Posts by Chris Enstad
Omicron update from Pastor Chris
Dear siblings in Christ, After two years, we continue to wrestle with COVID-19. The recent surge in the Omicron variant has led to more anxiety and confusion. Our mental and…
Read MoreLooking Back to the Future
We write to update you on the vision, mission and planning for our church as we move out of the pandemic into a new day. Four years ago, we embarked…
Read MoreReopening Updates from Pr. Chris Enstad
Dear siblings in Christ, I am thrilled to announce the Good Shepherd Executive Committee, acting on recommendations from the COVID-19 Task Force, has authorized a return to in-person worship starting…
Read MoreReconciliation
A long time ago, as a student in seminary, I was pulled into an extremely heated debate regarding full communion with the Episcopal Church. I was a very polemic voice…
Read MoreAdvent Reflection | Wednesday, December 23
Today’s A Weary World Rejoices story comes from Pastor Chris Enstad: Human beings are not built for waiting. All of the parts that God has knit together into our bodies speak…
Read MoreCh-Ch-Ch-Changes
Change your Mind The ability of human beings to change our minds forms the basis of how we live our lives together. It is a noble and somewhat comforting thing…
Read MoreWorkers in God’s Field
Wait, what? The parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 20: 1-16) is about… what, exactly? Well first of all, let us beware that Jesus is certainly making God…
Read MoreRevision to Forward Together Reopening Plan
Good Shepherd Board approves revision to Forward Together reopening plan Dear Friends and Family at Good Shepherd, This week, the Good Shepherd Board approved changes to our reopening plans that…
Read MoreThe Sun Sets on a GSLC Summer | Update from Pr. Chris Enstad
The “Sunshine List” Last Sunday, I referenced a “Sunshine List” that our Director of Faith Formation, Sarah Iverson, compiled as we prepared for our online Congregational Meeting in June. Many…
Read MoreWeekly Pastor Letter | July 9, 2020
Dear siblings in Christ at Good Shepherd, Thank you for attending our first, and hopefully only, virtual Town Hall Meeting on June 28. I was so humbled by the stories that…
Read MoreJesus Christ, Our Propitiation
Translating the Good News The Christian Church on earth is being called on to take up the challenge of translating what it really means in this time to confess allegiance…
Read MorePastoral Letter From Pastor Chris Enstad
Dear friends & family at Good Shepherd, In the last two weeks our nation surpassed over 100,000 individual lives lost to the pandemic. In that time, grief has compounded grief as the death…
Read MoreSpecial Prayer Service | Monday, June 1
We Pray Together
We gather together to pray for our city and our nation. Join us live at 10:00 a.m. wherever you are.
A Prayer for the Power of the Spirit among the People of God
—
God of all power and love, we give thanks for your unfailing presence
and the hope you provide in times of uncertainty and loss.
Send your Holy Spirit to enkindle in us your holy fire.
Revive us to live as Christ’s body in the world:
a people who pray, worship, learn, break bread, share life, heal neighbors,
bear good news, seek justice, rest and grow in the Spirit.
Wherever and however we gather,
unite us in common prayer and send us in common mission,
that we and the whole creation might be restored and renewed,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The (Other) Lord’s Prayer
Pausing in Prayer Prayer is one of the toughest habits to get into in this day and age. With the busyness of daily life, we start and end our days…
Read MoreA COVID-19 Update from our Lead Pastor and Board President
Dear family & friends at Good Shepherd, Over this past week, our COVID-19 Task Force met to come up with recommendations on how to move forward as a congregation in…
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