Why I Love Good Shepherd #5

“WHY I LOVE GOOD SHEPHERD” (April 2010)

This article is the fifth in a series presented by the 2010 Stewardship Committee. If you are interested in submitting an article for the series, please contact Father Matt, we’d love to print your submission! This month we continue the series with a note from Rick Vesperman:

Good Shepherd has always been home for me. It was here that I was baptized, attended Sunday School and received my confirmation. Growing up in Good Shepherd I remember that my family was always active in church happenings. Dad would usher, Mom was on the Altar Guild, my older brother (John), my little sister (Lisa) and I were all acolytes….starting as torchbearers and eventually “graduating” to Crucifers and then on to Servers. When I became “too old” to be an acolyte my Dad and I attended classes together and became Lay Readers and Chalice Bearers.

As it would happen, I took a job in Law Enforcement and found myself working most Sundays and therefore was not really able to continue my regular attendance. Then my children were born and, of course, my wife and I wanted them to grow up with a Church Family, so back to Good Shepherd we came. Even though there were many new faces in the congregation it was as if we had always been here. My children attend Sunday School almost every week and always look forward to coming to Church. On the rare occasion that we even consider taking a Sunday “off” they will not hear of it. They always want to visit with their extended family. Now that they are now following in “Daddy’s” footsteps and have become Acolytes, they ask every week if it’s their “turn” to carry the torches or the Cross, and become somewhat despondent when it is not, but also understand that they must share the fun with others.

The Good Shepherd family is exactly that, a family, complete with good times and bad, joy and sorrow, fun times and work times. But, through it all, we are always a family….ready to stand up for each other, support each other and hug each other.

THAT IS WHY I LOVE GOOD SHEPHERD!!