One of the unanticipated repercussions of having an online congregation directory is that deaths are noted immediately when the names are deleted. It has been pointed out that this can be painful and distressing. To address this problem, Pastor April has suggested that we provide a subheading under the Connect tab on the homepage which leads to the link “Blessed Memory.”

Names at this site are posted in memory of individuals who were members of Good Shepherd or who were former pastors. Names are removed from the Good Shepherd online directory after the individual’s death and immediately added to this page. Following the ancient practice of mourning the death of a loved one for a year and a day, the names will be removed using that timeline.   Details about the individuals can be found by entering the name in the search box on the website or by clicking on the link for the Good Shepherd blog and scrolling back to the approximate date of death.

Tuesday, July 14
2:00 pm Pastor April leading worship at Wellington Place w/Holy Communion

Wednesday, July 15
5:30 pm Wednesday Evening Worship Service w/Holy Communion

Sunday, July 19
8:45 am – Summer Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am – Worship Service with Holy Communion
10:30 am – Time of Fellowship in the Fellowship Hall – All are welcome!

This past year Catherine Moeller has served with AmeriCorps in Salinas, California, working with Hispanic children, most of whom are children of migrant workers. This experience prepared her well for her call to ELCA’s Young Adults in Global Mission program where she will spend next year in Mexico doing service work for the church. Photos documenting her experiences in Salinas are posted to illustrate this article.

Saturday field trip to Point Lobos State Natural Reserve with kids who participated in an After School Program throughout the school year.

1st grade class doing a Mexican dance.

Jose reads a story to his classmates during summer school.

Catherine is being supported by Good Shepherd as a farewell gift to honor Pastor April’s service with the congregation. The farewell celebration honoring Pastor April is scheduled for Sunday, July 26.

Congregation member Pastor Brad Hanson will preside at the services of Holy Communion Wednesday, July 8 and Sunday, July 12. Pastor Hanson is professor emeritus of religion at Luther College. When he retired from teaching in 2000, he helped found and became director and then in 2011 co-director of Luther’s Grace Institute for Spiritual Formation, which offers a two year Spiritual Formation Program. His 2014 book Spirituality and Your Life Story continues a long time involvement in and writing on Christian spirituality. Brad received his B.A. degree from St. Olaf College, M.Div. from Luther Seminary, M.A. From Yale University, and Ph..D. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Marion, have been long-time and active members of the Good Shepherd congregation.

Photo credit: Personal photo submitted by Hanson.

Good Shepherd member James L. Bakke, age 73, of Postville and formerly of Decorah, IA, died Sunday morning, July 5, 2015, at his home in Postville.

A Celebration of Life Visitation will be from 3:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 9, 2015 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah.

James is survived by his wife Cathy and three children: Cathy Blair, Jamee Xiya and David Bakke.  Good Shepherd members are providing refreshments at the visitation.