
Worship Information
Our WorshipWe know that it can be intimidating to walk into an unfamiliar place, especially a church. We want you to know that visitors are always welcome at Good Shepherd. Here are some answers to questions you might have about worship at Good Shepherd. May 29 through Labor Day: Worship 9:30am
For these reasons, it is our practice that only those who are members of our congregation or a congregation of the WELS join us for Holy Communion. We kindly ask our guests to speak with our pastor about what the Bible teaches about the Lord's Supper before communing with us. We give to one another.
We don’t come to worship merely as consumers. We gather so that we may be blessings to one another. To encourage one another. To hold each other accountable. To offer a hug to the hurting and a hand to the suffering. To remind each other that we don’t walk alone. When we gather for worship, it’s a family reunion. |
Membership
Here are some really important things to consider as you look for a church, (but it might not be what you think):
We are not going to try and convince you that we're a super nice community of people who will quickly become your best friends; to be honest, we just don't know for sure (although we sure hope we do!). But you will always hear the good news of Christ and Him crucified for your sins. Church is where you go to hear and receive the Gospel, first and foremost; the social benefits are secondary. By the way, don't worry, we will never make you stand up and introduce yourself or anything. If you visit, feel free to sit in the back and nobody will bug you. Also, you will be given a worship folder (or program) with everything written out, so you can easily follow along with the worship service.
We are not going to lure you in with a rockin' band. We have a very cool organ, though. Seriously, wait till you hear this thing! We sing hymns that have been time-tested over many centuries; unlike the catchy pop tunes that are being sung by the latest worship celebrities. You will always be singing about God and His Word-not about yourself and your feelings (and that's a very good thing).
Our pastor does not tell lots of funny jokes and compelling personal stories that tug at your heartstrings. That would be a distraction and a hinderance; and that would keep you from hearing from God's Word, which is so much better than the words of any man. We use a liturgical form of worship because it puts parameters on the service so that it's always focused where it belongs-on God, and His Word. If you’ve ever felt like a church service was a show and the pastor was too much like a comedian or motivational speaker, you’ll really appreciate how we try to do things here.
Member: A part of a whole
![]()
What does it mean to be a "member" of Good Shepherd? It means...
Many churches avoid the term "membership" because it may scare people away. We use the word "member" because the Bible speaks of believers in this way! Romans 12:4-5 says, "For just as each of us has one body and many members, and these members to not all have the same function, so in Christ, we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." |
![]() The Christian Church is built on the rock of Jesus and his Word. A church is not a building but the people who gather there in the name of Jesus.
|
How does someone become a member?
We are not overly interested in "getting the numbers up," but we are very interested in making disciples. Our pastor will spend a lot of time teaching the Bible to every single person who wants to learn; in fact, in order to be a member you need to go through a detailed Bible study with him. You won't find this kind of careful instruction in many churches anymore. Be Baptized Before Jesus ascended into heaven he told his disciples, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." (Matthew 28:19) All people are born with a deep need for baptism. Christians desire baptism for themselves and their children in order to receive the blessings of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) which God offers through baptism. There is no such thing at "Lutheran" baptism, but only Christian baptism. A person who has been baptized in the name of the Triune God, Father - Son - Holy Spirit, does not need to be baptized again. If you are interested in baptism either for yourself or your child, please contact our pastor and he will be happy to assist you. Be Catechized "Catechized" is a big word which means "to be instructed." Jesus not only commanded that his followers be baptized but that they also be taught: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20) Since membership in a congregation implies that a person believes what that church teaches, wouldn't it be important that he or she be instructed first in the teachings of that church? For this reason we ask people who are considering membership to enroll and complete our series of instruction classes. Even if after the classes a person decides not to become a member of the congregation, studying God's Word is never a waste of time! The instruction class is Faith Foundations. This course consists of lessons that answer basic questions like... ![]()
Topics include:
|
Contact Us
Phone: 989-463-3056
Fax: 989-463-8513
About the WELS
Additional information about the WELS can be accessed from the button "About the WELS" at the top of this page.
Learning
Moments with our Good Shepherd is a daily written/video devotion lasting about 4 minutes or so. You can access them on our Facebook page, our Youtube page or our email subscription.
Our Wisconsin Lutheran Synod provides daily devotions as well. You can access them here.
In addition, we have weekly Bible studies. A number of studies for you at home can be accessed from the menu at the top of this page. You may also check out this online Bible study from our WELS.

We would be happy to help you dig deeper into these saving truths. Just let us know how we can help.
From cradle to grave, growing in our faith is vitally important. To this end Good Shepherd provides:


Pastoral Care
The word "pastor" means "shepherd." Our pastor is here to shepherd people with God's Word. You can view our pastor's weekly sermons here. Below are several ways that our pastor is available for you. Private Confession and Absolution Our pastor is called to be a spokesman of God. When a conscience is especially troubled, it is a tremendous blessing to speak with a pastor and to hear from him God's proclamation of forgiveness. Pastoral Counseling with God's Word "Your Word is lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105) A pastor is ready to listen and help you apply God's Word to your life. Baptism Our pastor would be happy to meet with you to talk about Christian baptism either for yourself or your child. Pre-marriage Classes and Weddings Planning on getting married? If you are interested in building your life together on Christ and on his Word, please contact our pastor. He would love to assist you as you make plans for your wedding day and beyond. We believe that God established marriage as the life long union between a man and a woman. Our pastor's participation in any marriage ceremony is done at his discretion. |
Here to Serve
how can we best assist you?
