The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd
Be Seen • Be Heard • Belong
Founded in 1957, The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd, rooted on the corner of North and Henderson, has grown and changed with the community. Good Shepherd celebrates its neighbors by hosting a variety of community events centered in God’s grace. Outdoor Sunday morning worship for all is offered during the summer under the cathedral of evergreens! The church is shepherded by Pastor Carol Tomer, Pastor Bergen Eickhoff, and Pastor Doug Knutson-Keller and supported by a growing staff and ministry leadership teams.
The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd 1957
The congregation is an open-hearted, open-minded ELCA congregation. Of particular note is that it has been a Reconciling in Christ congregation since 2009, meaning that it is publicly welcoming of LGBTQIA+ people, as well as being deeply involved in an expansive ministry of justice-making and mercy. This wide-reaching commitment is proclaimed in these words: "The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd welcomes all people: the poor and the rich, the young and the old; people who are single, married, blessed, divorced, separated, partnered or widowed; people of all abilities; people of all sexual orientations and gender identities; people of all nations and ethnic backgrounds. No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here."
Open-hearted, open-minded ELCA congregation
The current ministries of the congregation include outdoor Sunday morning worship from mid-June until mid-September each summer, under the cathedral of Douglas Fir trees on the church's six acre campus. In addition, various kinds of contemplative evening services are offered occasionally during the year. These contemplative worship explorations were launched because Good Shepherd received a Calvin Vital Worship Grant recipient, one of 13 congregations in North America two years ago. A quilting group (called the Piece Corp) makes and sends over 400 quilts each year around the world (through Lutheran World Relief). The congregation has a community garden that is used by members and the local community, and its harvests are contributed to the local food banks. The church has been a hub of the community, hosting in its building several other organizations: CIELO (Olympia Latino Comprehensive Educational Center), Scouts, Sunrise Beach School, basketball, soccer, pickleball groups, theater groups, local music recitals, support groups, the Olympia School District’s Transition Academy, as well as the CIELO Food and Hygiene Supply Bank.
The Lutheran Church of The Good Shepherd 2024