Good Shepherd church marks 60th anniversary

Members and friends will gather today to celebrate the 60th anniversary of a southside Lethbridge congregation.

The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd held its first services in the winter of 1956 and the cornerstone of its new sanctuary was dedicated in May 1957. The building, featuring laminated beams and Roman brick exterior, was designed by Lethbridge architect George Watson,

A barbecue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church for members and neighbours will include a tour of recent renovations. It will be followed by a dinner at 5:30 p.m. at the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization facilities, 500 11 St. S.

Bishop Larry Kochendorfer — pastor at Good Shepherd from 1993 to 2002 — will be guest speaker at the dinner and will also offer a sermon during the Sunday worship at 10 a.m. A member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Good Shepherd and its volunteers have been active in the community through such initiatives as the Soup Kitchen and the city’s Ecumenical Campus Ministry, serving students at Lethbridge College and the University of Lethbridge.

Members have also taken part in international programs including a Habitat for Humanity project in El Salvador, and a Stephen Ministry program in Mexico as well as humanitarian projects through global Lutheran programs.

Here in Lethbridge, members of Good Shepherd have also taken part in projects and worship alongside members of neighbouring Catholic and United Church congregations. Later this year, they’ll be joining with other Lethbridge-area Lutheran churches to commemorate the start of the Protestant Reformation, 500 years ago in Germany.