The Epiphany moment when John’s disciples leave behind what they believed and committed to in order to follow Jesus, shows us that revelation often asks us to let go of what feels familiar and safe. Faith grows through testimony—sharing how God has met us in difficult turning points—just as Andrew shared his experience with Peter, allowing the church and discipleship to take root.
The Epiphany moment when John’s disciples leave behind what they believed and committed to in order to follow Jesus, shows us that revelation often asks us to let go of what feels familiar and safe. Faith grows through testimony—sharing how God has met us in difficult turning points—just as Andrew shared his experience with Peter, allowing the church and discipleship to take root.
Christmas is about God breaking into our world with light and hope, even in the darkest of times. We carry that hope into our daily lives and relationships.
Like those who sought out John the Baptist in the wilderness, we come to worship longing for renewal, courage, justice, and the assurance that we belong to God. He called us to repentance not as shame, but as transformation—an honest return to our shared story so we can step faithfully into the future God is preparing.
Advent is a season of wakefulness—an invitation to resist spiritual numbness and stay alert to God’s unfolding work in a weary world. It is time to rise, prepare, and live expectantly, trusting that God’s light and justice are drawing near even when the night feels long.
You may have learned from news reports that Morgan Geyser, one of the perpetrators of the 2014 Slender Man stabbing in Waukesha, attended services at Good Shepherd’s Madison campus the past few weeks. No one at the church, nor the Madison Police Department, knew she had been moved to a group home near the Madison campus. While visiting Good Shepherd, she became friends with another recent attendee, Chad “Charly” Mecca. Saturday night, police said Geyser, with Mecca’s help, cut off her ankle bracelet and tried to flee the state. Geyser and Mecca were found at a truck stop outside Chicago and now face charges.
Our leadership acknowledges this incident touched Good Shepherd and affirms our responsibility to address congregational concerns. Good Shepherd is cooperating fully with law enforcement and, at this time, has no indication anyone else in our church community was involved.
Good Shepherd is committed to welcoming all to love God by building inclusive, grace-filled communities where everyone belongs. At the same time, we understand the importance and challenge of creating and maintaining a safe worship environment for our members and visitors.
We will continue our ongoing review of Good Shepherd’s safety and security plans in the next few weeks as we seek to balance our mission to welcome all, while keeping our members and visitors safe.
Although our modern world feels chaotic, human time and its troubles don’t bind God, whose resurrection justice is rooted in mercy for all. Speaking of human distractions, Job’s struggle and the reality that the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper, show us that we should not be consumed by distractions but trust them to God, who is big enough to hold our confusion and vulnerability
It has been a long time…
This month will be my one-year anniversary of serving at Interim Lead Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. It has been a whirlwind. I am just now beginning to reflect on how much we have accomplished together, setting the table for the Lead Pastor GSLC calls to serve.
I have begun updating my sermons page, not knowing when it will be time to serve another church as an Interim Pastor. I am in no rush, I hasten to add, glad for the time I am given to serve GSLC.
God bless you all my friends. I will be in touch again soon.
On the final Wednesday of our Lenten Re:Confirmation program, we talked about church history, how the UCC formed in 1957 bringing together several Reformation churches, including Congregationalist churches like ours.
I brought one of the many dinner plates in our kitchen with the name “Union Congregational Church of Windsor” embossed in gold leaf.
“Union of what?” I asked.
The answer didn’t spring to mind, and neither could we say when the Union Congregational Church of Windsor became Windsor United Church of Christ–how and why the church decided to join the UCC, how it managed such a momentous decision.
The next day, Susan Norby sent some photos of a church directory with a black-and-white picture of the inside of the “blue church,” which is now our Narthex. We enter and exit to and from our current sanctuary by way of its still-standing brick wall.
Along with the photo of the blue church was this brief history:
In 1845, a group of settlers started holding services with a Congregational minister as their leader. In 1847, the first church was organized and had a Baptist affiliation. In 1851, the Congregational Church of Windsor was formed. In 1858, people of the Baptist, Methodist and Congregational faiths united and formed the Union Congregational Church of Windsor.
The first church building was erected in 1862 and some 40 years later was moved to its present site. In 1956, the present parsonage was built; and in 1967, the present church was built and the old church was remodeled for use in church related activities.
Our church has grown from a small group of seven people who met in a one-room schoolhouse to a congregation of 300 active members who worship and work in a modern well-kept facility.
This history is telling. The churches united in 1858 were not of different faiths but denominations of the same Christian faith. And then there is the question of what species of Baptist were part of the union, Baptists being as diverse as Lutherans. It would be good to know more.
From Congregational United Church of Christ, to Windsor Union Congregational Church, to Windsor United Church of Christ in 1991, this brief history reveals that the spirit of uniting diverse people from different worshiping communities is in the DNA of our congregation.
God bless you and Windsor UCC.
Peace,
Pr. Craig
Suppose It Matters 