We're a growing congregation of people young and old who hunger for the presence of Jesus.
Ministries & Commissions at Church of the Good Shepherd
Our Mission & Vision
Our mission is simple…
Revealing God’s love and spreading this love to others.
Welcome to the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd!
We are a loving community that loves the Lord! We worship, pray, receive from God in Word and Sacraments, and then go out to do His work. Loving and serving the Lord has been in the DNA of Good Shepherd since its beginning with Bishop Whipple in 1883. We still reach out to serve the community, continuing the Food Pantry, started by Bishop Whipple’s wife, Cornelia.
We are blessed to have an historic chapel and a beautiful church. And we love having fun as a church family! From community events to fellowship gatherings, we believe in the joy of togetherness.
Please come and visit us. If you have any questions, please email me or call the church office. We are happy to have someone sit with you during service or answer any questions you may have.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Blessings,
Mother Sara+
Our Beliefs & Values
We believe in a God who transforms lives by forgiving sin, healing the sick, saving the lost, and restoring joy to the weary. We believe that God is love and proved it by sending his Son. “God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
We believe the Bible is the perfect Word of God, is authoritative and life-giving in all it teaches. Most importantly, the Bible leads us to the living Jesus (see John 5:39).
Our beliefs can be summarized in the words of the Apostles Creed:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Who We Are
Our Team & Leadership
The Rev. Sara M. Oxley
Mother Sara came to Good Shepherd in August 2023. Before serving at Good Shepherd, she served at St. Mark’s in Cocoa as the Interim Rector, and as Priest in Charge at Ascension in Orlando. She has a Master’s in Pastoral Ministry (M. Div. equivalent) from Nashotah House. Prior to her ordination into the priesthood, she was a nurse with Orlando Health in several different roles. She has a Master’s in Bioethics and a Master’s in Nursing Education.
Rev. Sara Oxley not only serves the Good Shepherd community is also a member of the Standing Committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida, a testament to her trusted leadership. Her election to the General Convention deputation for 2024 further showcases her capabilities. Additionally, she leads the Central Florida Women’s Clergy group, a role that highlights her commitment to fostering community and support.
Mtr. Sara and her husband, Les, have two grown daughters. She enjoys cats, Zumba and Barré classes, singing, cooking, and the theme parks in Orlando.
Karl Stephens
Sexton / Maintenance & Grounds
Lisa Mouton
Parish Administrator
