Fall Worship, Forums, & Classes

NEW SCHDULE Beginning September 13:

Worship at 9:30 am, Children & Youth Classes at 11:20 am, Forum at 11:25 am

Enjoy Sunday Morning Worship in Good Shepherd’s beautiful sanctuary at 9:30 am (time change). Forums on a variety of topics will follow hospitality and fellowship at 11:25 am as well as Chidren’s Sunday School (grades Pre-5th) and Youth Discipleship Classes (grades 6th-12th) at 11:20 am. A Children’s Area is located at the front right of the sanctuary (we ask that care givers sit in the adjacent seating area to monitor their children.) A staffed nursery is also available in Room 114 if needed. Hearing assist devices are available from the ushers in the church entry area. A recording of the sermon will be posted on Sunday afternoon on the website home page and on Facebook and YouTube.

Here are the descriptions for our worship liturgies this fall:

Bach & Baroque Liturgy: In this liturgy, we draw upon music associated with one of the great Lutheran composers, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Some of this music was composed by Bach, some of it utilized in his larger compositions, and some he harmonized for hymnals or other collections.

New Life Rising Liturgy: New Life Rising (NLR) is a liturgy led by our NLR ensemble and built to engage all ages in upbeat music and in the resurrection love we find in all our neighbors. Through worship practices, singing, and percussion that turns us toward one another, New Life Rising guides us to praise God with our whole body, mind, and soul!

A Liturgy of Diverse Music for Our Evolving Church: This liturgy is designed to be a blend of old and new musical styles. We look to these diverse styles to invite us into a life of bold faith and unbounded love as we live through these days of change and hope in our church and world.

September 13

9:30 am Worship – Pulling Out All the Stops: The Joy of Organ Music, Holy Communion, Installation of Interim Coordinator of Children and Family Ministry and Interim Coordinator of Youth and Family Ministry, Pastor Carol Tomer preaching (Part 1 of a Three-Week Sermon Series: Stories about Being Christian, Shaped by Scripture and Life) + Garden Party during coffee fellowship, between Worship and the Learning Hour

11:20 am Children’s & Youth Programs – Sunday School (Grades Pre-5th), Youth Discipleship (Grades 6th-12th)

11:25 am Forum – Land Acknowledgements: From Performance to Purpose – led by Jerad Koepp, Wukchumni, Native Student Program Specialist for North Thurston Public Schools, 2022 Washington State teacher of the year

September 20

9:30 am Worship – New Life Rising Liturgy, Renewal of Marriage Vows of Kathy and David Flanagan, Preaching: Daniel Boschee, who is a part of the Good Shepherd community (Part 2 of a Three-Week Sermon Series: Stories about Being Christian, Shaped by Scripture and Life) + Garden Harvest Party immediately following worship during Hospitality & Fellowship

11:20 am Children’s & Youth Programs – Sunday School (Grades Pre-5th), Youth Discipleship (Grades 6th-12th)

11:25 am Forum – Done with Church, Searching for God: The Changing American Landscape – led by Dr. Lynn Hofstad, Good Shepherd Theologian in Residence. This forum is also Session #3 of the Theologian-in-Residence Fall Series:

Religious demographics in the United States have changed drastically in the past 50 years. One result has been the rise of the "nones"--those who select the "none" box for religious affiliation on the General Social Survey. What society changes have led to this shift? Does this mean the US is becoming less religious or abandoning faith? How might congregations adapt to these changes? All of these questions will be addressed in Done with Church, Searching for God: The Changing American Landscape.

September 27

9:30 am Worship – A Liturgy of Diverse Music for Our Evolving Church, Holy Communion, A Ritual of Burning the Church Mortgage, Pastor Brenda Satrum preaching (Part 3 of a Three-Week Sermon Series: Stories about Being Christian, Shaped by Scripture and Life)

11:20 am Children’s & Youth Programs – Sunday School (Grades Pre-5th), Youth Discipleship (Grades 6th-12th)

11:25 am Forum – A Town Hall Forum – Updates about Good Shepherd’s Journey, led by Congregation Council members