Good Shepherd is sprucing up for spring.  Chores include cleaning windows, shampooing rugs, clearing away cobwebs and bugs, picking up sticks, painting, refinishing, and uncluttering.  Congregation members are urged to wear their grubbiest work clothes to church to be ready to start work 15 minutes after church services end. Rumor is there will be pizza for all!

Tuesday, April 19
7:00 p.m. – Congregational Council

Wednesday, April 20
7:30 a.m. – Men’s Breakfast
1:00 p.m. – Prayer Shawl Ministry, Jane Kemp hosts
6:00 p.m. – My Neighbor is Muslim Study Series
III. ISLAM & JEWS/CHRISTIANS – Jane Kemp, moderator
6:00 p.m. – Choir rehearsal
7:00 p.m. – Band Rehearsal

Thursday, April 21
10:00 a.m. – Adult Bible Study
5:30 p.m. – Community Meal at First Lutheran

Friday, April 22
11:00 a.m. – Stewardship Committee

Sunday, April 24 – St Grubby’s Day
9:30 a.m. – Worship with Holy Communion, 5th Sunday of Easter
10:30 a.m. – Short Fellowship Hour
10:45 a.m. – No Adult Forum, Youth SS/Confirmation or Sunday School

The New Fresh Five, a Luther College student ensemble under the supervision of Professor John Cord, will perform works by Holst, Bach, and others on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. Members of the quintet, all first-year students, are Elliott Douma, Elyse Grothaus, Maddy Ihde, Gavin Shaeferly, and Michael Winkler. The recital is free and open to the public. Contact Jonathon Struve, congregation and Luther music faculty member, for additional information.

Good Shepherd will recognize and celebrate its status as a Reconciling In Christ (RIC) congregation at its 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning service of worship and Holy Communion. Pastor Amy Larson will preside; congregation member Amalia Vagts will serve as preacher. Amalia is Executive Director of Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries (ELM), an organization which affirms and supports LGBTQ Lutheran rostered leaders and those pursuing a call to rostered leadership while engaging allied congregations and ministries to proclaim God’s love and seek justice for all.

The Reconciling In Christ program is for Lutheran communities – congregations, synods, colleges, seminaries, organizations – that publicly welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Good Shepherd was added to the RIC roster in 2007 after an enthusiastic endorsement vote at its annual congregation meeting and approval of its Welcome Statement by RIC. At present, it is one of three congregations in Winneshiek County on RIC’s roster, joining the Luther College Student Congregation and most recently, First Lutheran Church.

Good Shepherd’s commitment to RIC is visible by the use of the RIC logo on the exterior sign, entry doors, and website. The Welcome Statement appears in all worship bulletins, newsletters, and prominently on the website with links to additional information about RIC . And, the congregation lives this commitment through its mission, witness, and outreach.