Reformation Sunday and an Update from the Foundation.
Reformation Sunday
This past Sunday, Reformation Sunday, we celebrated the confirmation or affirmation of baptism of two of our young members. Demitri Edgeworth and Elsie West owned the baptismal promises made by their families years ago. Those parents, family members, and godparents promised to bring these two into the Christian community, to encourage faith dialogue and conversation. We, as a congregation, made promises to share our faith the way that it has been shared with us.
What happened on Sunday was a new level of ownership in that faith. Demitri and Elsie claimed those baptismal promises and named their beliefs alongside all of us through the words of the Apostles' Creed.
While we often use the phrase "passing on the faith," there's more to it than that. While we instruct, share, lead, encourage, teach, and support, we are never done; there is no end date to our faith, no expiration.
And so we are reminded each Reformation Sunday of the ways that we are called to live out our faith day in and day out, called to invite others into this faith, and support and care for those who claim it as their own.
Thank you to the parents, the families, and the sponsors who have invested in the lives of these two young Christians.
Thank you to the congregation that day in and day out, who live out this faith in the way that we care for and serve together.
When you have time, make your way through the hallway on the lower level, and you will see that these two young adults join a long, deep, and rich history of our faithful life together, generation after generation.
Written by Mark Halvorson, Director of Congregational Engagement
2025 Foundation Update
This year, the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd Foundation approved $43,600 in grants.
These grants were made possible by your gifts and by the ongoing stewardship and investment decisions of past and present Foundation Boards.
2025 Foundation grants include:
$10,000 for Good Shepherd’s Anti-Racism Group for its “Stories the Land Holds” educational series
$10,000 for the Camden Promise food shelf
$10,000 for Community Emergency Services food shelf renovations
$10,000 for the Lutheran Social Service Frogtown/Rondo Center for Changing Lives capital fund drive
$3,600 for Humble Walk Dinner Church (the church is a mission start of the St. Paul Synod of the ELCA)
You can find more information about these grants on the Foundation page on the Good Shepherd website.
These projects and organizations are all connected to Good Shepherd and build on the Foundation’s legacy of support for the congregation and its outreach.
The Foundation welcomes your memorial, celebration, and legacy gifts that help it continue making grants that support its mission.
Memorial Gift: Provide a lasting memorial for a loved one or friend.
Celebration Gift: Celebration gifts can be given at any time. A birthday, anniversary, or baptism may be a reason to celebrate.
Legacy Gift: You can arrange now to make a planned legacy gift to the Foundation at the time of your death. Contact Nancy Rystrom (Foundation President) or Rich Sykora (Foundation Treasurer) and your financial advisor for guidance.
Donations by check should be made out to “Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd Foundation.” Gifts can be mailed or delivered to the church office.
The Foundation has made an impact on the congregation and its outreach since 1959. Every voting member of Good Shepherd is a member of the Foundation.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
Written by Nancy Rystrom, Good Shepherd Foundation President