Sunday Morning Worship at 10 am

Sunday Morning Forums, Gatherings, and Activities at 9 am

This Fall’s Liturgy Rotation for Sunday Morning Worship

Once again this fall, we will share in a rotation of three different kinds of liturgies on Sunday mornings. Here’s an overview:

New Life Rising – New Life Rising is a liturgy built to engage all ages in modern, upbeat folk music and in the resurrection love we find in all our neighbors. Through worship practices, singing, and percussion that turns us toward one another, New Life Rising guides us to praise God with our whole body, mind, and soul!

A Legacy Liturgy: Classic and Ancient Gifts – In this liturgy, we will draw upon some of the musical gifts of the Lutheran Christian tradition, including the Reformation and Renaissance eras, as well as older musical sources, and also some classic hymns from more recent centuries, including hymns of the American gospel and spirituals traditions.

A Liturgy of Bridges and Roots – This liturgy was created by an intergenerational group in the Good Shepherd community. Our Liturgy of Bridges and Roots helps highlight the need for bridges between people, as well as between people and God, and it roots us in our own place and time.

Worship will NOT be livestreamed. Video recordings of the sermon will be posted on Sunday afternoon at 3pm on Facebook, YouTube, and here on the the website

Sunday Morning Children Activities

Activity Time – Every Sunday Morning during the Learning Hour at 9 am, children and youth of all ages are invited to the Youth Room (in the lower level) for some Activity Time! The focus of Activity Time will be on building relationships and creative play, more than education. There will be a combination of free play, organized group activities, and time for conversation. It will be a lot of fun, and a great way to make new friends and develop lasting friendships at church!

Sunday School – Every other Sunday (Oct. 6 & 20, Nov. 3 & 17, Dec. 1, 13, & 29), children between Kindergarten and Sixth Grade will have the option to temporarily leave worship after the For All God’s Children Time for Sunday School. Sunday School will take place in Room 114, and be an interactive lesson on a story from The Bible. Children will return for worship during the Sermon Hymn. We hope that this allows all children to encounter the Gospel appropriate to their energy level and interest. Contact Pastor Bergen at bergen@gsolympia.org with questions or if you would like to serve as a Sunday School teacher.

A play area and seating for children and their caregivers is available in the sanctuary, and a staffed nursery is also available in Room 114 for the youngest among us

Upcoming Worship and Forum Schedule

Sunday, November 17

9 am Forum – CIELO: An Important Ministry in Our Community – Led by Kindra Galan, CIELO Education Director.

About the forum: Did you know that CIELO is a ministry that is housed in the Shepherd’s Corner building? Their mission is “to promote community, self-sufficiency, and leadership of Latinx, Indigenous and Immigrant communities in the South Puget Sound.” Come and learn about CIELO’s work and their upcoming Posadas events. We also look forward to honoring Lynn Byrnes for her work with CIELO.

10 am Worship – Liturgy of Bridges and Roots, Sunday School, Pastor Bergen Eickhoff preaching. Hospitality & Fellowship immediately following worship in Crary Hall.

Sunday, November 24

9 am Forum – Native American History (Now and Then) – Led by Mark Kremen, Jeanne Vosburgh and Steve Robinson will share reflections on current and historical Native American cultural and spiritual practices.

10 am Worship – Reign of Christ Sunday, A Legacy Liturgy: Classic and Ancient Gifts; Holy Communion, Welcome of New Members, Pastor Bergen Eickhoff preaching. Hospitality & Fellowship immediately following worship in Crary Hall.

Advent Sunday Morning Worship

Daring Advent Hope in Christ: The Weary World Rejoices

During Advent Sunday morning worship this year, we will be drawing upon a thematic focus provided by theologian Kate Bowler. (Some of you may remember our study of her books, including Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I Have Loved.)

Sunday, December 1

9 am Forum – Approaching Admiration for Advent: God's Ever-New Beginning – Led by Pastor Bergen Eickhoff 

About the forum: Advent is the opening of the church's liturgical year. It is marked by themes of waiting, yearning, hope, and the arrival of the promised Messiah. It is also a season of contradictions. It celebrates peace amidst a time of stress and hurriedness. It proclaims comfort as days grow shorter and colder. It announces salvation while the world's imperfections are glaringly obvious. Giving time for a proper appreciation for Advent can rejuvenate our spirits for the year ahead, and can help us live into the liberation that comes with Jesus' incarnation. In this forum, Pastor Bergen will do their best to introduce us to the many reasons to admire the ambiguous season of Advent, and show why it's more than calendars and the source of the greatest church music!
(Though it is also those things.)

10 am Worship – First Sunday of Advent, Holy Communion, Blessing of the Communion Ministers to the Homebound, Lighting of the Advent Candle, Pastor Bergen Eickhoff preaching on “The Promise of Truth”

Sunday, December 8

10 am Worship – Second Sunday of Advent, Lighting of the Advent Candles, Pastor Carol Tomer preaching on “The Promise of Compassion”

Sunday, December 15

10 am Worship – Third Sunday of Advent, Holy Communion, Lighting of the Advent Candles, Pastor Bergen Eickhoff preaching on “The Promise of Restoration”

Sunday, December 22

10 am Worship – Fourth Sunday of Advent, Lighting of the Advent Candles, “On the Cusp of Christmas: A Service of Song and the Promise of Justice,” Reflections by Pastor Carol Tomer

Midweek Advent Gatherings

Wednesdays, December 4, 11, & 18

5:00 - 6:00 pm – Soup Suppers

6:15 pm - 6:45 pm – Midweek Advent Worship

7:00 pm – Choir Rehearsal

About Advent Midweek Worship: Advent Evening Prayer, featuring the Bless This Night liturgy from Holden Village and youth leading a candlelit prayer around the cross ritual in the style of Holden Village.

More about prayer around the cross: This special dimension of worship will be similar to the closing worship time during the South Sound Lutheran Youth Activity Nights. Youth are specifically invited to help set up the candles and boxes, introduce the practice to the assembled, and guide people in the practice of praying with candles around the sandbox cross. This essential worship practice is intended to lift up the gifts of emerging youth leaders, supporting them with instruction, care, and encouragement throughout the process.