All Are Welcome to Wednesday Evening Gatherings Every Wednesday, 5-7 pm •
All Are Welcome to Wednesday Evening Gatherings Every Wednesday, 5-7 pm •
Welcome to The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd in Olympia, Washington!
It’s Good Shepherd’s mission to share the love and grace of Jesus Christ with all people and to invite them to fullness of faith in God.
Welcoming and hospitality are an important part of who we understand ourselves to be as a community of faith. As in everything else, our model is Jesus. In one of his letters, the Apostle Paul urges his readers to “welcome one another just as Christ has welcomed you.” A contemporary translation reads, “Reach out and welcome one another … Jesus did it, now you do it!”
Several years ago, in an effort to do what Jesus did, our congregation adopted an Affirmation of Welcome:
The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd Welcomes All People:
The poor and the rich, the young and the old
People who are single, married, blessed, divorced, separated, partnered, or widowed
People of all abilities
People of all sexual orientations and gender identities
People of all nations and ethnic backgrounds
No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
In-Person Worship
Upcoming Worship at Good Shepherd
Sunday, May 19
9:00 am Learning Hour:
Faith Explorers — Children and youth are invited for a time of sharing in play, faith, and community. Meet in the lower level of the church
Forum — Christian Nationalism: Its Roots and Its Presence in the United States, led by Professor Seth Dowland, Pacific Lutheran University
10:00 am Worship:
The Festival of Pentecost, Liturgy of Global Renewal, Holy Communion, Pastor Carol Tomer preaching. You are invited to wear red for Pentecost, symbolic of the fire of the Spirit.
The prelude on Sunday will include the "Alleluia" from Mozart's "Exsultate Jubilate." This is the last movement of a four-movement work. Musicologist Stanley Sadie called this final movement "a jewel of a piece with its high spirits and its wit...like no other piece of Mozart's; its music speaks unmistakably of his relaxed high spirits at the time he wrote it and of the elation and confidence that his opera-house success at brought him." The singer for this piece will be Hallie Schmidt, a co-founder (along with Nickolas Carlson) and singer for Olympia Opera Theatre.
This will be the last Sunday that the choir will sing until their return in the Fall. They will sing two pieces during the service, including one based on the Prayer of St. Francis.
Following Worship - Hospitality and Fellowship
Video recordings of the sermon will be posted on Sunday afternoon at 3pm here on the website, Facebook, and YouTube; The weekly Newsletter is posted every Friday at noon
Childcare is available at ALL Worship gatherings!
Wednesday Evening Gatherings
NEW SCHEDULE BEGINNING MAY 8:
5:00 pm – Classes (Our Deepest Questions, Confirmation)
6:00 pm – Community Meal for All! ($1 suggested donation)
7:00 pm – Choir (Faith In Action for children 6-12)
The Youth Room (Lower Level) will be open for children’s activities throughout the evening
We will have a new schedule beginning May 8 with learning classes now beginning at 5:00 pm followed by Community Meals for all at 6:00 pm. Learning activities for all ages begin at 5:00 pm; Our Deepest Questions is a discussion group for youth and adults covering the big questions of faith and life from a Lutheran lens and alternates every other week with Confirmation Classes which are intended for youth in 7th grade and above, but open to anyone; after class, stay for Community Meals with family and friends to share a meal before the evening’s activities ($1/person suggested donation). The Good Shepherd Choir rehearses at 7:00 pm and is open to any interested singers regardless of ability or experience, and also beginning at 7:00 pm is Faith In Action (K-6), a time for fun & fellowship and learning how to love & serve our diverse neighbor.