On-Line Ministry Guide

Because God first loved us...
Called, we worship; Blessed, we share; Sent, we serve.

Contents

In Christ's Name You Are Invited!

A wheelchair user surrounded by a heart demonstrates that our congregation is committed to providing physical access and also to opening its hearts and minds to people with all types of disabilities.

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is enrolled in the Accessible Congregations Campaign. We are committed to being accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities as full and active participants. We realize that children and adults with disabilities have a right to a full life of faith that includes worship, study, service and leadership. Everyone benefits from the exchange of experience, perspective and insight that only a truly accessible congregation can offer.

Good Shepherd and more than 2,250 others in America have opened our hearts, minds, and doors to people with disabilities by enrolling in the Accessible Congregations Campaign.

Members of the Altar Committee serve Good Shepherd by caring for the altar hangings, albs (assistants' robes), altar cloths and other linens used during our worship services. This includes changing and/or laundering these items as needed. Some members also prepare the altar for Holy Communion. This group requires minimal time commitment and provides a valuable service to the church.

Good Shepherd provides a free program that makes it convenient for weekly or monthly giving to be automatically transferred from the donor's bank account to Good Shepherd's. No more check writing or catching-up on offerings after missed Sundays. This service is free and easy to apply for. See www.thrivent.com/banking/simplygiving/

These classes give us an opportunity to learn more about the Word of God and to share ideas and information about our faith in a friendly, informal setting. With all the hectic busyness of life, take the time to grow and fellowship with friends.

Daytime Bible Class: This class is geared for those who have their days free. This class meets on Mondays at 2 p.m.

Evening Bible Class: This class led by Pr. Thomas-Breitfeld has been meeting for over 15 years. This group usually chooses a book of the Bible to study in depth. This class meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

The Health Ministry works to weave the threads of spirit and faith into healing of the mind, body and spirit. The Health Ministry Team responds to the needs of the congregation by encouraging personal well being over a lifetime. The Health Ministry's stewardship of health has become one of the most effective methods of giving the vital healing message of the Gospel.

Examples of how Christians serve in this ministry:

• Acknowledging Christ's healing power by participating in daily and group prayers
• Sending Christian support and encouragement cards to members during trying times or cards of congratulations during times of celebration.
• Developing a nurturing Christian relationship with fellow members who are seriously ill by visiting with a prayer shawl made and blessed by Good Shepherd's Prayer Shawl Ministry.
• Sharing of healthcare knowledge by encouraging a lifestyle that advocates "Mind, Body, and Spirit"
• Giving of personal time and gifts to promote health programs to our brothers and sisters in Christ
• Using our blessings from God to assist the members with health and spiritual needs.

We enjoy a coffee hour every Sunday following the 9:00 a.m. worship service, in the Garden Lounge. This is a opportunity to meet new people, make friends and get involved. Members of the congregation, made up of two person teams, take turns providing the refreshments. The church supplies the coffee and tea. You could be a host. Add your name to the schedule found on the Bulletin Board across from the sanctuary door.

In 2006, looking at the expanse of land on the north end of our church property, we began to wonder how we could use our land to serve the community. The idea of developing a community garden was born. Many gardeners, in an effort to reach further into the community, provide some of their harvest to the Waukesha Food Pantry.

Garden sites are available on a first come - first served basis and will be ready May 1, 2010. All gardeners are responsible for providing their own tools, seeds, plants, and water. In addition, gardeners are responsible for controlling the weeds at the beginning of and throughout the growing season and preventing them from spreading to other gardens. We ask a reservation donation of $20 per garden site. For further information, please contact the church office, 262-547-2420, or secretary@goodshp.org.  

Youth become adults in the church.

Good Shepherd has a program that continues students in Christian Education and prepares them for adulthood in the church. This program covers a 4 year period. Seventh graders to 9th graders participate in these classes during the regular Sunday School hour. The 10th graders meet with their Mentors each week at a time convenient for the two of them. Twice a year these Mentor Teams meet with Pr. Thomas-Breitfeld. The Rite of Confirmation is held on Pentecost Sunday.

Discipleship is faithful use of the gifts and talents that God has entrusted to us for the service of one another. An offertory prayer declares what God has entrusted to us: "Merciful Father, we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us -- our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love."

The Bible is our basis for understanding discipleship: stewardship of our time, our talents,        and our treasure to the glory of God.

See information about the Discipleship Ministry Team.

As Holy Communion is a meal that imparts God's grace to the participant and Good Shepherd doesn't want a child to ever feel separated from the grace of God, we offer communion to any young child who is able to eat solid food. In line with ELCA provisions providing for the communing of very young children, parents/guardians who sense readiness in their child are invited to ask for a meeting with Pr. Thomas-Breitfeld. At that meeting, Pastor, the parent/guardian and the child will assess readiness and arrange for communing to begin.

Matthew 28:19 says that Jesus instructed us to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Sharing Christ and promoting the ministry and services of Good Shepherd are the focus of this team. Be part of the Great Commission of Jesus and reach out to the people of God both inside and outside our walls.

See information about the Evangelism Ministry Team.

When people congregate together for fellowship, it increases their faith in God. The Fellowship Team focuses on how we belong to God's Family. Church fellowship can be defined as the status in which individuals or groups, on the basis of a common confession of faith, have mutually recognized one another as brothers and sisters and now consider it God-pleasing to express, manifest, and demonstrate their common faith jointly. The Fellowship Team will develop a minimum of 6 activities/events during the year that includes the sharing of a meal in order to build cohesion within the GS community. The goal is to increase and build upon these activities in order to grow our church and ministries, eventually going beyond the doors of GS into the community. Development of a strong multi-generational ministry that puts the focus on providing activities for youth within a Christian context is of special concern.

Members and guests at Good Shepherd are invited to place flowers on the altar for Sunday worship services in honor of or in memory of a loved one, or to the Glory of God. In the event that more than one person selects the same Sunday, two (2) arrangements can be placed on the altar. To request flowers, please sign the Flower chart located in the narthex (on bulletin board across from the sanctuary door).

Lay assistants assist our pastor and congregation by leading portions of the liturgy, including the Creed and the prayers, and assisting in the distribution of Holy Communion. Attending training session as scheduled is required. Lay Assistants serve on a rotating basis as scheduled.

Lay readers assist our pastor and congregation by reading the Old Testament and New Testament lessons for the day. You only need the ability to read clearly and the desire to assist in celebrating our worship service. Attending a training session as scheduled is encouraged. Lay Readers serve on a rotating basis as scheduled.

Want to become a member of the church? Watch for these special events to hear the basics of the faith and have your questions answered. This event is held quarterly during the day or evening so watch for opportunities to attend.

See also Frequently Asked Questions at Good Shepherd and From Pastor Thomas-Breitfeld

• Alanon
• Hope Center (formerly CCWC (Cooperating Congregations of Waukesha County)
• El Salvador Companionship Program
• Greater Milwaukee Synod - ELCA
• Lutheran Campus Ministry
• Meru Diocese Companionship Program

We are encouraged by the apostle Paul in Colossians 3:16 to "... with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to God." At Good Shepherd there are many ways to join together in that song:

• Chancel choir
• Children's voices
• Ensembles

We believe that people need to feel the comfort and presence of a loving God. In an effort to make that presence tangible, a small group, led by our Health Ministry Team, started this ministry to bring the warmth and comfort of God to those in need: the sick, the troubled, and the grieving. Knitters and crocheters pray as they create these soft and beautiful shawls. This ministry has expanded into the community as recipients have shared their sense of being blessed. A local hospital credits Good Shepherd with inspiring volunteers to start such a ministry at the hospital.

For further information go to Prayer Shawl Ministry.

The Green Bananas Adult Ministry was developed in 1999 to be a comprehensive senior ministry of Good Shepherd Church. The ministry's organizing purpose was to assist older adults in the congregation to develop a deeper spirituality and a sense of service to the wider community within a group of their peers. In 2010, this ministry is revitalizing itself to be a more ecumenical ministry structured to share God's love with older adults within the Good Shepherd community. It is free and open to anyone 55 or older. This ministry is based upon the 5 S's of Senior Adult Ministry, a model which was developed by Pastor Brian Hales for an ELCA congregation in Virginia.

• Spiritual - Bible studies, retreats, spiritual direction, prayer
• Study - educational speakers, classes, historical travel, learning opportunities
• Social - chat-N-snack gatherings, recreational activities, dinners, fun trips
• Service - volunteer opportunities, visitation, Friendly Caller Ministry
• Self - exercise, spiritual direction, counseling, personal growth

Our Preschool guides children as they discover God's world around them. We believe that God's children are very special people who learn best through play and exploration.

We focus on creating a warm, loving Christian environment where children can learn to:

• understand God's love for them and respond to it by caring for others
• respect and value all people as God's beloved children
• verbalize their feelings in a safe place
• work creatively and cooperatively with others

Bible stories and themes are integrated into our regular preschool units, creating a unified faith-based curriculum. All classes offer sequential Pre-K reading, writing, math, and science readiness preparation.

Classes are offered for Two-and-half, Three, Four and Five Year Olds. Small class sizes of 8 – 10 students are central to our program. Our three hour preschool helps prepare children for the traditional school experience.

See information about The Shepherd's Lambs Preschool.

The Social Justice Ministry Team is responsible for making the congregation aware of social concerns on local, national, and world levels. The committee has chosen an emphasis for each month of the year and has presented information via the Shepherd's Staff, the In Between, through children's sermons, guest speakers, and audio visual materials. We serve others by collecting for Lutheran World Relief, serving food at community meal programs and providing care for children of incarcerated parents among other things.  We invite others to join with us in this ministry of service.

See information about the Social Justice Ministry.

Our Sunday School program focuses on developing a strong ministry within the youth. Starting as early as age three and continuing through to adulthood. Each class level develops the Bible stories at an age appropriate level through music, Bible study, and art.

See information about the Christian Education Ministry Team.

Ushers are worshipers who make it possible for others to worship. As each worshiper expects to have a place to sit comfortably, to have the necessary books and papers at hand, to hear and to see what is going on, to be free from distractions, and to be able to exit safely when worship concludes, this becomes the usher's job description. Training is available to allow those called to serve in this hospitality ministry to carry out their duties without drawing attention to themselves.

All confirmed members (those who have undergone the Rite of Confirmation) of the congregation are eligible to vote regarding matters affecting church policy. Yes, that means those under the age of 18. Every member's voice is important. Congregational meetings are announced two weeks in advance in the In Between. Please join us!

As a unit of Women of the ELCA of the Greater Milwaukee Synod, women of Good Shepherd meet for study, service, and Christian fellowship. Presentations about women in the Bible have been highlights of our special dinners in May and in December. Our visitation ministry has included taking small gifts to our homebound and senior members. We accepted the invitation to help provide refreshments for the reception following the Installation of Bishop Jeff Barrow in 2010.

Service Times

• 9:00 a.m. Morning Eucharist: A communion service set to a traditional format with a variety of musical styles from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship and With One Voice hymnals
• 9:00 a.m. Healing Service: A communion service using a healing liturgy. Held occasionally. See the In Between for details.

See information about the Worship Ministry Team

Believing that youth are the church today as well as the church of tomorrow, Good Shepherd welcomes youth of all ages to explore their faith, serve others and have a good time with other Christian youth. Watch the Youth Bulletin Board in the main hall for meeting and activity dates and times. Friends are ALWAYS welcome.

Youth in grades 3 -12 are trained to assist in worship by carrying the candle lighter, accepting the offering from the ushers, and helping with Holy Communion distribution. Attending training sessions as scheduled is required.

Pastor Viviane is concerned about the lives of the people in this congregation and wishes to have the opportunity to minister to you in all situations. Sometimes Pastor is the last to know about major events in people's lives because people tell others thinking the person they told will get the word to our pastor. Sometimes that works but sometimes not. In an effort to maintain better communication, below are some of the times when Pastor needs to receive a call:

• When there is a birth in the family.
• When there is a death in the family.
• When someone close to you is ill or in the hospital, or in need of spiritual care.
• When someone in your family is going off to college or joining the military.
• When there are marital problems and before you call the lawyer.
• When someone in the congregation has done something to anger you.
• When you have a suggestion for the congregation.
• When you have a question about the Bible, Christianity, or Lutheranism.
• When something in your life is troubling you.
• When drug or alcohol dependency is a problem with you or someone close to you.
• When you want someone to talk with.
• When you want to be remembered in prayer.

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