Two years ago, the Council created strategic focus areas of: children, youth, families; belonging; spiritual growth and; service. Considerable progress has been made and many strategies have been completed as a result of those plans. I ask that you Click on the link below to read the brief report. It's just three easy pages to read! 

This plan was not just intended for the Council to work on. It is for all of us to work on! You will see for each area of the plan we have created specific asks of you, the members of this congregation.

As shared at the Annual Meeting, we have one big, foundational goal for 2024:

Throughout the year, we will be inviting your participation, specifically to participate in listening sessions and informational sessions. We have developed an Asset Development Team comprised of the chairs of the Finance, Endowment, Stewardship, Facilities Management and Planning (FMPC) Committees as well as the current president, president-elect and Lead Pastor. We are excited to learn and grow through deliberative, discernment process.

Good Shepherd is a wonderful place to be known, to know others, to do ministry and grow spiritually. I continue to pray God's blessings on us as we seek to share the good news of God's love to each other, our neighbors and the world.

Peace,

Jill Thompson

GSLC Council President

There are few church capital projects that appear less exciting than redoing a parking lot. It’s just the place we park, right? Ministry happens in the building, right? On the surface (pun intended), that may seem to be the case, but in truth, our parking lot is a holy space where incredible ministry happens.

One of my most cherished memories at Good Shepherd is captured in these photos of my boys. I still remember the summer sweat on their tiny faces, as they enjoyed their popcicles with the sticky hands of four-year-olds. It was our first year in a new city, and our twins were going to start kindergarten in a new place. They were nervous and scared because they knew so few people. Then VBS happened. It was a magical week of intergenerational community, faith, and joy. This was a pivotal moment that helped our kids move from strangers to family. The games, fellowship, and care they experienced out on that pavement showed them God’s love.

I'll never forget standing on the south, outdoor stairwell looking out over that parking lot on that first, frigid, Christmas Eve of the pandemic in 2020. I looked out at rows and rows of cars gathered together after so much time apart, to celebrate the good news of Jesus coming to this earth. We lamented the pain of that season, which only strengthened our sense of connection to the nativity and all the struggles that Mary and Joseph experienced.

One Saturday this past December, I pulled up to the church for Emily Hintz's memorial service. Emily was a beloved young adult from Good Shepherd, who had a tremendous impact on our kids. Her life radiated God’s joy and love. Her passing, after a long fight with cancer, was mourned deeply by many, many people, so the sanctuary was filled. It was a rainy day, and as I watched people walk from their cars up to the church, I was so grateful we had this space. We had room for people to come, grieve, and find hope in the resurrection. The hospitality our space provided, that day, was an invaluable ministry.

Each weekday young parents drive through this same parking lot as they drop off and pick up their precious little ones for preschool. We can provide this safe, beautiful space for them to learn, grow, and come to know the love of Jesus Christ.

At first glance, a parking lot may not seem like the most exciting ministry to support, but it is foundational. When you give to Good Shepherd’s Capital Reserve fund, you enable us to do projects like this that build a solid foundation for ministry now and far into the future. Thank you for supporting the ministry we do today, and for building a strong future for the Good Shepherd of tomorrow.

In Christ,

Josh Brecht

Wondering what the Capital Reserve is? Why we have envelopes designated for it?

In March, you will see the lower parking lot being paved. We were advised by three separate contractors that it was at the end of its useful lifespan, and without attention the paved surface would disintegrate into gravel. Resurfacing the lot now will cost $58,000. If we were to wait and allow it to deteriorate further, it would necessitate a complete excavation and rebuild which would be far more costly. We are not certain, but we think this lot was originally paved in the early 2000s when the gymnasium was built.

Last spring we replaced two large rooftop HVAC unites (which heat and cool the Sanctuary and the East side of the building) at a cost of $300,000. The old equipment no longer had replacement parts available. We installed these just in time for our very hot summer and a very cold period this winter. The operating costs were significantly lower, and we were more comfortable!

The costs of these large-scale projects are funded by your generosity through the Capital Reserve account. Our building and grounds are a wonderful legacy passed down to us from our Good Shepherd predecessors. We average 30 groups, teams, ministries that meet (plus Building Blocks preschool) every week at Good Shepherd. From young children, to CGs, to everything in between. The oldest part of our facility dates to the 1960’s with subsequent additions in the 1980s, 1990s, early 2000s, plus the kitchen, bathrooms, and upper parking lot in the past 6 years. As parking lots, equipment, and interiors wear out, they need to be replaced or upgraded. These updates keep our space both safe and inviting, creating a place where God’s work can continue.

These types of ongoing updates are where our Capital Reserve fund is key. By keeping funds available in an account such as this, we can replace and upgrade when things are required without the need to have a special appeal to the congregation for every project. Council and staff work hard to steward our resources well and manage our operating budget wisely. The Capital Reserve provides us the ability to stay within budget while still providing what is needed for us to come today and do ministry as God’s people at Good Shepherd. Thank you for your support of this important kingdom work as we follow Christ, grow in faith, and share God’s love.

Sincerely,

Mike Kelley

Facilities Management & Planning Committee Chair

On Friday, February 2, a group of 30 men from Good Shepherd headed out for Dig Deeper, our men’s retreat. We spent the weekend at Camp Wartburg in Waterloo, IL, where we learned, prayed, shared, and worshipped together.

Friday night we got to know one another, enjoyed some fellowship and game time after we studied the pattern of the Lord’s Prayer and learned new ways to pray in our everyday life.

Saturday was a great day of learning. We each shared different meaningful experiences and aspects of our lives. There were sessions led by members to learn and grow in our faith together, and we took time to share our experiences of being involved in the ministry of Good Shepherd. Some of the group helped clear out trees and brush for the camp’s archery area. (Yes, chainsaws were used! No, we did not have any injuries!) We ended the evening with a rousing, “Brews & Hymns” style campfire.

Sunday morning, we finished the weekend with a time of worship and Holy Communion together. It was an amazing time of connecting with new people (and old friends), growing spiritually, and being renewed and reenergized for the ministry God has called us to in our daily lives.

While the retreat is over, the momentum is just beginning. You can experience this phenomenal community through our monthly Men’s Ministry, Basecamp on Sunday March 3.

Thank you to all those who attended and helped plan and lead this wonderful event, and we give thanks to God for all the ways the Holy Spirit moved through this weekend.

Here are a few words from our participants.

"I was very excited to attend the Men's Retreat recently near Waterloo. I made some new friends and developed a better understanding of our church members. Everyone was very welcoming and kind. The portion of the Retreat that I found the most meaningful was when we talked about the object that each of us had brought to share. I was reminded about an experience that I had when another member talked about when he saw the Swiss Alps for the first time. I was reminded of our Heavenly Father's strength and how beautiful His work is when we view it through the Holy Spirit. I usually attend the 11:00 AM service but I will be attending other services so that I can maintain relationships that were formed."

- Sal Francis

"As we neared the weekend of the retreat, I certainly had some anxiety, as most folks do with new experiences. Would I have a good time? Would I feel welcome? Would I get anything out of it? Now, looking back on the weekend, I'm happy I went. It was an enjoyable break from the "daily grind" and an opportunity to meet other men in the congregation and focus on where I am in my faith. My concerns about being welcomed were unfounded; folks immediately welcomed me and began to form connections. It is incredible how the Lord works: in a men's retreat in a congregation in Missouri, I met others in the congregation who have connections to Montana, where I grew up. What a small world it is! The most rewarding and replenishing aspect of the retreat was seeing that it's OK, perhaps normal, to struggle with your faith. I have certainly had my ups and downs in my walk with Christ; knowing that others have had similar experiences is quite a relief. Knowing that there are others I can talk to, others I can reach out to for advice, and others who genuinely care and will listen is reassuring. Another benefit of our weekend away is feeling recharged, not just for the next week, but energized to get involved. Seeing and hearing how others' involvement in the church and its ministries has impacted their lives has me wanting the same thing for myself."

- Tyler Sassaman

I was only 22 years old when a young boy on the roadside in Ghana changed my perspective forever. I was volunteering with a ministry team in West Africa for 4 months. Our team of six was traveling with a Lutheran missionary from Minnesota for a few weeks in the rural northern region of the country.

Each morning, we would cram into a small Toyota pickup truck to head out for a day of ministry. (Four-wheel drive was a must, but seatbelts were optional/limited!) On this particular day, it was hot. It was the dry season and there was not a cloud in sight. As the dust flew up behind us, we were approaching a small, rural village when one of the tires blew out. We parked and began to assess the situation. Thankfully our missionary guide was wise enough to always carry a spare tire! As we began to change the tire, a group of children that had been playing nearby came over to see what was going on. One of the younger boys (maybe 5 or 6 years old), looked at us with a puzzled expression. Then his eyes lit up, and he said something to his friends, (in Twi) and sprinted off!

About five minutes later he came running back, but now rolling an old bicycle tire he was moving along with a stick! It was a skilled game they would play with what was undoubtedly one of the only toys they had. He ran up to us, breathing heavily with sweat dripping down his little face, and offered us the tire. With joy in his eyes and a smile on his face, he generously offered us the only toy in his possession, an old tire, to help us in our time of need.

Obviously, we thanked him and graciously declined the gift. Yet he gave me a gift that has forever changed me. He gave the gift of seeing through different eyes.

He saw a need and said, “how can I help?” This April we have an opportunity to help. I am so grateful for where I live, yet I know that I am sheltered, isolated for the tremendous need in the world. I know poverty and hunger persist, and although I want to make a difference, sometimes I don’t know where to start. I am certain that our schools, our neighborhoods, our workplaces are filled with others that share this struggle, saying to themselves,

You have the answer. One of the most impactful, exciting, and effective ways to make a difference is through the ministry of Feed My Starving Children. This April, Feed the Need, STL hosts our mobile pack at Queeney Park. We plan to pack 1.25 million meals, providing 5000 volunteer opportunities to make a difference!

When your friends, neighbors, co-workers, or classmates are wondering, “how can I help?” invite them into this incredible opportunity. Together, we can make a tremendous impact in the lives of thousands of kids, just like that small boy in Ghana who made such an impact on my heart.

Good Shepherd has an ambitious goal for two packings shifts. Sign up for either or both today!

GOAL: 200 Volunteers

STATUS: 166 Volunteers (34 more to go!)

GOAL: 500 Volunteers

STATUS: 215 Volunteers (385 more to go!)