The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, in Summerville SC, lost its building back in OCT 2012 because of the decision by Mark Lawrence and those he leads to exit the Episcopal Church and go it alone. In need of a temporary home for worship while other arrangements were made the parish remnant was offered space at Wesley United Methodist Church. The Church of the Good Shepherd met at Wesley UMC for two and a half years. This past Sunday, 12 JUL, the parish met one last time at Wesley UMC for a joint service of the two congregations as the Methodist parish, led by it’s pastor, the Revd Judith Knox, bid the Good Shepherd folks God Speed as they were about to settled into a new home of their own. As the joint service was concluding, Pastor Knox called the Good Shepherd members forward. They were then surrounded by the Wesley folks as together they gave thanks for the two and a half years of a shared journey that has resulted in new partnerships between the two congregations.
“The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth for evermore.”
The following Sunday, 19 JUL, the Church of the Good Shepherd was joined in their new building by their bishop, the Rt Revd Charles vonRosenberg, Bishop of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina, as the parish and its clergy, the Rev. Colton Smith and priest-in-charge, the Rev. Alastair Votaw celebrated the first service.
Photo & story covered by the Summerville Journal Scene.