The Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd is the pink church at 903 Charles Street in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Its identity is closely tied to service to the neighborhood and a meaningful experience for members. The mission that joins those priorities is simple to state: worship God, serve neighbors, and proclaim the Good News of God's love for all.
Two Sunday Services and Thursday Healing
Good Shepherd is an Episcopal church in the Diocese of West Virginia. Sunday worship follows two forms: Rite 1 Holy Communion at 8:00 a.m. and Rite 2 at 10:15 a.m. The 10:15 service is also identified as a family service with music. Everyone is welcome to attend worship, and all baptized Christians are welcome to receive Holy Communion. The Rector leads the services. On most Thursdays, the church gathers at 1:00 p.m. for a Service of Healing and Communion.
At every Sunday service, three lessons are read or recited by the congregation: one from the Old Testament, two from the New Testament, and a psalm. The sermon is always based on the Bible. Communion early on the first day of the week is a practice traced to the time of the Acts of the Apostles. Worship is also livestreamed through Facebook Live. Christmas, Lenten, and Easter services bring together the organist, choir, acolytes, Altar Guild, and Welcome Team.
Episcopal Faith Rooted in Scripture
Good Shepherd describes itself as Catholic in the sense of the one, ancient, undivided Church, the whole Body of Christ, and as Anglican, or English, within that Church. It is not Roman Catholic. The church traces its history from the Roman Catholic Church after the English Reformation and retained the style of worship and spirituality, the holy orders of bishops, priests, and deacons, and infant baptism. It has no pope; it has the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Bible is understood as the supreme, authoritative Word of God, read through prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Good Shepherd teaches that sin acts as a barrier between people and God and between people and one another, and that the Church exists for repentant sinners. Baptism makes a person a full member of the Church, and people baptized as children typically make Confirmation around age 12. The church also holds that the Bible does not forbid women or married people from serving as priests. Frequent Communion is understood as receiving God's grace in remembrance of Jesus and for forgiveness of sins.
Membership follows a defined path. An unbaptized person can receive instruction in the Christian faith and baptism. A baptized person can become an Episcopalian through additional instruction about the Episcopal Church and confirmation by the bishop, joining the worldwide Anglican Communion. Before Communion, worshippers repent and confess their sins.
Learning Around the Table and in the Word
Christian formation at Good Shepherd takes a friendly approach to the life of Jesus Christ and is offered to members and prospective members. During Lent, the parish holds a weekly potluck supper and program. A Sunday morning Book Group and three lay-led Bible Study sessions each week offer additional ways to study the faith and enjoy the company of fellow parishioners. These activities create a regular rhythm of worship, conversation, Scripture study, and shared meals.
Beyond scheduled gatherings, Christian formation is woven into parish life. Young people read Scripture during services, serve as acolytes, and take part in drama, while the three Bible Study sessions give adults repeated opportunities to return to Scripture. The emphasis is on education that helps people know the life of Christ and grow in Christian living.
Young People Serving, Learning, and Belonging
Children are involved in the everyday life of the church and are encouraged to grow in Christian living from an early age. They can serve as acolytes, read Bible passages during worship, help with outreach, and act in occasional drama productions. The Drama Club practices after the 10:15 a.m. service and presents original plays several times a year during that service. Preteens and teens can join EYF, the Episcopal Youth Fellowship, for service projects and outings such as ski trips. The Acolyte Program is Good Shepherd's most active youth program.
Food Ministries and Care for the Neighborhood
Food ministries and Adopted Families Christmas gifts are among the church's outreach ministries, extending its concern for neighbors into the greater Parkersburg community and beyond. The Parish Mission Prayer expresses the path directly: grow in faith and knowledge of God, carry forward the Gospel message of love and forgiveness, reach out as God's hands to people in need, especially in the neighborhood, and broaden and deepen love for one another.
Gifts support food ministries, Adopted Families, and the everyday work of the church, including utilities, maintenance, and salaries. Online gifts can be made through the church's giving form. Shoppers can also designate The Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd as their Kroger Community Rewards charity, with their own rewards continuing to accrue.
Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals, and Bailey Parlor
Good Shepherd offers Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals to current and past parishioners, as well as non-parishioners who want to accept Christ into their lives and live as Christians through the covenant of Baptism. When appropriate, the Rector provides pre-counseling before a ceremony. The church also welcomes people who wish to marry or have a child baptized. After a service, arrangements can be made for a gathering in Bailey Parlor through Linda Crocker, the Parish Ministries Coordinator.
A Pink Identity with a Three-Part Mission
The people behind Good Shepherd's worship and service include Rector The Rev. Katie Beth Miksa, Music Director Scotty Rockhold, and Parish Ministries Coordinator Linda Crocker. Their work, together with the choir, acolytes, lay teachers, and many other members, supports the church's distinctive mix of neighborhood outreach, Christian formation, and community gathering. Good Shepherd's pink identity is paired with a three-part mission that reaches from its neighborhood to the greater Parkersburg community and beyond: worship God, serve neighbors, and proclaim the Good News of God's love for all.