The season of Advent is always a special time. We prepare for the coming of the Christ child in our hearts, our homes, our worship, and our community. The Christmas season is also a busy season in the life of the church with so many opportunities for celebration, worship, and fellowship! Advent begins on Sunday, December 3, and we hope you will be able to join us for the incredible opportunities to celebrate Christmas at Good Shepherd this year.
 
 

Giving in Advent

Caring for our neighbors locally and globally is the heart of Good Shepherd. There will be several opportunities to provide for families in need this season. These opportunities will be available in the Narthex.
  • LifeWise Giving Tree – Thank you for donating holiday gifts for the LifeWise Market. You can also volunteer to serve at the Holiday Market December 1-8.
  • ELCA Good Gifts – Provide agricultural animals to families around the world through ELCA World Hunger.
  • Mitten Tree – Donate mittens and gloves for Butterfly Haven.
  • Lutheran Campus Ministry – On Christmas Eve we will collect special gifts toward Lutheran Campus Ministry.
  • Good Shepherd Lutheran Church – Many people also make a special year-end gift to the ministry of Good Shepherd, enabling us to continue to fulfill the mission God has given us.

Art in Advent

We light our Advent candles each week, representing Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. This year we will use original art to represent these words and you are invited to participate in this beautiful project. Visit the display in the narthex and add your prayers to the artwork.

Music In Advent

Christmas Cantata
Every Advent we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ with a musical celebration that includes choir, orchestra, and narration in our annual Christmas Cantata.
  • Saturday, December 9, 5:00 pm
  • Sunday, December 10, 11:00 am
Children Sing in Worship
Join us for a joyful celebration as our children sing Christmas music in worship!
  • Sunday, December 17, 11:00 am

Christmas Eve Worship

Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year, so our worship schedule that weekend will be a bit different. We will not have worship on Saturday, 12/23, and just one Advent 4 worship service on Sunday 12/24, and three Christmas Eve services in the afternoon/evening.
 
All Christmas Eve worship services will include communion & candlelight.
We will have an outdoor live nativity from 3:00-6:00pm on Christmas Eve, as well! (Animals will be outside, rather than a part of worship.)
Sunday, December 24
  • 10:00am Advent 4 worship service
    • 3-6:00pm Outdoor Live Nativity with animals
  • 4:00pm Christmas Eve worship (Contemporary)
  • 7:00pm Christmas Eve worship (Traditional) 
  • 9:00pm Christmas Eve worship (Traditional)

New Year’s Weekend Worship

New Year’s Eve also falls on Sunday this year. Therefore, we will not have worship on Saturday 12/30, but just one worship service on Sunday 12/31.
Sunday, December 31
  • 10:00 am Christmas Carol Sing with Holy Communion

Daily Devotions for Advent & Christmas Seasons

All our ELCA congregations in the Eastern Missouri Conference have collaborated to create an Advent & Christmas daily devotional resource. This was created by pastors and members of our congregations, drawing on the gifts of our people in word, art, and photography. Christina Kling-Garrett and Brianna Dehn of Good Shepherd have written on behalf of GSLC. Printed copies will be available in the Narthex, or you can download the digital version for e-readers or pdf on our Grow Spiritually resource hub below.