Christmas Season at Good Shepherd

As we approach the Christmas season, we invite you to share in the joy, hope, and love that comes with the birth of our Savior. This is a time for celebration, connection, and generosity. At Good Shepherd, we have several opportunities for you to engage in meaningful giving, participate in festive events, and attend inspiring worship services that bring our community together.
Serving Opportunity

Help Make Christmas Special at Good Shepherd

Christmas at Good Shepherd is a meaningful and memorable experience, made possible by God’s provision and the dedication of our volunteers. Help us make Good Shepherd a place of belonging for everyone this season by getting involved in one of the serving opportunities below.

UPCOMING WORSHIP SERVICES

Coming Together in Worship & Celebration

Join us as we come together in worship, reflection, and joy this season. This time of year offers a chance to gather, reflect, and celebrate the blessings in our lives and the gift of Christ’s love. We welcome you to be part of these meaningful moments with our church family.
Monday, December 2

Family Advent Night Worship Service

Come together as a community to prepare our hearts for the joyous celebration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. This special service is a wonderful opportunity for families—kids, teens, parents, and grandparents—to worship together. We invite you to bring a friend or neighbor to join in this meaningful time of worship — and pizza!
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If you can arrive early, we’d love for you to share a pizza dinner with us at 5:15 pm. The cost is just $5 per person or $20 per family, and we’ll be serving pizza (with a gluten-free option!), veggies, and cookies. Please register here so we know to expect you!

Afterward, we’ll head upstairs to the Worship Center at 6 pm to kick off Advent together as a family. We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

  • Pizza Dinner — 5:15pm ($5/person, $20/family)
  • Service — 6:00pm
Register Now
Thurs, Dec 12 — Fri, Dec 13

Encounter Christmas

This Christmas, give yourself the gift of quiet reflection and peace at Encounter Christmas—an offering designed to help you unplug from the busyness and noise of the world. This year, we’ll focus on the Prince of Peace, embracing the true meaning of the season.
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Join us for this meaningful time of worship at the following service times:

  • Thursday, December 12th — 7:00pm
  • Friday, December 13th — 5:45pm and 7:45pm

We’ll also host an online watch party on Tuesday, December 17th at 6pm.
Save Your Seat
Saturday, December 21

Blue Christmas Service

Our Blue Christmas Service offers a comforting space for families and individuals navigating sorrow during the holiday season. We recognize the tension of a season filled with joy and anticipation for Jesus’ birth while carrying the weight of life’s challenges—loss, divorce, addiction, estranged relationships, and more. Join us for an evening of prayer, Christmas music, and reflection as we acknowledge our pain and entrust it to Jesus. 
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"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer."
– Romans 12:12

Contact Pastor Pamela Palmer for more information.

Monday, December 23

Christmas Eve Eve Services

Everyone is welcome to join us as we celebrate Christmas Eve a day early! If you call Good Shepherd home, or will be traveling on Christmas Eve, join us on December 23rd. By attending early, you’ll help make room for guests and newcomers on Christmas Eve, creating a welcoming space for all.
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  • Contemporary Service — 5:00pm
    • Nursery Staffed
    • Disability Ministry Support Available
  • Contemporary Service — 7:00pm
    • Nursery Open

Please register ahead of time if your family is in need of support from our disability ministry for the indicated services.
Register Now
Tuesday, December 24

Christmas Eve Services

Join us for Christmas Eve services as we prepare our hearts for the birth of Christ! Christmas Eve is a wonderful tradition at Good Shepherd, and we would love for you and your family to be a part of it.
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  • Family Service — 12:00pm*
    • Nursery Open
  • Traditional Services — 3:00pm & 5:00pm
    • Nursery Staffed at 3pm
    • Disability Ministry Support Available at 3pm
    • Nursery open at 5pm services
  • Contemporary Services — 3:00pm & 5:00pm*
    • Nursery Staffed at 3pm
    • Disability Ministry Support Available at 3pm
    • Nursery open at 5pm services
  • Traditional Service — 7:30pm*
    • Nursery Open
  • Acoustic Service — 11:00pm
    • Nursery Open

Please register ahead of time if your family is in need of support from our disability ministry for the indicated services.

* indicates service will be livestreamed

Register Now
Sunday, December 29

Christmas Sunday Service

Join us for a special family-oriented Christmas Sunday service. We’ll come together in the Sanctuary to worship, enjoy fun activities, and explore deeper truths from classic Christmas movies. Feel free to bring the whole family in pajamas or your favorite ugly Christmas sweaters—whatever makes you feel comfortable!
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Please note that while the nursery and Fusion programming will run as usual, there will be no other kids’ ministry that day. We can’t wait to celebrate Christmas with you and your family!

  • Family Service — 9:00am*
    • Staffed Nursery
    • Disability Ministry Support Available
  • Family Service — 10:45am
    • Staffed Nursery

Please register ahead of time if your family is in need of support from our disability ministry for the indicated services.

* indicates service will be livestreamed
Register Now
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES

Giving the Gift of Hope

This season, give the best gift of all - the gift of hope - to our neighbors and the world around us!  Whether it is a simple shoebox with needed personal items and toys, meal kits with essential supplies for struggling families, or holiday gifts for foster children and seniors who often feel forgotten, your generosity makes a difference. This is the true spirit of the season: bringing joy to both the giver and the recipient.
Dupage Care Center Gifts For Seniors (Final Collection — 12/1)
Good Shepherd has adopted a list of 75 residents—ranging in age up to 108!—at DuPage Care Center, where we serve monthly. Sign up to sponsor a resident and shop their holiday wish list, then return your gift by December 1st. Your generosity will let each resident experience God’s immeasurable love through this special gift!

Sign Up 

Drop off your gift at Good Shepherd by Sunday, December 1.
Lutheran Social Services Gifts For Children In Foster Care (Final Collection — 12/8)
Children in the foster care system often come from challenging backgrounds and can feel overlooked, especially during the holidays. This year, Good Shepherd is partnering with Lutheran Social Services to bring hope and joy to 40 children in foster care. Select a child from our list, shop for gifts from their wish list, and return your gifts by December 8 or sooner. Join us in showing these children they are seen, loved, and valued—by us and by God—in this season of hope!

Sign Up

Drop off your gift at Good Shepherd by Sunday, December 8.
Cherish Watoto Kenya Christmas Essentials Meal Kit (Final Collection — 12/15)
Good Shepherd supports 240 children through Cherish Watoto Kenya, and as their school year ends after November’s national exams, many will return to families in the surrounding slums. Though about 60 children live at Cherish, most of our students will be at home until school resumes in January. Sadly, for many, this means facing the holiday season without a daily meal, as families in Nairobi survive on roughly $2.00 a day.

We’re committed to closing this gap! Join us in providing life-sustaining meal kits for each student’s family during the holiday break. This impactful gift can make a world of difference, nourishing both bodies and spirits.

It’s easy to help:

  1. Enter your donation amount. A $40 donation will fill a meal kit for one student, or $70 will provide a family-size meal kit.

  2. In the memo line, select “Holiday Meal Kit.”

  3. Choose your payment option—and that’s it! You’ve helped provide a life-sustaining gift to feed a student and their family this Christmas.

Gift a Meal Kit
UPCOMING EVENTS

Festive Events for Fun & Connection

Come connect, celebrate, and enjoy the joy of community! Our calendar is packed with festive events designed to bring us together. Whether you’re looking to make new friends or spend quality time with loved ones, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Join us as we celebrate the season, make memories, and share in the fun and fellowship that make this time of year so special!
Sunday, December 1

All Abilities Christmas Vendor Fair

Front Porch Church and Good Shepherd’s Fusion Ministry are excited to bring you another All Abilities Vendor Fair in celebration of Christmas!
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Kids: Santa will be making a guest appearance (don't miss giving him your Christmas wish list!)

Parents: There will be several raffles you won't want to miss out on! Wine tasting events, amusement park tickets, spa days etc. You MUST be in attendance at the service in order to win!

As the Vendor Fair wraps up at 5:30 pm, we invite you to stay and experience a special Front Porch Church service from 6–7 pm. This is a service you won’t want to miss!

  • Vendor Fair — 2:30-5:30pm
  • Service — 6:00-7:00pm
  • Front Porch Church — 1635 Emerson Lane, Naperville
Tuesday, December 3

Women’s Ministry Christmas Brunch

Join us for brunch and "shopping with a cause," featuring over 10 vendors offering Christmas gifts that support their ministries or organizations — items include scented soaps, lawn decor, Christmas items, coffee, jewelry, baked goods, and more!
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Enjoy an inspiring and thought-provoking talk by Dawn Pulgine, titled "Gabriel's Message, Mary's Response." In this special event, Dawn will explore the topic of Angels: Who They Are, What They Do, and What We Can Learn from the Christmas Story. Drawing from Luke 1:26-38, she will delve into the fascinating role angels play in the Bible, focusing on the angel Gabriel's visit to Mary and her faithful response.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain fresh insights into the Christmas narrative and deepen your understanding of God's messengers. Mark your calendars for a festive time of reflection and fellowship!

  • 11:00am – 1:00pm
  • Good Shepherd Church — 1310 Shepherd Dr, Naperville
Register Now
Friday, December 6

Young Families Movie Night

Let’s have some fun as the Christmas craziness begins by gathering around popcorn and movie candy and watching a Christmas classic!
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  • 5:30pm – 7:30pm
  • Good Shepherd Church Worship Center — 1310 Shepherd Dr, Naperville
Register Now
Saturday, December 7

Last Buddy Break of 2024

Each month, we are honored to provide a space where children of all abilities and their families can enjoy a well-deserved break. All children are welcome, and volunteers are always needed to help make this event a success. 
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Buddy Breaks are one of the easiest ways to serve children and families of all abilities — you won’t want to miss out on being a part of the joy of this experience.

Contact Autumn Wouk (awouk@goodshepherd-naperville.org) to get connected.

  • 8:30am – 12:30pm (Event begins at 9:00am)
Register Now
Sunday, December 15

Student Christmas Party

Open to all middle & high school students! On December 15th, during our typical gathering time, we’ll celebrate Christmas together.
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  • 6:30pm – 8:15pm
  • Good Shepherd Church — 1310 Shepherd Dr, Naperville

For more information, reach out to:

Max Schiewe
Middle School Ministry Leader

Collin Puckett
High School Ministry Leader
Monday, December 16

Bears v. Vikings Men's Ministry Watch Party

Come hang out and watch the Bears… win? Great food and good time guaranteed!
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  • Arrive as early as 6:30pm for food before kickoff
  • Downstairs at Good Shepherd Church — 1310 Shepherd Dr, Naperville