Shepherd's Heart 8/1/25
I love the Church! From the time I was a young boy, I have developed a deep love for the Church. Looking back, I believe it was the guidance of my mom that planted the seed. Along the way, I had a local church that brought connection to God and community with people who would care about who I was and help me identify who I was becoming as a child of God. As I grew in years, I became aware that Jesus loved the Church too! He called the Church “His Body” and proclaimed that the Church would never be destroyed.
Paul speaks about “The Body of Christ” in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 as a place where each of us uses our gifts, knit together, to glorify God, support and care for each other, and proclaim God’s greatness to all so that all may know Him!
Good Shepherd is “The Body of Christ”, people gathered in the Name of Jesus to proclaim and serve. From the pages of the Bible, we learn that we all have a part to play in the Church. Hopefully, you have discovered and engaged the best way to let your light shine at Good Shepherd!
As pastors, we have a role to play on behalf of God and every person who is part of the Body of Christ at Good Shepherd. We preach, lead, care for those who are going through difficult times, and, of great importance, we preside at the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism. Because there is a great need for the Body at Good Shepherd to have someone at all services preside over the table at Communion and the font at Baptism, three additional people have been identified to help in the administering of Sacraments.
Pastor Tara Beth communicated in a Shepherd’s Heart article a few weeks back, the Church Council has set aside three additional individuals who will participate as Ministers of Word & Sacrament. We are so thankful for the work that Ryan Hammer, Elisabeth Lectka, and Max Schiewe will engage in. Elisabeth, having completed Seminary, is nearing Ordination, and both Ryan & Max are deep into their Seminary education. Ryan, Elisabeth, and Max have all been guided and educated by our pastors into this special ministry of Word & Sacrament. In the days to come, you will not only hear from them as they preach, you will also see them participating in Holy Communion as well as Baptism. You will see them in traditional settings wearing albs as a traditional garment worn during worship and upon ordination, stoles will be worn. The stoles worn by pastors signify ordination, while an alb is a sacred garment for worship.
The early church often set aside people to have significant roles in the Body. Steven and others were identified to help those in need. Deacons were identified to help in the pastoral role, and there were those being mentored by Paul, such as Timothy and Barnabas, to serve and lead.
As we bring a new identity to three people in the Body at Good Shepherd, pray for them and the role that they now serve. We give thanks for the identification of the gifts that Ryan, Elisabeth, and Max engage to support the Body of Christ at Good Shepherd.
Oh, how I love the Church!
Pastor Greg
Paul speaks about “The Body of Christ” in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 as a place where each of us uses our gifts, knit together, to glorify God, support and care for each other, and proclaim God’s greatness to all so that all may know Him!
Good Shepherd is “The Body of Christ”, people gathered in the Name of Jesus to proclaim and serve. From the pages of the Bible, we learn that we all have a part to play in the Church. Hopefully, you have discovered and engaged the best way to let your light shine at Good Shepherd!
As pastors, we have a role to play on behalf of God and every person who is part of the Body of Christ at Good Shepherd. We preach, lead, care for those who are going through difficult times, and, of great importance, we preside at the Sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism. Because there is a great need for the Body at Good Shepherd to have someone at all services preside over the table at Communion and the font at Baptism, three additional people have been identified to help in the administering of Sacraments.
Pastor Tara Beth communicated in a Shepherd’s Heart article a few weeks back, the Church Council has set aside three additional individuals who will participate as Ministers of Word & Sacrament. We are so thankful for the work that Ryan Hammer, Elisabeth Lectka, and Max Schiewe will engage in. Elisabeth, having completed Seminary, is nearing Ordination, and both Ryan & Max are deep into their Seminary education. Ryan, Elisabeth, and Max have all been guided and educated by our pastors into this special ministry of Word & Sacrament. In the days to come, you will not only hear from them as they preach, you will also see them participating in Holy Communion as well as Baptism. You will see them in traditional settings wearing albs as a traditional garment worn during worship and upon ordination, stoles will be worn. The stoles worn by pastors signify ordination, while an alb is a sacred garment for worship.
The early church often set aside people to have significant roles in the Body. Steven and others were identified to help those in need. Deacons were identified to help in the pastoral role, and there were those being mentored by Paul, such as Timothy and Barnabas, to serve and lead.
As we bring a new identity to three people in the Body at Good Shepherd, pray for them and the role that they now serve. We give thanks for the identification of the gifts that Ryan, Elisabeth, and Max engage to support the Body of Christ at Good Shepherd.
Oh, how I love the Church!
Pastor Greg
Posted in Shepherds Heart