A big thank you to our 18 Good Shepherd "grAmpedparents" who joined the youth back in November. Our Amped confirmation program is greatly blessed by these Good Shepherd members who adopt an Amped small group and engage in silliness, stillness, and storytelling a few times...
When I was in high school, I was in a production of a little known musical entitled Quilters. Prior to production, our director brought in various women to talk to us about their craft. We learned about the process, we learned about patterns, and we learned...
"Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) During this uncertain time, prayer gives us a way to feel connected to each other and Christ. It gives us something we can do to help each other and the world around us. It keeps us connected to and reminds...
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 of you have asked to see the list, so here is an updated—and by no means...
This Mission Moment is shared by Good Shepherd member Sara Ritter: I had an interesting encounter yesterday while grocery shopping, and it’s been in my head ever since and so I need to share it. I tried twice to tell this story verbally and both times...
What I Do Somewhere around the 7th chapter of Romans Paul writes a paragraph about sin and the law with so many linguistic twists that it can be dizzying to read. One sentence of that paragraph has always hit home for me, both within the context...
Prayer and Discernment in the Midst of Crisis These past weeks have had much to teach us and I, like you, have struggled to find meaning or purpose in what this time of quarantine, displacement, economic and public health crises will mean for us as human...
Innovation and Gratitude We continue to navigate our way through these trying and anxious times. I am amazed at the many innovative ways the Kingdom work of God can be accomplished while coping with social distancing, stress and the fear of the unknown! Thank you for continuing to pray for and support your church! I ask you make use of the myriad of tools...
How are we going to carry all this? Many summers of my college years were spent working as a counselor at Sugar Creek Bible Camp. One of the programs offered involved spending the week biking 100 miles on the Elroy Sparta bike trail and then canoeing...
Normalcy Disrupted Let's allow ourselves plenty of space to lament the disruption of normalcy. Let's grant ourselves permission to grieve the experiences we have lost, the time with friends and family we'll never get back, the memories we had hoped to form that will now exist...
We all want to serve, to help, to be of use to others in this time. The “rules of engagement” have changed but our desire to live out the teachings of Jesus are still alive. As other institutions, clubs, and initiatives take root and find their way...
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice!” (Psalms 130:1) Many of us grew up where Minnesota or Wisconsin “nice” was expected, particularly in the church and with God. The psalmists weren’t from Midwest USA. They cried out to God in their...
We are the church together Do you remember that children’s rhyme- here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors and see all the people? While cute and catchy, it is not really accurate because we know the church is not a building. The...
Free to Respond to the Moment Whenever we take our youth and adults away on trips and retreats, we always talk upfront about the anxiousness that will come when we step out of our routine - about the discomfort we will feel when our preferences no...
It’s St. Patrick’s Day! Throughout history different cultures, denominations, and worshipping communities have given gifts to the entire body of Christ through their particular language, music, and tradition. The Celtic tradition has a deep relationship with the ritual and language of blessing which has become a gift...