomers to become active members of our church family.
• An atmosphere that enables and promotes spiritual growth
and invites the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit through
age appropriate educational programs and increased
participation in Bible studies.
• Expanded family life ministries that include activities for
children, youth, young families, and young adults, including
intergenerational programs.
• Increased visibility in and interaction with the Friendswood
community through outreach activities that make our name
synonymous with sanctuary.
• A successful capital funds drive that retires our debt by
2014, enabling expansion and remodeling of our facilities and
parking capacity to invite and accommodate our growing,
changing community.

Live
Love
Laugh
Core Values
Good Shepherd Episcopal
Church is a SANCTUARY
offering traditional and
contemporary worship and funfilled
fellowship that focuses
on meeting
your individual needs.
Scripture-based
Anglican tradition
Nurturing
Christ-centered; community
outreach
Teaching
Unity in diversity
Always welcoming
Relationships
Youth
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The Rector We Seek
We seek a joyful PRIEST who will provide a safe place for all to worship, using various
worship styles in the Anglican tradition; who passionately shares his/her faith and
knowledge in personal conversations and through sermons that relate to our lives.
We seek a loving PASTOR who is called to become part of the Good Shepherd family, who
warmly welcomes all, truly values and cares for people, establishes relationships based on
trust, and actively supports our pastoral care ministries.
We seek a TEACHER, who values the children and youth of the congregation and is called to
provide programs they need to grow into strong Christians. We seek someone who will
encourage spiritual growth for a congregation of diverse ages, education, cultures and ethnic
backgrounds, who are at all stages of the Christian journey.
We seek a dedicated DISCIPLE who has a personal relationship with Christ, who lives his/her
faith in a spirit of joy and fun; who has a conservative understanding of Scripture and
respects those with different understandings.
We seek a confident, vision focused LEADER with passion, joy and sustainable energy, who
encourages members to share their gifts, builds and empowers effective teams, and inspires
the congregation to participate fully in the life and ministries of Good Shepherd.

Sunday Morning Worship Services
Sunday Mornings at Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd has three worship services on Sunday morning. Our 8:00AM service is
Holy Communion Rite I, and is a spoken service. Our 9:30AM service is Holy
Communion Rite II with choral music. Our 11:30AM service is a service of
contemporary music offered with Holy Communion in the Anglican tradition,
utilizing portions of the New Zealand Prayer book. Children ages 3 through 10
are invited to Children’s Church for their own worship service during the first
part of the 9:30 service. The children rejoin their families during the Passing
of the Peace before Holy Communion.
On “Fifth Sundays” we have One Great Service at 10:00AM, offering the
opportunity for our entire church family to worship together. The One Great
Service combines elements of worship from our 8:00, 9:30 and 11:30AM
services.
At Good Shepherd we believe that worship is the primary purpose of the
church, and many dedicated lay persons are actively involved in ensuring
excellence in our worship services. These dedicated parishioners serve in
numerous Worship Ministries, Music Ministries and Worship Support
Ministries.
Worship Ministries
Good Shepherd has a small team of Vergers who rotate their service. A verger
attends to the “big picture” so that the service can run smoothly, ensuring that
the priests and chalice bearers have what they need to serve communicants and
enhance the worship experience of the congregation. Chalice bearers have the
honor of reverently serving the Blood of Christ to communicants. They receive yearly
training in the philosophy and duties of a chalice bearer. Lay readers bring the word of God to life
through readings from the Old Testament, the Psalms, and selected New Testament readings. Lay
readers participate in yearly training in communicating the word of God effectively and
enthusiastically. Our Acolytes are faithful and conscientious men, women, boys and girls, who love
the Lord Jesus Christ and love serving Him at his sacred altar. It is an honor to be selected as one
who serves God and His people as a Verger, Chalice Bearer, Lay Reader, or Acolyte.
During Communion at each worship service, trained Prayer Teams are available in the Prayer
Room, just off the foyer. Experienced prayer ministers pray with parishioners and visitors
confidentially. Parishioners and visitors may also request prayers through prayer cards in each
pew rack, which can be placed in the offering plate.
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Sunday Mornings at Good Shepherd (cont’d)
Each Sunday, Good Shepherd Lay Eucharistic
Visitors deliver Communion to our
parishioners who are home bound or
hospitalized. Recipients are blessed by the gift
of Communion, and the participants in this
ministry are blessed by the act of sharing God’s
presence in the elements.
Music Ministries
The mission of the Good Shepherd Sanctuary
Choir is to enrich worship at Good Shepherd
and proclaim Christ through music. This choir
provides music at the Sunday service at 9:30AM
and provides music at all services on Christmas
Eve and Easter. Special seasonal performances
are often offered during Lent, Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. The choir
is made up of 20 to 25 dedicated parishioners who feel that the highest and
best way they can worship God is through music. The choir is committed
to the ministry and each other. Members of the choir pray for and
support each other, attend area musical events, and enjoy periodic offcampus
gatherings. Anyone who loves to praise God through song is
welcome to join!
The newly formed Good Shepherd Children’s Choir provides music at our
9:30AM Sunday service about once a month. We are very excited about
what the future holds for this new ministry!
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Our Third Service Contemporary Praise Band is a small group of
musicians offering strong voices singing contemporary praise
songs for the 11:30AM Sunday service. The group includes
members who play keyboard, drums and guitar.
Worship Support Ministries
Members of the Altar Guild are dedicated to preparing the altar
for worship every Sunday. Altar Guild members serve on a
rotating basis, ensuring that the table is prepared for Communion
and the church is equipped with candles. They also ensure that
the colors for the season or for special Sundays are reflected on
the table and the hangings.

Sunday Mornings at Good Shepherd (cont’d)
In preparation for Sunday worship services, the Flower Guild arranges
the flowers and greenery and places the arrangements in the sanctuary.
For special occasions and seasons of the year, the Flower Guild provides
flowers and greenery for the foyer and other areas of the church. At
Christmas, the flower guild provides leadership for the Greening of the
Church, and encourages members of the congregation to participate.
The Guild fills the altar with poinsettias for Christmas, and adorns the
altar with lilies for Easter.
Good Shepherd’s Nursery is available during all Sunday services, and for
many parish events. Its mission is to provide care for the infants and
young children of Good Shepherd’s parishioners and visitors in an
attractive and loving environment. On Sunday this ministry enables
parents and grandparents to worship fully, confident that their children
are safe and lovingly attended. The nursery is professionally staffed and
available to all children from infants through age 4.
Ushers provide a welcoming
environment and distribute the
Sunday Service Bulletins to
parishioners and visitors at our
Sunday worship services.
Christian Formation
Opportunities for Christian education for both children and adults are offered
on Sunday mornings immediately following the 9:30AM worship service. For
children and youth, Christian formation is available from preschool (age 3)
through the 12th grade. Classes typically run from September through May. Good Shepherd is blessed with a team of
dedicated and inspired teachers. These leaders infuse their ministry with enthusiasm and devotion to providing a
positive environment for age-appropriate learning.
Christian Formation for Adults
“Clergy Corner and Coffee” is held after our 9:30 worship service. This class includes a topical presentation
and discussion. Topics are generally determined by the class attendees, and the discussion is led by a
clergy person.
In the recent past we have also offered a study of C.S Lewis’ “Mere Christianity”, and a class on the “50
Greatest Moments in Church History.” Both classes were very well attended. Based on the response to
these classes, inputs received from our parish survey, and our 2016 Goals, clearly we are very interested in
more Christian Formation opportunities for adults.
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Sunday Mornings at Good Shepherd (cont’d)
Christian Formation For Children and Youth
Godly Play 1 is for children in preschool through kindergarten, and Godly Play 2 serves children in grades 1
through 3. Godly Play is based on the understanding that children have an innate sense of the presence of
God. All they lack is the appropriate language to help them identify and express it in order to explore and
strengthen their understanding. The Godly Play approach teaches basic Christian language in a way that
encourages natural creativity and enhances the child’s authentic experience of God. Godly Play is a way of
preparing children to join in the worship and life of their congregation as they develop a deeper
understanding of stories, symbols and rites.
Middle School classes are designed for children
in grades 4 and 5. Junior High classes are for
Good Shepherd youth in grades 6 through 8.
These classes use the “Living the Good News”
curriculum, an age appropriate curriculum
focusing on the same cycle of readings found in
weekly worship. Junior High Classes may include
items for further study or use in family
discussions.
High School classes are for teens in grades 9
through 12. Classes feature an open discussion
of the lectionary focusing on the same cycle of
readings found in weekly worship. For each of
three readings, the leader introduces a question
or provides a statement for reflection while the lesson is read. After the reading, the young people are
encouraged to discuss their reactions, beliefs, and understanding.
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Children and Youth Ministries
Children and Youth at Good Shepherd
At Good Shepherd, Family Matters. We care about the whole family, from our very youngest parishioners
and visitors, to our seniors. We have programs and activities for all ages, including intergenerational
activities, throughout the year. Special activities for the entire family are planned each quarter, typically
on 5th Sundays. Family Matters events also include activities geared for younger children and their
families, such as “Movie Night at Good Shepherd”. Our younger
children also enjoy an annual Easter party, “Trunk or Treat” and
the “Blessing of the Pets”.
Children’s Church is a scaled-down version of the typical
worship service, and follows the same liturgical calendar.
The service includes a children’s version of the Nicene
Creed, the Gospel reading followed by discussion, Prayers of
the People, the “Good Shepherd Children’s Prayer,” and an
offering followed by the Doxology, and the passing of the
peace. Children begin to learn and understand the basic
parts of a typical Episcopal service while hearing the stories
of the Bible in terms they can understand. Simple craft
projects are often used to illustrate the Gospel lesson. We
are blessed with four teams of Children’s Church ministers who rotate leadership weekly.
Good Shepherd’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) program is quite possibly
the highlight of the year for our children! VBS is also a great outreach
ministry to the children of our community. The number of children
served has steadily increased over the years - approximately 100
children participate in our VBS. “Hometown Nazareth - where Jesus
was a kid” was our VBS theme for summer 2011. Many dedicated
parishioners, adults and teenagers devoted their time and talent to
making VBS a very special event for all the children who attended. Even
our parish hall was transformed into the town of Nazareth by one of our
parishioners who is a professional set designer!
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Children and Youth at Good Shepherd (cont’d)
Episcopal Youth Community (EYC)
The EYC is for all youth 6 th grade and higher. EYC activities are
designed so that adolescents and teens have fun, build their
relationships with their peers, and share and strengthen their
belief in Christ. EYC members participate in trips for fun, service
projects and annual mission trips. We have over 40 members in
our EYC and are continually expanding.
Starting in the fall of 2011, EYC will take place on Sunday nights as
a part of our Sunday Nights Under God (SNUG) program. The Jr.
High will meet from 5:00-6:00PM. We will share a meal with all who
are in attendance at SNUG from
6:00-6:30PM. The Sr. High will meet from 6:30-7:30PM and then
head over to someone’s house for dessert, games and Compline
from 7:30-8:30PM.
The EYC does at least one service project a month in and
around the greater Houston area. Some of the projects we are
involved with are the Shepherd’s Nook, Trunk or Treat,
Christian Helping Hands, St. Vincent’s House, Sweet Jesus
Season, Souper Bowl of Caring and sponsoring a child in Africa.
Every summer our Jr. High and Sr. High EYCs go on week long Mission
Trips. The Jr. High EYC trips are in Texas and involve different
service projects. The Sr. High EYC goes out of state on a Group
Work Camp in which they work on homes for those in need.
We take other smaller trips throughout the year. Every summer,
we travel to the beautiful Texas Hill Country for a weekend
retreat at Wessendorf Retreat Center, where we relax, have fun
and enjoy activities such as floating down the river, tacky dance
and messy games. In 2011, we also took a Spring Break trip to
visit all the amusement parks in the San Antonio area.
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The EYC has many fundraising events that completely
support our large budget. Our biggest fundraiser is a
Concession Stand at Minute Maid Park, where the Houston
Astros play. Good Shepherd adults, many of whom are not
parents, volunteer to work the Concession Stand throughout
the baseball season. Proceeds from Minute Maid Park make
up about 75% of our budget. Additional fundraisers
conducted by EYC members include activities such as serving
breakfast tacos to the congregation once a month and
hosting the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Suppers.
Our EYC is heavily involved in many Diocesan events. We have youth who attend and regularly staff Y.E.S.
and Happening. Youth Encountering Spirit (Y.E.S.) weekend brings young people in grades 7 through 9
together in Christian Community. The retreat focuses on Christ and helps foster a clearer appreciation of
self, richer relationships with others, and a deeper experience with Jesus. Happening is a weekend for
teenagers in grades10 through 12. Happening provides an exciting forum for teens to develop, nourish,
and share the spirit of Christ within them. The Happening movement proclaims that Jesus Christ has
made and will continue to make a difference in the world and in individual lives. Happening is a life
affirming and life changing weekend!
Many EYC members attend various retreats throughout the year such as Mid-Winter, Jr. High and
Intermediate Retreats. Good Shepherd is
also the host twice a year for the
Galveston Convocation Lock-In.
As you can see, our EYC program is
thriving! We will continue to nurture and
develop our youth as well as reach out to
the community.
One of Good Shepherd’s 2016 Goals, “Expanded
family life ministries that include activities
for children, youth, young families and young
adults including intergenerational programs”,
confirms our church family’s enduring
commitment to our youth.
Children and Youth at Good Shepherd (cont’d)
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Mission Trips 2011
Wessendorf

Women’s Bible Study
In the fall and spring of each year, Good Shepherd offers Bible
studies for women. Groups meet once a week, either at the
church or in members’ homes. The women have enjoyed Beth
Moore Bible studies and reading and discussing books such as
those written by Max Lucado and Becca Stevens. The classes are
designed to strengthen participants’ relationships with Christ
and one another.
Discovery and Rediscovery Weekends
This on-campus lay retreat offers a relaxed environment for
witness, discussion, worship, fellowship and food. Several
different formats are grouped under this ministry, all of which
follow the general pattern of lay talks on various subjects
followed by discussion.
Alpha Course
The Alpha Course has been offered several times over the past
few years at Good Shepherd. Alpha is an opportunity to
explore the meaning of life in a relaxed, friendly setting. The
Alpha course usually meets once per week for 10 weeks.
During each session, people enjoy great food, laughter and
learning in a fun and friendly atmosphere.
Spiritual Growth at Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd offers many opportunities for spiritual growth. As we
grow spiritually, our relationship with Jesus becomes stronger, and we
become more like Him. The more we become like Jesus, the better we are
at providing sanctuary to each other, our visitors, our community and
the world. One of our goals for 2016 is to develop “An atmosphere that
enables and promotes spiritual growth and invites the abiding presence
of the Holy Spirit through age appropriate educational programs and
increased participation in Bible studies.” We are eager to enhance our
opportunities for spiritual growth.
Wednesday Evening Worship Service and Bible Study
This 6:30PM. worship service is a Litany of Healing with Holy
Communion. The service is held in the chapel and is followed by a
Bible Study.
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Spiritual Growth at Good Shepherd (cont’d)
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The mission of The Order of the Daughters of the King (DOK) is to
extend Christ's Kingdom through prayer, service, and evangelism.
Our DOK chapter is alive and thriving with approximately 60 active
members. The DOK meets monthly for prayer, study and outreach.
Speakers and programs focus on forms of prayer and how to invite the
Holy Spirit in as you pray. Various forms of prayer and prayer
methods have been explored, such as reflective prayer, invitatory
prayer, contemplative prayer, Taizé, prayer beads, walking the
labyrinth, silent retreats, and use of the prayer book.
The Good Shepherd DOK chapter is active in outreach, with particular
emphasis on the seafarers in the Port of Houston, and US troops
serving in war zones, providing over 100 “Holiday Boxes” filled with
toiletries, goodies, hand-knitted scarves and caps. The DOK also hosts
a luncheon for visiting Seafarers Chaplains at the Howard T. Tellepsen
Seafarers' Center.
The Brotherhood of St. Andrew is a ministry to “spread Christ's
Kingdom among men and boys in the Episcopal/Anglican
Communion.” This men’s organization meets twice a month to
discuss a current news topic and interpret the event through the
Anglican three-legged stool of “scripture, tradition and reason.” The
group also offers prayers of thanksgiving and prayers for God’s
intervention for healing, spiritual guidance, and peace. The
Brotherhood supports the parish in many ways, particularly by
cooking for numerous parish events each year. For holidays, they
cook and sell brisket, chicken and other delectable grilled meats. The
proceeds from these cook fests have funded upgrades to Good
Shepherd’s kitchen. The Brotherhood is active in outreach,
sponsors the Guy Stuff Ministry and is also responsible for
organizing the visitation ministry to newcomers.

Lenten Series
Each year Good Shepherd hosts a series of Lenten classes. Each
class starts with a covered dish meal (there is always food at
Good Shepherd!), followed by a presentation by an invited
speaker. “A Season of Invitation” was the theme for our
2011 Lenten series. Speakers included a clergy member,
parishioners and speakers from the Diocese.
The Labyrinth
Good Shepherd owns a 40-foot square Chartres labyrinth,
on three canvas panels. The labyrinth is set up in our
parish hall for meditative walks. In the past the walks
were held on a quarterly basis. These opportunities were
well received. This ministry is currently inactive and we
would like to “revive” it in the near future.
Cursillo
Good Shepherd actively supports the Cursillo program of the
Diocese, which is a movement of the Christian church designed
to help the laity better understand their individual gifts and
callings to be Christian leaders. Good Shepherd teams have led
many Cursillos, most recently Cursillo #233 in August 2011. It
was the best Cursillo ever! Good Shepherd also supports
reunion groups and Ultreyas, which are methods for staying
accountable to one another in our Christian journeys.
Baptism and Communion Preparation Classes
Our clergy offer Baptismal classes by appointment with people
who are interested in Baptism, either for themselves or their
children. Communion preparation classes are offered once a
year, usually during Lent, for young people whose parents want
them to have instruction before receiving Holy Communion.
Spiritual Growth at Good Shepherd (cont’d)
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Newcomer Ministries at Good Shepherd
While we believe that we do a great job of welcoming our newcomers to Good Shepherd, we desire to
do a better job of engaging them and helping them “plug into” Good Shepherd. This desire is
expressed as one of our goals for 2016: “A vibrant Newcomer Ministry that invites and engages
our newcomers to become active members of our church family.”
We have applied for a Diocesan Strategic Mission Grant that will enable us to add a Newcomer
Minister to our church staff. This person will be responsible for assessing our current practices,
planning a program of newcomer assimilation and integration, launching and activating a
strategic plan of evangelizing new members, identifying their unique talents and needs through
direct interaction, and helping them move from a visitor to an engaged member of our church family.
Current Newcomer Ministries include:
Newcomer Bags
Every Sunday during announcements, newcomers
are invited to identify themselves. Each
newcomer is presented with a Newcomer bag and
welcomed to Good Shepherd. The Newcomer bag
provides information about Good Shepherd that,
hopefully, encourages them to return. Each bag
also includes a half-pound bar of chocolate!
Newcomer Visitation
When new worshipers identify themselves by
completing a visitor’s card, a pair of parishioners
from the Newcomer Visitation Team visits them
that day. The team thanks our visitors for
visiting, answers any questions they may have
and presents them with a loaf of homemade
bread or some other welcoming gift, then bids
them a good afternoon. The intent is to visit
without intruding and for the visit to be
restricted to the front porch of the home. This
ministry has a tremendous impact!
Liturgy of Belonging
This liturgy is included in our 9:30AM worship
service on a quarterly basis for those newcomers
who have decided to join our church family.
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New members come to us in a variety of ways and
this is our opportunity, as a church family, to
officially welcome them—whether they have
transferred their letter from another Episcopal
church, joined us from a different denomination, or
have never had a church home. This short liturgy
includes vows for both the new members and the
congregation. The members of the congregation
pledge to encourage and support the new members,
and acknowledge that the body of Christ will grow
in new ways with its growth in numbers. The
Liturgy of Belonging is celebrated with a meal for all
after the worship service!
New Member Dinner
New members of the church are invited to attend a
dinner hosted by the Vestry, the Clergy and the
Newcomer ministry leads. This dinner provides an
opportunity for new members to meet one another
and their hosts. The dinner is held soon after the
Liturgy of Belonging and all participants are
invited.

Stephen Ministry
Good Shepherd’s Stephen Ministry began in 1990. Over the last
20 years, 16 Stephen Ministry leaders, and more than 40 Stephen
Minister caregivers have been trained. Stephen Leaders and
Stephen Ministers have provided over 430 hours in one-to-one
care in the last 4-5 years.
Pastoral Care at Good Shepherd
Pastoral care is a key component of providing sanctuary. Our pastoral care ministries are always available for
anyone in need, whether or not they are members of our church family. At Good Shepherd, we are blessed to have so
many compassionate parishioners who willingly give of their time and talent to share the love of Christ by reaching
out, comforting and walking beside those who are going through difficult periods.
The Good Shepherd Stephen Ministry seeks to expand on Good
Shepherd’s vision of “equipping others to deal with the issues of
life.” Through this ministry, lay persons are trained to provide
distinctively Christian one-to-one care. The ministry provides a
loving listener to those who are experiencing a variety of needs
including grief, illness, the care of aging parents or troubled
family members, and transitions such as unemployment and
divorce. The Stephen Ministry program is completely
confidential, and those receiving care can be sure that their
identity and their confidences will remain private. Stephen
Ministers are committed to expressing God’s love through their lives and
actions to others.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
The parishioners in this ministry gather each week to knit and
crochet prayer shawls. These lovingly created shawls augment the
Good Shepherd prayer ministry by extending a warm and physical
touch—assuring the recipients of our prayers and God’s infinite love
and care. Typically, the shawls are presented by a friend or loved
one to someone experiencing a life-threatening illness. Experienced
shawl makers are happy to assist anyone who is less experienced and
would like to participate. All are welcome!
Prayer Card Ministry
This ministry remembers parishioners in special need by providing
get well, sympathy, and other cards of encouragement that are
signed by Good Shepherd parishioners on Sundays. For parishioners
who are confined to their homes or in nursing homes, this ministry
supplies birthday, Easter, Valentine’s Day and Christmas cards,
which are also signed by parishioners.
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Pastoral Care at Good Shepherd (cont’d)
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The Martha’s Guild provides direct care for those
in need by organizing the provision of meals,
transportation or other help for families
celebrating the birth of a child or experiencing
serious illness or loss.
“Walking the Mourner’s Path” is a Christcentered
support program for those who are
grieving the loss of a loved one. The mission of
this ministry is to “transform grief into joyful
living.” Over a span of eight weeks, these once-aweek
gatherings provide tools to facilitate
healing. The gatherings include short lessons,
scriptures, questions to consider, and times of
sharing. Each participant has the opportunity to
share in an atmosphere of safety and
confidentiality.

From the Director:
With eyes to the future, not unlike the scientists, engineers
and astronauts that guided NASA, Father Bill Sterling and several
parishioners envisioned Good Shepherd School in 1980. Friendswood
was growing with young families eager to move to our tree-filled
community with hometown values and a patriotic spirit.
Good Shepherd Day School opened in one large room of the
church’s Education Building, now known as the “Laura Building”.
Three year olds attended on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and
four year olds on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. The
focus then, as it is today, centered on nurturing children through a
daily interactive children’s chapel, hands on educational exploration,
teamwork, sharing and positive reinforcement. Our experienced and
loving teachers delight in the role of preparing children to be
successful in life and to meet challenges with confidence, filled with
God’s love.
The Good Shepherd Episcopal School
Today the school has two three year old and two prekindergarten
classes. Good Shepherd Episcopal School also offers preschool
care from 7:15AM and after school care until 5:00PM. We still
begin each day with children’s chapel, led by the teachers. The staff includes four teachers, two assistants, the
director (who also serves as a teacher) and a part-time Spanish teacher. Good Shepherd Episcopal School has
earned a strong reputation for excellence in education in an atmosphere of love, security and support. It is a
member of the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools.
The school has always enjoyed a strong bond with the Church. We are blessed to have parishioners
serving on the School Board, as volunteers in the school office, making financial donations and obtaining
matching grants from their employers. When a new playground was needed, parishioners even rolled up
their sleeves, got their hands dirty and built a new one. It is now enjoyed by all children of Good Shepherd.
The clergy of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church have a strong presence in the school and join us as
our story tellers in chapel. We look forward to our new Rector being our story teller. The children always
delight in hearing the stories and save their most interesting questions for our clergy! The Rector serves as
Headmaster of the school and sits on the Good Shepherd Episcopal School Board.
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Outreach at Good Shepherd
The people of Good Shepherd have open hands and big hearts! We are active in outreach to both local and far away
communities. Our outreach ministries touch the lives of hundreds and hundreds of people. There are many
opportunities for members of Good Shepherd, from age 11 to 101, to serve.
The Shepherd’s Nook is a thrift shop founded in 1979 by the Good
Shepherd ECW. The Nook is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization
that receives donations of clothing, toys, books and household
items from individuals in the community and sells them at
deeply discounted prices. The Nook is staffed solely by
volunteers. Each year the Nook Board distributes 55% of net
proceeds to Good Shepherd’s ECW, and 20% to local nonprofit
organizations. This past January over $17,600 was distributed to
the ECW and nonprofit organizations, including Builders
Without Borders, Christian Helping Hands, Family Outreach,
Friendswood EMS and Volunteer Fire Department, Good
Shepherd Episcopal School, the Horizon School, the Laura
Recovery Center, Meals on Wheels, the Resource and Crisis
Center of Galveston County, St. James’ House and St. Vincent’s
House. The Nook also provides free clothing and household
items to clients referred from area churches and community
service agencies such as Christian Helping Hands. Along with
monetary donations, the Nook has provided free clothing,
household items, videos and books to Galveston area residents,
the Seaman’s Center at the Port of Houston, the Purple Heart
ministry, The Lord of the Streets ministry, Bay Area community
schools and others.
Christian Helping Hands (CHH)
“…Therefore, I command you, you shall open wide your
hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor in
this land” (Deuteronomy 15:11). The mission of CHH is
to fulfill this commandment in our communities
through the cooperative efforts of local churches. CHH
provides short-term assistance with basic needs,
primarily food, and helps others become more self-sufficient. Monetary assistance for medicine, fuel, rent
and utilities is provided on a case-by-case basis, as available. Good Shepherd parishioners donate nonperishable
foods to CHH on an ongoing basis. Parish members also contribute generously toward CHH’s
back-to-school campaign for school supplies and its Christmas campaign to collect gift cards from local
grocery stores.
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The Horizon School at Good Shepherd welcomed its first
students in 2009 to provide an educational opportunity for
children with Down syndrome and similar developmental
delays. The Horizon School offers its students tools and
practical skills to enable them to become productive citizens.
A structured learning environment in an atmosphere of love
and understanding helps students achieve their full academic
potential, contributing to their happiness and self worth.
The Good Shepherd Community Garden was initiated during
the summer of 2011. The garden is available to parishioners
and members of the local community. Half of each
gardener’s harvest is donated to Christian Helping Hands.
Needless to say, we hope for more rain next season!
Outreach at Good Shepherd (cont’d)
In October 2004 Good Shepherd
reinstated its Blood Drive Ministry,
holding four drives per year for the
benefit of St. Luke's Episcopal
Hospital. In 2006, at the request of
St. Luke's Blood Center, the number
of drives per year was increased to
five. Since 2008, Good Shepherd’s
donations have averaged
approximately 167 units of blood
per year. In total, Good Shepherd
has donated over 118 gallons of
blood. Parish participation
averages about 10%, which is twice
the national average for blood
donation. This level of
participation can be credited in
large part to strong support from
the clergy and lay church
leadership.
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Outreach at Good Shepherd (cont’d)
The Friendswood Community Prayer Breakfast began in 1969.
Once a month on Saturday morning, members of Christian
denominations throughout the community meet for a time of
prayer, fellowship and food. About 17 churches are
represented, and Good Shepherd is among a dozen churches
that serve as hosts on a rotating basis.
The United Thank Offering (UTO) begins with a yearly gathering
of contributions from the congregation. It is traditionally
collected on All Saints Day and sent to the Diocese, which
forwards it to the National Office of the UTO. Each year, the
National Office provides grants for worthy projects that have
great need and little support from other sources. The grants
support ongoing programs and “bricks and mortar” projects.
Good Shepherd’s Episcopal Church Women (ECW) is very active
in outreach in our communities. Along with monetary support
provided to Good Shepherd’s Clergy Discretionary funds, Good
Shepherd Episcopal School, and many Good Shepherd
ministries, the ECW provides educational scholarships for
women enrolled in higher education, scholarships for youth
summer camps, and donations to the Vera Gang Scott
Scholarship fund. The ECW also provides monetary support to
Christian Helping Hands, parishioners involved in medical or
other mission trips, and partners with the EYC for local
outreach ministry events such as an ice cream social at a local
Women’s Shelter.
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Parish Life Ministries
Good Shepherd is blessed with lay leaders who
generously offer their time and talent by
providing classes on topics of interest to our
parishioners and members of our community.
Recent offerings have included parenting classes,
“10 Great Dates”, “Fireproofing your Marriage”,
and “Financial Peace University”.
We are excited about our newest program,
“Sunday Nights under God” (SNUG). From
5:00-6:00PM, while Jr. EYC meets and elementary
age children enjoy a class taught by our Sr. High
EYC, adults of all ages (parents especially) will
have an hour for small groups, Bible Study or a
study of their choice. From 6:00-6:30PM dinner
will be provided for all ages in our Parish Hall. At
6:30 the adults and those younger than Senior
High will have a prayer and go home, and our Sr.
High EYC will stay for their meeting and
fellowship.
Many parishioners enjoy offering hospitality to
our church family and visitors:
Hospitality hosts provide coffee, juice and
refreshments for the congregation on Sunday
mornings in the parish hall after the 9:30AM
worship service. This ministry provides an
inviting environment for fellowship.
“First Sunday Breakfast” is hosted by our
dedicated “First Sunday” Cook Teams. Good
Shepherd parishioners enjoy a scrumptious madeto-order
breakfast.
Our EYC treats parishioners to “Third Sunday
Breakfast Tacos” each month. They prepare and
serve delicious soft tacos for a crowd of hungry
parishioners. Taco Sunday is a solid fundraiser
for EYC activities!
Parish Life at Good Shepherd
We are passionate about having fun together and building our church community through food, fun and
fellowship, and learning and growing together!
Our Ministry Appreciation Dinner is a very special
meal hosted annually by the Vestry for all
ministry leaders, staff members, and their
spouses. The objective of the dinner is to say
“thank you” for the love and hard work the
ministry leaders and staff members contribute
throughout the year, and to enjoy good food and
company!
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Parish Life at Good Shepherd (cont’d)
Good Shepherd has an active Episcopal Church Women (ECW) fellowship
that meets regularly, holds entertaining and educational events for its
members, and hosts many of our Parish gatherings, ranging from
receptions for ordinations and visiting Bishops, to celebrations for our
newest members who join our church family through The Liturgy of
Belonging. ECW is dedicated to serving the Lord through service,
worship, education, evangelism and pastoral care. All women in the
church are members. The ECW generously supports many of our
ministries and provides outreach to the larger community.
Our Mug Sisters Ministry provides an opportunity for women who may
not know each other to connect, celebrate and encourage each other.
Each year, the ministry begins with a secret exchange of mugs. Each
woman contributes a mug and information such as her birthday, wedding
anniversary, hobbies and special needs for prayer. The mugs are
distributed so that participants do not know who receives their mug.
The ministry provides women the opportunity to focus on a fellow sister
in Christ by offering prayers, monthly notes and cards, and small gifts.
More than 40 women participate each year, and the program culminates
at our annual ECW Christmas party when each woman’s mug sister is
revealed.
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In the category of ‘Pretty Much Just For Fun’:
Parishioners and members of our local community enjoy Bridge
Nights at Good Shepherd, which are scheduled on the first Friday of
each month throughout the year. Experienced players and
beginners are welcome!
On the second Thursday of each month, “The Classics”, a group of
retirees and those who have some leisure time and love to have fun
meet at Good Shepherd. Members enjoy a pot luck salad luncheon,
board games, bridge and fellowship. The group also goes on picnics,
local scenic tours, and to local eateries. Everyone is welcome to be
part of the Classics!
The Guy Stuff Ministry promotes men’s fellowship through various
competitive events that have included horseshoe tournaments, golf
tournaments and a “Texas Hold ‘Em” night. Guy Stuff events are
open to the men of Good Shepherd and the community.

And in the category of ‘Fun and Fund Raising’:
Parish Life at Good Shepherd (cont’d)
Oktoberfest is our major annual fund raiser, held in October. It is
the biggest and most popular event of the year! Oktoberfest has
also become a major outreach to our local community, focused on
building our church family through inviting people who would
not otherwise visit Good Shepherd. The event offers live music,
authentic food, and fun for the entire family. Monies are raised
through t-shirt sales, opportunity tickets, dinner tickets, a silent
auction and an exciting live auction. All silent and live auction
items and a majority of items available through the opportunity
tickets are donated by either parishioners or community
businesses. Oktoberfest is made possible by a dedicated, creative
leadership team and a small army of enthusiastic Good Shepherd
volunteers each year.
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Administration at Good Shepherd
Annual Stewardship Campaign
At Good Shepherd, we believe that even Stewardship Campaigns should
be fun. Past Stewardship Campaign themes have included: “Hit the
Pickle,” “Good Shepherd Clearing House” (patterned after the
Publishers Clearing House), “Spot Man,” “Hold the Spoon,” and “Get Fit
(ter) with the Shepherd.” Our Stewardship Campaign teams enjoy
coming up with creative themes that engage parishioners in novel and
entertaining ways.
Ministry Fair
Good Shepherd holds an annual Ministry Fair, where our ministries
provide information about their functions and recruit volunteers.
Creativity, fun, food and prizes are always involved. Because we value
our people for who they are and not what they do, we also invite
everyone to quit their Ministries every year.
Vestry
Members of the Vestry model sanctuary through their relationships with Good Shepherd’s numerous
Ministry Leaders. All Good Shepherd ministries are categorized under a letter of the acronym
“APOSTLES”. Each letter in the acronym represents a category of ministries: Administration, Pastoral,
Outreach, Stewardship, Teaching, Liturgy, Evangelism and Service. Vestry members assigned to each
letter of “APOSTLES” contact their Ministry Leaders to discuss how things are going each month, and offer
assistance from the Vestry as needed. The Senior Warden and Junior Warden also contact Vestry
members monthly to offer support and encouragement.
Buildings and Grounds Teams
The buildings and grounds teams assist the Jr. Warden in providing for the maintenance of the grounds,
lawns, flower beds and buildings. Both teams accomplish their work by overseeing the contractors
providing maintenance services and scheduling and organizing work parties to accomplish specific tasks.
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Good Shepherd’s Finances and Capital Debt
Financial information is provided separately. Capital debt remains from the
construction of our Worship Building. Proceeds from the sale of Good Shepherd’s
Rectory will be used to pay down the construction loan, and a Capital funds drive is
planned to retire the remainder of the debt.
Legacy Society and Endowment Fund
The Vestry recently approved establishing a Legacy Fund for Good Shepherd in 2011.
This ministry is currently in the planning stage.

Paid Staff and Volunteers
Administration at Good Shepherd (cont’d)
From our Associate Rector: “My name is Bob Moore. I was born in Galveston and grew up in
Beaumont, attending St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. I am married to Nansi and we have two
children, nine grandchildren and one great grandchild. I graduated twice from Sewanee with a B.
A. in Biology (1972) and a D. Min. (1993). I received my M. Div. in 1975 from the Episcopal Seminary
in Austin and I have served for thirty-six years in the Diocese of Texas. I retired in August of 2005
in order to build a home in League City and was called to serve as the associate rector in September
of 2005. My areas of focus at Good Shepherd are pastoral care and Christian Formation.”
“My name is Carol Blaine, and I am the Interim Rector of Good Shepherd. A native Houstonian, I
am a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. I taught in elementary, junior high, and high
school for sixteen years, eleven of which were with HISD. After retiring from teaching, I worked for the
Community of Hope at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital. Following my husband’s death in 1999, I attended
the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin and graduated in 2002. I’ve served as priest-incharge
at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Marlin, Texas, and retired this past March as rector of Grace
Episcopal Church in Houston. I am blessed with three wonderful children – a daughter and two sons –
as well as three grandsons.”
Suzy Spencer has served Good Shepherd as Youth Minister since January, 2010. She recently
expanded her duties to include all ages as our Family Matters Minister. Suzy also serves as our
convocation’s leader for Youth Ministry and hosts two convocational “lock-ins” each year.
Suzy received her B. A. in Human Resource Management from Texas A & M University in 1995.
She and husband Jay have two daughters. Suzy is a graduate of the Diocese of Texas’
“Crosspoints” course and is currently enrolled in the IONA program. Prior to moving to
Friendswood in 2006, Suzy was employed in the Human resources Department of Christus St.
Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont. Suzy previously served as a member of our vestry and as our
Junior Warden.
From Mary Smith: “As Parish Administrator I am your contact person for questions regarding
membership, the parish data base, member financial statements, scheduling events and meetings,
administrative office volunteers, and much more. I'm a lifelong Episcopalian with a work background
in retail management, buying and marketing. My husband Randy and I have a young daughter who
spent the first 18 months of her life in the Good Shepherd office building nurtured by a host of
volunteer grandmothers and aunties.”
Gail Roe has been Adult Choir Director and Organist since May 2009, with over 20 years
experience with churches in Delaware and Texas. Recently she has founded the Children's
Choir at Good Shepherd and enjoys working with singers and instrumentalists, as well as
teaching "How to Read Music". A native of Kansas, she has studied piano and organ in her
home state (Bach. of Music - Wichita State), Germany (Hochschule fur Musik - Freiburg,
Rotary Stipend), North Carolina (MM - UNC), and additional studies in Delaware, New Jersey
and Texas. She and Nick, married in June, 1980, and are the parents of two sons. Since 1992
she has been on the music faculty at San Jacinto College South.
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Administration at Good Shepherd (cont’d)
From our Third Service Contemporary Praise Band Director: “My name's Brent
Williams but people call me Toast. When I'm not at work formulating creative concepts
to entice people into purchasing products and services they didn't even know they
wanted, I mostly spend my time making life interesting for my wife Ellen and my young
son. I've been associated with Good Shepherd longer than you think, having participated
in the youth group's annual Wessendorff adventure every summer since the early, what,
2000s? In 2009 Nancy Browning decided that before she retired from youth work, she'd get
me to take my talents to the contemporary service, and I've been doing that ever since.
Aside from music and family, my favorite past times include watching sports, brewing
beer, and smoking meat.”
JoAnn (JoJo) Hocking has served as the Accountant for Good Shepherd since 2007.
Prior to taking on this task, JoJo retired from her career in the financial side of
the automobile sales industry where she served as the accountant and
comptroller for major dealerships. JoJo grew up and lived in the Fort Worth area,
moving to the Houston area in 1979. She has two children and one grandchild.
In addition to serving as our accountant, Jojo is an active parishioner, supporting
the EYC through volunteering to work the concession stand at Minute Maid Park
to fund our youth programs and teaching “Godly Play” in Sunday School.
From Linda Ansell :“I have been the Director of Good Shepherd Episcopal School
since 2004. I have taught pre-school for twenty-one years, the last fourteen at Good
Shepherd. I attended the University of Texas in Austin, majoring in Education. My
husband, Rick and I and our five children moved from Galveston to Friendswood in 1991
and joined Good Shepherd Church. My association with Good Shepherd Episcopal School
began when I enrolled my fourth child as a pre-school student. Prior to being employed
as a teacher at Good Shepherd, I served for five years on Good Shepherd School’s Board
of Directors. In addition to serving the school, I volunteer in support of the EYC.”
Good Shepherd is blessed with many faithful, dedicated, volunteer lay leaders, including over 25 ministry
leads, a 12 member Vestry, a Treasurer, a Communications lead, a Children’s Christian Formation Director,
and multiple office volunteers. Together with our gifted clergy and staff, they are the engine of Good
Shepherd’s success, and provide an essential framework for our future. Join us!
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Appendices
Fiftieth Anniversary~ Palm Sunday
2009
31

Good Shepherd Parish Statistics
32
Parish statistics are provided for 2007-2010. Statistics for 2000 also
provided to illustrate our growth over the past decade.
2010 2009 2008 2007 2000
Average Sun. Attendance 320 317 308 309 151
Joined via Liturgy of Belonging 44 17 43 56 n/a
Baptisms 26 15 12 9 15
Confirmations 7 17 8 16 0
Marriages 4 0 6 1 1
Easter Sun. Attendance 785 772 739 715 385

Demographics and Rector Profile Survey
We received 250 responses to our Parish Survey, which was conducted in May 2011.
Survey responses indicated 42 children under the age of 12 attend Good Shepherd.
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The History of Good Shepherd
34
In the beginning there were 17 sheep and one shepherd. On Palm Sunday
in 1959, the Rev. Mark Boesser, rector of St. Christopher’s Episcopal
Church, League City, held Good Shepherd’s first worship service in the
auditorium of the Friendswood School. In July 1959 a ground-breaking
ceremony was held on a five-acre prairie tract in Galveston County
located on the outskirts of Friendswood. The land had been purchased by
the Rt. Rev. John Hines, an extraordinary man of vision who later became
Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church.
The Rev. Boesser served as priest-in-charge until 1963 when the Rev. J.
Raper was appointed as the church’s vicar. The Rev. Bill Sterling served
Good Shepherd from 1966 until he was elected Bishop Suffragan of the
Diocese of Texas in 1989. For the first years, Good Shepherd continued to
hold services at Friendswood High School. It was an exciting time ---
NASA was developing its space program to put a man on the moon. Many
of the people moving to the area to work for NASA or NASA’s contractors
found their way to Friendswood and to Good Shepherd. Not only did they
work together, but they prayed together as well. Our first building, a
multi-purpose building designed for worship and community services,
was dedicated in June 1969.
Friendswood, originally founded by Quakers, still prohibited dancing.
Good Shepherd soon broke with the tradition and held the first high
school dances in Friendswood. From the beginning, Good Shepherd had a
reputation for offering sanctuary to those seeking it. The church doors
were never locked, allowing entry to those who wanted to pray or who
needed a place to escape or spend the night. Several people have shared
with us that our church was a haven for them when they had nowhere
else to go.
Good Shepherd obtained Parish status in 1977. In 1980, a new worship
space was completed. The Rev. Robert Wareing served Good Shepherd
from 1991 to 1999. On Palm Sunday, 1999, we dedicated our parish hall,
Sterling Hall, named in honor of former rector Bill Sterling and his wife
Evelyn. Considerable “sweat equity” was invested in the building of
Sterling Hall, with many parishioners sacrificing countless hours in
general planning and construction. The congregation participated in the
raising of the walls, and provided much of the interior work.

The History of Good Shepherd (cont’d)
This message from Good Shepherd’s 20-year anniversary
pamphlet still holds true today: “Good Shepherd has
continued to earn praise for the friendliness of its
people and its worship environment. It is not a
pretentious church. It is an active, worshipping
community of people who are dedicated to their
church and the Lord’s charge to be a servant to
others. A caring church community begins with the
leadership of the clergy and extends outward through
the entire congregation. This atmosphere of caring
appropriately explains the environment at Good
Shepherd. People care about one another in a special
kind of relationship that is difficult to describe but
impossible not to notice and cherish. This pastoral
relationship spreads outward to the community.”
This is the DNA of Good Shepherd, our story.
The Rev. James Nelson served Good Shepherd from 2000 to 2011. Our
most recent building project was the significant remodeling of our
worship space. We expanded the seating significantly, and added a
chapel, choir room, prayer room and Bride’s room/parlor. We
celebrated the grand opening and re-dedication of our beautiful
worship space on Pentecost Sunday, 2004. God has continued to bless
Good Shepherd over the past decade. We embraced our Vision of being
a sanctuary in early 2001. Our average Sunday attendance has more
than doubled from 151 in 2000 to 320 in 2010, and our capacity to
provide sanctuary in an atmosphere of love, security and support has
multiplied.
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Good Shepherd Campus and Facilities
36
The Good Shepherd campus includes 5 acres
of land, 4 buildings and covered walkways
between all buildings. Our worship building
was built in 2004. It includes our beautiful
Worship Space, a Chapel, a Bride’s Room/
Parlor, a Choir Room, 2 Vestry Rooms, a
spacious Narthex, and a Prayer Room.
Sterling Hall was built in 1999. It includes
our Parish Hall, a large, well equipped
kitchen, four classrooms, and Good
Shepherd Episcopal School offices on the
first floor, and a large “Upper Room” on the
second floor. The classrooms are used by
our School during the week and as Christian
Formation classrooms on Sundays. The
“Upper Room” is the EYC room.
The Laura Building was built in 1977. It
includes the Nursery, the Horizon School,
and a large multi-purpose classroom that is
used for Children’s Church and for Women’s
Bible Study.
Shepherd’s Hall was built in 1969. It was the
original church, and is now the
Administration Building. It includes Clergy,
staff and volunteer offices, a small kitchen
and a medium sized meeting room used by
multiple ministries and the Vestry.

Diocesan Vision
About the Diocese of Texas
The Rt. Rev. Charles Andrew Doyle, IX Bishop of Texas
As followers of Jesus Christ, we are One Church within the
Anglican Communion and The Episcopal Church. All are sought
and embraced in worship, mission and ministry in a spirit of
mutual love and respect. We are:
Youthful: Our congregations and institutions are continually renewed and
revitalized through the infusion and inclusion of younger members. Children, youth, young adults, their
friends and families, find in our diocese significant and engaging programs and ministries that inspire,
inform and support them on their Christian journey.
Multicultural: Our diocese is enriched through intentional efforts to reflect the communities in which we
live. People of diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds find respect, dignity and
opportunity in the life and ministry of the church.
Forming and Growing: Those seeking a deeper relationship with Jesus are nurtured and equipped to
share the love of Christ in the world. They find lifelong opportunities for spiritual formation and servant
leadership grounded in scripture and our historic catholic faith.
Reaching out to Serve: Those who serve and are served are transformed. People who are in need and
who struggle, find hope, care and restoration through the outreach and justice ministries provided by the
people of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
One Church: We are a united, vibrant, healthy and growing community of faith. The world will recognize
us as Jesus' disciples because we love one another as Christ loves us.
The Mission of the Diocese of Texas
We are one Church reconciled by Jesus Christ, empowered by
the Holy Spirit, called by God through worship, witness and
ministry, building the Kingdom of God together.
Find the Diocese of Texas on the web
http://www.epicenter.org
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Friendswood is serviced by two
excellent school districts, the
Friendswood Independent School
District (FISD) and the Clear Creek
Independent School District (CCISD).
FISD earned the Texas Education
Agency’s highest rating, Exemplary, in
2011. CCISD earned the second highest
rating, Recognized, in 2011.
For more information on these schools
and the city of Friendswood:
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City of Friendswood Website:
www.­ci.­friendswood.­tx.­us
Friendswood Area Schools Links:
Friendswood ISD
www.fisdk12.net
Clear Creek ISD
www2.ccisd.net
About Friendswood
Named by Family Circle Magazine and CNN Money as
one of the top places to live in the USA.
“When residents decided in 2008 that Friendswood needed a
veterans memorial, they raised $110,000 and got businesses to
donate materials and labor. Today, the monument, which
includes a steel flag flanked by granite columns, sits on a 3,500square-foot
site amid olive and oak.”

Victoria Seeks a Rector
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