Good Shepherd is one of 69 locations participating in the Citywide Garage Sale this weekend.  Led by Congregation President Jim Fritz, a crew of Bob Felde, Jerry Frank, Ed and Elizabeth Kaschins, Jane Kemp, and Dan Raney cleaned out the Annex including the attic.  Some treasures were rediscovered and saved, some for possible repurposing.  New homes were found for the majority of items by the end of the first day.

A team of four upperclass Luther College students in Mark Johns’ Communication and Public Relations class are conducting a Communications Audit of Good Shepherd as a congregation service-learning project for the course. ELCA’s Communication Department describes a Communications Audit as an objective examination of all communications in the congregation – auditory, written, and electronic. The students recently met with Pastor April Ulring Larson plus Jane Kemp and Elizabeth Kaschins, who represent the congregation’s Communications Subcommittee.

At this first visit, the students received samples of our print communications sources, were introduced to our website and social media sites, and guided through the building to view signage, bulletin boards, cubbies and other means of communication. As part of the Audit, details of using our Directory for a random sampling of a small number of members are being worked out. The students are invited and encouraged to attend worship services and fellowship time as well as return to the church on their own. During discussion, we were able to outline the communications challenges we face at present and anticipate in the near future.

The students’ second visit will be in early May when they present their findings to the Council, committees, and interested members. The date and time will be announced; everyone is welcome.

 For the photo: Pastor April, the Luther students, pictured left to right, are Bri Shekels, Anne Wermedal, Jacob Lembezeder, and Melissa Hrdlicka.

A stalwart crew volunteered this past Friday and Saturday to paint the newly refurnished Narthex as well as hallway ceilings and walls.  The traditional Good Shepherd pink morphed into a creamy white with gold accents.  Walls were first washed with TSP and rinsed, holes and cracks were repaired, and all hanging objects removed. Verdi’s opera, Don Carlos, performed by the Metropolitan Opera, inspired the painters to burn through the last hours of Saturday to ready the spaces for weekend services.

Reactions from worshipers on Sunday morning ranged from “gorgeous” and “wonderfully bright” to someone noting that the Nils Kjome sculpture, a figure of the Good Shepherd, could finally “breathe” even though it was hanging in its customary space. Work will continue on Monday until the painting is completed.

The weekly Bible Study, “Going Deeper,” which started   during Lent is continuing through the Easter Season.       Each Thursday morning from 10:00-11:30, Pastor           April leads a group studying the texts, usually those         selected for the following Sunday. Texts are listed in       the monthly Newsletter. There is no particular                preparation so that discussion can be as open as possible. The “Going Deeper” series ends on Thursday, May 21. The Bible Study is held in the Fellowship Hall; refreshments are served and all are welcome.