Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

What's the first step in boldly following God's call? You begin by rooting yourself in God's peace. Only after we are rooted in peace can we remember our place in God's story, that it's not all up to us, and that no matter where we are – God is with us.

God Finds Us | Pastor Lorne Hlad by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Have you ever felt stuck by loss or grief? Pastor Melinda uses the story of Mary at the empty tomb to remind us that God shows up before we climb out of the darkness, meets us where we are, and calls us by our name: Beloved.

Where do you see yourself in the Good Friday story? We have all played parts similar to those Jesus' encounters of his journey to the cross. We have all sat by and justified our inaction in the face of the hurt of the world. Pastor Alex reminds us that Jesus is different – he sees the pain of the world and walks right into the middle of it, letting us see that God's love for each of us has no bounds.

Who is the real you – the person you don't share with the world? On this Maundy Thursday, Pastor Lorne reminds us that Jesus know exactly who we are – and despite our shortcomings & faults, He loves us just the same.

Do you ever wish for something to work out a certain way? The people of Jerusalem certainly did. They wished a person would show up to save them from their circumstances and oppression. A person that would conquer & punish their enemies. Instead, they got the Prince of Peace, Jesus. Pastor Alex explores how these unmet expectations led the crowd from shouts of "Hosanna" to "Crucify him" in less than a week and how we are not all that different. He challenges us to consider what it means to leave our assumptions behind and truly follow the King of Kings.

When have you come together with other people to build something greater than you could have created on your own? This week, Pastor Melinda uses the story of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:17-3) to explore how God brings people together in community to build His Kingdom on earth.

How do you respond to people around you who are going through a difficult time, such as an illness, loss of a job, or the death of a loved one? This week, Pastor Lorne uses the story of Ruth (Ruth 1:1-18) to explore what it looks like to journey with loved ones who are hurting. How often our mere presence and love – and trust that God is working through all of it – is all that is required.

Leaving what is comfortable can be scary. This week, Pastor Alex uses the story of Abram & Sarai (Genesis 12:1-9) to explore what it looks like to say “yes” to God's plan, even when we don't know how it will all work out.

“Mountaintop moments are not meant to be an escape from the world—they are meant to prepare us for the work that is in the valley.” – Pastor Melinda What are your mountaintop moments—those times when you felt uniquely close to God? Pastor Melinda reminds us how these moments show us whose we are—beloved children of God—and how they prepare us to share a different kind of love that moves toward the world, even when the world pushes back.

“The world is desperately in need of people who want to promote peace, of people who will refrain from judgment, hold back wrath and violence, and instead bring out something good in the midst of challenging times.” – Pastor Alex Jesus calls us to be like both salt & light, but what does that mean? In today's sermon, Pastor Alex explore what Jesus is telling us when He says we are like salt & light (Matthew 5:13-16), explains why those two descriptions are actually quite similar, and how living into these two qualities helps bring God's peace, love, and grace into a world that needs it.

“The church doesn't exist to escape the chaos and the cruelty and despair of the world. The church exists to show the world that while it's falling apart, blessing still is relevant. Hope is still accessible. Love is still possible.” – Pastor Lorne How can you respond to the hurt, injustice, and suffering of this world? Pastor Lorne encourages to answer the pain of the world as Jesus did—with blessings, love, grace, and compassion so that our actions will help write a different story in the world.

“I want to invite you to do something very Jesus-shaped: rest, retreat, renew your spirit. Sit in the quiet. Let the snow fall. Let the world be hushed.” – Pastor Lorne There is always something to do. As many of us are hunkered down during this large snowstorm, Pastor Lorne encourages to take advantage of this time—not to clean the house or try to tackle the never-ending “To Do” list—but to enjoy the break and experience the quiet. It's in these moments of retreat where the light of Christ often breaks through.

“Do we seek to, like Jesus, point out the absurdity of violence for peace?” – Pastor Alex There is no shortage of injustice in the world. And while it's important to respond that each of us respond to this suffering, the way by which we do is just as important. Join Pastor Alex for an exploration into how we can follow Jesus' example and not respond with violence, but rather with compassion, grace, mercy, and love.

"What if the motivation behind [our success] was less about proving and more about living into sacred identity?" - Pastor Lorne Hlad In this week's sermon, Pastor Lorne explores how many of us are motivated by things like anxiety, fear, or proving ourselves and encourages us to reorient our drive from our identity in Christ.

“As we walk into this new year, we are not asked to banish out the darkness. But we are asked to trust the light remains - the one true light that has been there since the beginning of time.” – Pastor Melinda Regardless of where you find yourself at the beginning of this new year, Pastor Melinda encourages us to remember that Jesus, the true light of the world, was here before us, is already ahead of us, and is with us now.

“Be soft. Be weak. Be humble. This is how Christ comes – not just into a manger, but into our hearts.” – Pastor Lorne A medical diagnosis, the loss of a job, a strained relationship - the world gives no shortage of reasons to want to protect our hearts from hurt and pain. On this Christmas Eve, Pastor Lorne encourages to navigate the seasons of life as Christ did – with humility, openness, and love.

“Sometimes there is power in just showing up - just being present. And I have to wonder if that's not the ministry Joseph provided for Jesus.” – Pastor Lorne Do you bring a lot of expectations into the season of Christmas? Pastor Lorne encourages us to leave the expectations of perfection behind and focus our efforts on showing up and being present to whatever the season brings.

“The good news is that in the roller coaster of our lives, when we don't feel as steady, we have a God who is.” – Pastor Lorne Hlad Are you in a season of uncertainty? There are times when each of us grapples with uncertainty – even doubt! During those seasons, Pastor Lorne encourages us to remember that this is a normal part of the faith experience and that we worship a God that is always with us, shining His light, so that we can get to the other side.

“Wilderness is a place of testing and revelation - a place where distractions stand out, where pretenses fall away, and where people often become more open to God's guidance.” – Pastor Melinda Are you wandering in the wilderness? Feeling lost or uncertain can be a signal you are in a “wilderness season” of life. In today's sermon, Pastor Melinda explores the Biblical concept of wilderness, what being in the wilderness might mean for you, and how you can find hope when you feel lost or uncertain.

“What we are called to do in this season is the same thing we've been called to our whole lives, which is love your neighbor, grow goodness, and practice forgiveness.” – Pastor Alex What does it mean to prepare for the Lord's coming? Pastor Alex explores Matthew 24:36-44 and ways we can prepare our hearts & minds for Christ's return.

God's Gifts Fill Us with Gratitude | Pastor Melinda Garza Moran by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

The Gifts of God Flow Through Us | Pastor Alex Hoops by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

“We are called to be caretakers of what has been given to us. And when we begin to see our lives in this way, everything changes.” – Pastor Lorne Pastor Lorne explores what role money, wealth, possessions play in our lives, how we can right-size our relationship with these resources, and how we can use our gifts so in service of something greater.

God's Gifts Unite Us | Pastor Melinda Garza Moran by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

“Grace is decidedly, unapologetically, definitively…by definition, free.” – Pastor Alex Pastor Alex explores the amazing truth that God's gift of grace is freely given to all people, not just a select few.

“Jesus comes to show us that the God of the universe is a God of grace, of love, of blessing, of healing.” – Pastor Lorne Pastor Lorne reminds us that God's love and grace is a gift freely given to all people, regardless of what we do or achieve.

“The mission is not optional. It's our identity. It's who we are as the people of God.” – Pastor Melinda Pastor Melinda reminds us of our calling to live out Christ's mission each and every day by using our gifts to share his grace & love with the world.

“When we come together and we work as one body with Jesus at the center, we become part of something that is greater than ourselves.” – Pastor Melinda Pastor Melinda explores how God's impact is multiplied when we do our part and serve together.

“God has not called some perfect, wise version of yourself – God is calling you now”. – Pastor Alex Pastor Alex reminds us that no matter how prepared we feel, God has already given us everything we need to serve people today.

“The church is a community of people, broken and redeemed, that together orient their life around the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus for the sake of healing the world.” – Pastor Lorne This week, Pastor Lorne reminds us that God's call to serve is inclusive of all people, regardless of age or ability.

“God is searching for you. Not to blame, but to bring you home – to bring you into a community of grace.” – Pastor Melinda This week, Pastor Melinda reminds us that even though we may feel lost, God is constantly seeking to bring us back to a place filled with His abundant love and grace.

"We are called to take our faith outside these walls - every one of us, every day of the week." - Pastor Lorne This week, Pastor Lorne reminds us that the true power of the Good News lies in how it equips each of us to share hope, love, and grace with the world around us.

“The Gospel sets us free in a way that orienting our lives around being better people never can.” – Pastor Lorne This week, Pastor Lorne reminds us that we are set free not through our own doing, but through God's vision of a world where all are seen, all are fed, and all are blessed.

“There are many things in this world that we can put ahead of our compassion. – Pastor Alex. This week, Pastor Alex encourages us to choose compassion in all we do, even if the world says it's okay to do otherwise.

“It's a disruptive love that asks us to let go of control and to place our hope in God's promise for the world and for ourselves." – Pastor Melinda This week, Pastor Melinda explores the ways Christ's love disrupts the status quo by calling us to protect the vulnerable, feed the hungry, care for creation, and welcome the stranger.

“Readiness is a reorienting of our priorities.” – Pastor Alex This week, Pastor Alex reminds us Jesus calls us into a readiness that is always seeking to serve our neighbor today.

“There is a way to live and a way to love that is wholly different than how society packages happiness and success.” – Pastor Lorne This week, Pastor Lorne explores what it means to live generously towards God and God's people.

“Prayer is a conversation with God. It can be formal. It can be intimate. It can be spontaneous.” – Pastor Melinda This week, Pastor Melinda reminds us that persistent prayer deepens our relationship with Christ and brings us closer to God.

“In the stillness, in the quiet, Jesus speaks.” – Pastor Lorne This week, Pastor Lorne invites us to put down the “to do list” and see where we experience God in the stillness of our lives.

“When tragedy strikes... love, compassion and action should be our only response.” – Pastor Melinda This week, Pastor Melinda explores how Christ compels us to move across tribal boundaries to share compassionate with all people.

“I don't think Jesus was sending them to do anything for him... I think Jesus was sending them to teach them a more important lesson.” – Pastor Lorne This week, Pastor Lorne explores how Jesus' call to share our faith out in the world is less about what we do and more about how we do it.

“If you have a feeling that something is absolutely right…I would ask: have you scrutinized it in the light of who we know Jesus to be?” – Pastor Alex This week, Pastor Alex challenges us to examine the beliefs that we hold and examine whether they are rooted in the teachings of Christ.

Liberated by Jesus | Pastor Lorne Hlad by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church