Church of the Good Shepherd
3700 Rutherford Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17111-1940
The Reverend Kathleen J. Baker, Pastor
Welcome!
We invite anyone who wishes to hear and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to become part of our Sunday assembly. We are delighted when anyone feels the call to come among us, for a day, or for a time. We offer the following information to help you feel welcome during your time among us:
- Our ushers want you to feel comfortable. Please feel free to ask for help.
- Our bulletins are intended to assist those who are unfamiliar with our liturgy. You will find directions for congregational actions and responses. Our liturgy is found in the front of the red book, Evangelical Lutheran Worship and indicated by page numbers. Hymns in that book follow and are marked by ELW numbers. We also use the blue supplemental hymnal, With One Voice. Those references are marked as WOV numbers.
- Our gestures are few. We stand to sing together and usually to pray. Occasionally we kneel to pray. We sit to listen and for contemplation. You are welcome to make the sign of the cross as that is meaningful to you and to touch the waters in the font as you pass it to remember your baptism.
- We welcome to the Lord's Table all those who have been baptized to share faithfully in the Holy Eucharist. In this sacrament, by the power of God's Word and Holy Spirit, we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ along with the bread and wine for our forgiveness and salvation, as we celebrate our unity with Christ and all the saints.
- Communion is received by coming forward by the center aisle, as the ushers direct you. We kneel at the altar rail, either using glasses or receiving by intinction, where the pastor places a host upon your tongue. During Easter tide we receive the sacrament in procession, without kneeling, by intinction.
- There are materials in the pew rack to help you feel welcome. Communion cards assist us in communicating your presence to your home congregation. There are additional cards to help you indicate your interest in returning for worship or to let the pastor know of your interest. We hope you will sign our guest book in the narthex.
- When you find you are comfortable and consider becoming a member of Christ's Body at Good Shepherd, you may make that inquiry of the pastor or a lay person. Your decision to become a member will take one of the following forms:
- A request for a letter of transfer will be made to your parish where you are an active member.
- You may join by Reaffirmation of Faith.
- You may be baptized. An adult baptism implies a time of inquiry with catechism as appropriate for your situation. When you are ready to make a decision to be baptized, you will sign the Book of Life in the nave as a public enrollment, honoring your decision.
About Our Church