Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Pastor Alex explores Jesus' command to "love one another" immediately after Judas leaves to betray him, highlighting how this timing reveals the core of Christian discipleship. While we often view Judas as uniquely sinful, we are all capable of betrayal and sin, making us more like Judas than we care to admit. Through this realization, we're challenged to consider who our personal "Judas" might be and how we might practice Christ-like love and forgiveness, even toward those who have deeply hurt us.

In this Mother's Day sermon, Pastor Melinda explores Jesus' promise that no one can take believers from his hands. Through her story of losing her mother unexpectedly, she addresses how doubt is part of faith. Drawing from John's Gospel, she reminds us that salvation remains secure amid questioning, and that eternal life begins now through our relationship with Christ.

Pastor Lorne reminds us that forgiveness is not the end of our spiritual journey, but rather the beginning of renewed calling to share the Good News in our homes, workplaces, and communities.

"If the church is defined by [its] love, then forgiveness is our main export. That's our business." - Pastor Alex Hoops In this week's sermon, Pastor Alex reminds us of Christ's call to share forgiveness with those around us.

"Even the coldest, darkest grave – God turns into a garden.” - Pastor Lorne Hlad Pastor Lorne encourages us to look towards the resurrection of Jesus as a hopeful reminder that God will not let the darkest moments of our lives have the final word.

"When Jesus was faced with his impending demise, he chose to spend it talking about what he spent his whole ministry talking about. Love." - Pastor Alex Hoops In today's sermon, Pastor Alex reminds us that we are a people who are called to share love in response to the world around us. (Note that a video was shown in worship that was removed from this audio clip due to copyright restrictions on social media).

"The Empire questioned [Jesus'] intentions because His power was not built on intimidation, cruelty and oppression, but rather on love, forgiveness and inclusion.." - Pastor Melinda Garza Moran Pastor Melinda reminds us of the radical nature of Jesus' vision for the world - one that is rooted in mercy, acceptance, and extravagent love.

Pastor Lorne reminds us that true relevancy is not chasing preferences or trends, but rather getting back to the heart of what Jesus calls us to do: responding to the needs to people in the world.

"We value everyone in this place, from young to old." - Pastor Alex Hoops In this week's sermon, Pastor Alex reminds us that the Body of Christ is strengthened when people of all ages are gathered in worship, community, and service.

"When we are guided by grace, we extend the same love that Jesus does through our actions and our conversations." - Pastor Melinda Garza Moran In this week's sermon, Pastor Melinda reminds us that God's unconditional grace frees us from shame and judgement, allowing us to meet others where they are with compassion.

"In a world that wants to divide people based off their backgrounds, neighborhoods, ideologies... Jesus calls us to a higher plane that sees the inherent dignity, value, and worth in every human life." – Pastor Lorne Hlad In this first week of “We Believe”, Pastor Lorne explores the value of “Every One, Every Day”. He reminds us of how Jesus modeled community and inclusion, where every person was invited to use their gifts to do God's work every day.

"Yes, we're dust and God makes beautiful things out of dust" - Pastor Alex Hoops On this Ash Wednesday, Pastor Alex reminds us that God uses dust to do extraordinary things.

“Listening to Jesus is feeding the poor, caring for the vulnerable, welcoming the stranger, turning the other cheek, [and] loving God, our neighbors, our enemies and ourselves.” - Pastor Melinda Garza Moran Pastor Melinda reminds us that God changes us through powerful encounters so that we may better hear Christ's call in a world full of competing voices.

Pastor Alex reminds us that by practicing love in everyday actions, even toward strangers and those who oppose us, we can transform words into a lasting way of life that reflects Christ's radical love.

“Are you stuck? Do you have one foot in your promised future and one foot that is just holding steady into the life you've always known?”– Pastor Lorne Pastor Lorne encourages us to move beyond the failures and insecurities of our lives that keep us stuck and trust and follow Jesus into new abundant life.

“Jesus revealed that God's love is not bound by borders, it is not exclusive to one group of people – it is given to and for all..”– Pastor Melinda Pastor Melinda reminds us that God's love is a gift that is freely given to all.

“You do have a job and your job is to be growers – growers of goodness, mercy, and healing.”– Pastor Alex Hoops Pastor Alex reminds us that we are people who are called to grow goodness, mercy, and healing in God's creation.

“We can never lose sight that – as people who follow Jesus – the ethic and predominant position we should have is one first of grace.” – Pastor Lorne Hlad Pastor Lorne reminds us of the amazing power that is provided through God's gift of grace.

“But if you've ever had an experience like mine and wondering if the God of the universe loves you, the one name Jesus died for you, if the Holy Spirit can dwell in you – I say, welcome, beloved.” – Pastor Melinda Garza Moran. In her first sermon at Good Shepherd, Pastor Melinda reminds us that no matter where we are on our faith journeys we are truly beloved.

“But it's the children that understand intuitively that there is a beauty and gift found in being present.” – Pastor Lorne Hlad Pastor Lorne reminds us of the importance of being present to the moment we are in and to linger just a little longer in the season of Christmas.

“Are our eyes open to God showing up in ways that we cannot and do not expect?” – Pastor Alex Hoops Pastor Alex reminds us that a spirit of curiosity keeps our eyes open to the ways in which God is calling us to bring more love and grace into the world.

“Nobody needs to do this thing alone.” – Pastor Alex Hoops On this Christmas Eve, Pastor Alex reminds us of the importance of relationships in our lives and how God provides the example when he came to live among us.

“When God sees you, God sees a child who is loved.'” – Pastor Lorne Hlad In a culture where we hear so many things about ourselves that simply aren't true, Pastor Lorne reminds us to listen for the voice of God which declares in no uncertain terms that we are loved.

"Hope always comes when we open ourselves up to the support and partnership and love of other people." - Pastor Lorne Hlad Pastor Lorne reminds us of the joy that God provides when we open ourselves up to living life in community, surrounded by people who will walk with us through the good and the bad.

“We're lighting a candle that's talking about a different kind of peace.'” – Pastor Alex Hoops Pastor Alex explores how the true peace offered through Christ is not to be confused with “quiet”, but rather is a peace that comes from trusting that God will always guide us.

"This Advent, brothers and sisters, don't just prepare your homes. Prepare yourselves to remember that God has given us more gifts than we could ever hope for that have the capacity to transform and change us." - Pastor Alex Hoops In this first week of Advent, Pastor Alex explores God's gift of hope and how it help us endure the good and bad times of our lives.

“Empires are temporary. God's kingdom is not.'” – Pastor Lorne Hlad Pastor Lorne reminds us that God's Kingdom is not like the kingdoms of the earth. It's a kingdom that's built on love and mercy with open doors welcoming all people inside.

"The cycle of life for people who follow Jesus is that we experience a thousand deaths. And on the other end of them we experience a thousand rebirths." - Pastor Lorne Hlad In this week's sermon, Pastor Lorne reminds us that God is always working in our lives, even during our lowest moments.

“Our hope is not in political parties, it's in and always has been in Christ.'” – Pastor Alex Hoops Pastor Alex reminds us that regardless of our views on politics, we are people who are called to love God and love our neighbor.

"Big steps is the [phrase] we use, but it has nothing to do with physical distance. Big steps are intentional steps...it has everything to do with our hopes connected to them." - Pastor Alex Hoops Pastor Alex asks us to consider how God is calling us all into taking the next big step in our lives.

“I want you to think of those people in your life that have modeled a heart of serving and giving, of love and sharing for you.'” – Pastor Lorne Hlad Pastor Lorne reminds us that bold generosity is a lifelong commitment to serving and giving so that others may know God's love in their life.

“True abundance is found in a beautiful hope that exists in the midst of challenges and says, ‘The worst thing is not the last thing.'” – Pastor Alex Hoops Pastor Alex reminds us that even in our darkest moments we can trust in Jesus and that the worst thing is not the last thing.

“We have to learn to get past the walls we build if we want to experience true, authentic community.” – Pastor Lorne Hlad Pastor Lorne explores how all people are invited into the life-giving, authentic community that Christ offers as they are.

“True abundance is not the absence of pain…it's never about what we earn, accomplish or achieve. It is about living a life marked by faith, by hope, having community, living a generous life, and taking risks.” – Pastor Lorne Hlad Pastor Lorne shares Good Shepherd's reclarified mission, “Connecting People to True Abundance in Christ”, and begins to explore how we can live a life marked by the abundance Christ offers.

“We have an amazing, unbelievably gracious God who is going to walk with us, lead us, show us the path forward. And when we fail and stumble in fear – feel overwhelmed – God is going to pick us up again and say, rejoice brothers and sisters, rejoice, my children, because your names are written in the book of life.” – Pastor Lorne Hlad In this week's sermon, Pastor Lorne explores the gifts that God provides each of us to get us through the difficult and challenging moments of our lives.

“There is someone in your midst who is likely being overlooked, spoken over, and is never even considered to be in the conversation of who's the greatest – that's where your attention should be.” – Pastor Alex Hoops In this week's sermon, Pastor Alex explores what it means to stop focusing on ourselves and instead put that focus on those who are overlooked in lives.

“Do you know who you were created to be?” – Pastor Lorne Hlad In this week's sermon, Pastor Lorne reminds us that when we live our lives as a reflection of Jeus, we are showing the world who Christ really is.

“There's just a statement of truth - that crumbs would be more than enough - an honest declaration of God's infinite, boundless, and amazing love.” – Pastor Alex Hoops In this week's sermon, Pastor Alex explores what it means to humbly respond to Christ's calling in our lives and how God's provision is enough.

“What's being offered by Jesus in this life of faith is not a list. It's no less than life in all its fullness.” – Pastor Alex Hoops On his return from sabbatical, Pastor Alex reminds us our faith is more than a “to do” list, but an invitation to live a life transformed so that all may see God's love and grace in their lives.

“Today is an invitation to quit running, to quite striving, to quite trying to fill yourself with things that only leave you more hungry.” – Pastor Lorne Hlad This week, Pastor Lorne reminds us that the hunger we have for meaning and purpose in our lives can only truly be satisfied by accepting the love and peace Jesus offers and leaving the things the world offers.

“I will continue to affirm that…I was created perfectly and that I shouldn't have to feel like I need to change any part of me to feel accepted and appreciated – especially not for God.” - Good Shepherd Flock Student This week, we welcomed Good Shepherd's High School Youth Group, The Flock, to share their Spirit moments from their recent trip to the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans, LA.

“We acknowledge when we are afraid. Fear is real. We acknowledge that fear. And then we look for Jesus walking right with us. That is resurrection. That is hope, not fear. Hope that is sure and certain.” – Pastor Michael Oakley This week, we welcome Pastor Michael Oakley to Good Shepherd. He reminds us that while we may have fear about the future, Jesus promises to walk with us through the storm and provide us hope and life.

“It's when we rest, it's when we pause, that we can actually see what's happening in our world and in our lives” - Pastor Lorne Hlad Pastor Lorne reminds us of the power that rest has in giving us the necessary space we need to make sense of the world around us during times of struggle or uncertainty.

“Even though we keep perpetuating the old narrative, the new story of God's love, of God's grace, of God's forgiveness needs to be proclaimed louder and more boldly.” - Pastor Lorne Hlad Pastor Lorne reminds us that we are a people who are called to share a different kind of story with the world through our words and actions: one that is rooted in God's love, grace, and forgiveness.