Good Shepherd Episcopal Church Hayesville invites the public to a special service called Evensong, to be held Sunday evening October 20 at 5:00 p.m. at Good Shepherd, located at 495 Herbert Hills Drive, about one mile east of Kerr Drugs. Father Bill Breedlove, Rector of Good Shepherd, will give the homily, and the choir will participate.

In the Anglican tradition, Evensong is a service of Evening Prayer that is mostly chanted instead of said. According to Father Bill, “The origins of Evening Prayer come from monastic communities of the Medieval period. What we will be doing is participating in an ancient monastic practice that was, through the Book of Common Prayer, given to all people in the church as a way of worship.” To make people feel more comfortable, especially if they are non- Episcopalians, Father Bill explains that when prayers and psalms are chanted, they are “sorta sung rather than said.”

This year's Evensong will observe the Feast of St. Luke. Members of the Order of St. Luke the Physician, an international organization with a chapter at Good Shepherd, have been invited to attend and will called to the altar rail for a blessing on their healing ministry. Good Shepherd is known in the community for its healing ministry, which is available to anyone who needs it, not just church members.