Tuesday, June 23
Newsletter Deadline
7:00 pm – Records Management/Retention Task Force Meeting

Wednesday, June 24
2:00 pm – Pastor April at Aase Haugen Home with Holy Communion

Thursday, June 25
9:00 am-12:30 pm – Women’s Retreat and Salad Luncheon at First Lutheran Church.Pastor April will lead a Bible Study on “Stewardship.” All women are welcome!

Saturday, June 27
5:00 pm – Worship Service using Marty Haugen’s liturgy Holden Evening Prayer; Seminarian Nathan Wicks, presiding. Holy Communion will not be served.

Note: This is the last Saturday evening service for the summer. Wednesday evening services with Holy Communion begin at 5:30, July 1, and extend through August.

Sunday, June 28
8:45 am – Handbell Choir Rehearsal
9:30 am – Worship Service with Holy Communion; Farewell for Nathan, Sarah, & Karl Wicks
10:30 am – Time of Fellowship in the Fellowship Hall – All are Welcome!

The Depot Outlet in Decorah has recently awarded a grant of $2,000 to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for its LED Lighting Initiative.  The congregation‘s goal was to relamp 100% of its interior and exterior lighting.

Following an energy audit of the church in 2014, it was determined that further energy savings, beyond the church’s Energy Star status received in 2013, would be to convert all existing lighting to LED lighting.  This involved every bulb/fixture throughout the entire interior of the building as well as parking lot lights, exterior signage and entry lights, and installation of occupancy sensors for all hallway and restroom lighting.

These improvements provide significant energy savings of nearly 9,000 watts of lighting over those previously used. It will dramatically improve lighting throughout the facility as well as provide uniformity, enhance security and significantly lower maintenance costs. Congregation President Jim Fritz, who led the initiative to improve the lighting, was assisted by Keith Donlon of Decorah Electric and a corps of volunteers from the congregation.

Fritz commented that “These lighting upgrades are an important investment of our energy resources.  It also continues the path towards energy self-sufficiency that has been a hallmark of Good Shepherd.”   Interim Pastor April Ulring Larson also noted that this initiative would make the church more welcoming and hospitable, allowing it to shine its light more strongly.

A Farewell and Godspeed litany for long-time Good Shepherd member Jean Swiggum was conducted by Pastor April and congregation president Jim Fritz during worship services on Sunday, June 14.  Jean will be leaving Decorah on June 18 to live in Cedar Falls.  The farewell and send-off continued during Fellowship Time after the service.

Tuesday, June 16
7:00 pm – Congregation Council meeting

Thursday, June 18
5:00-6:30 pm – Decorah Community Meal at First Lutheran Church

Saturday, June 20
5:00 pm – Worship Service with Holy Communion

Sunday, June 21
9:30 am – Worship Service with Holy Communion and Baptism of William Kyle Joyce
10:30 am – Special Congregation Meeting in Fellowship Hall

From Friday morning, June 5 to Saturday noon, June 6, a hearty crew of 17 Good Shepherd volunteers shingled the Annex and Shed with 14 squares (1,400 sq. ft.) of new asphalt architectural shingles, guaranteed to last 20 years. The crew did the installation with donated equipment including two nail guns and compressors. The area was cleaned up utilizing a dumpster, plywood and tarps, and a roller magnet. This installation is an extension of the Good Shepherd physical renewal and revitalization projects initiated with the 25^th Anniversary celebrations.