Good Shepherd's Episcopal Church
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
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Thank you for your interest in Good Shepherd. We invite you to look beyond the Snapshot above by reading the Good Shepherd story set out in this Parish Profile.
At Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Sun Prairie, Jesus Christ is at the center of who we are and what we do.
Which places Christ and the Cross at the center of our core values: Praising God in worship, Serving one another and the larger community in Christ's name, and Sharing the Good News by word and deed. "Praising, Serving, Sharing" – in all these, Christ is central.
Christ's centrality in our lives reveals that in our core beliefs Good Shepherd is a traditional Christian community: our world view is summarized in the Creeds, and we believe that through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God speaks to us through the Bible.
Now we're pioneering a new path with the help of our new Vicar. With our Bishop's blessing. We believe that this arrangement will stretch and strengthen the parish and, in turn, better equip us to do God's work.
The stability that comes from being anchored in Christ, and the forward thinking born of a pioneer spirit, combine to form an essential theme in the Good Shepherd story. A challenge for the parish in the years ahead is to use that "innovative thinking" to discover new ways to serve others in Christ's name.
We appreciate your interest in Good Shepherd, and we invite you to discover something of this community in the pages that follow. We're eager for you to get to know us— and vice-versa!
[ to table of contents ]Here are a few observations about Good Shepherd. They do not fully describe this church, but we hope they will help introduce you to our parish.
Community. The sense of community at Good Shepherd is extraordinarily strong. We truly care about and enjoy each other. However, a risk associated with that strong love for each other is that we can neglect Christ's charge to take that love into the world. We can get too comfortable in our own family. We're diligently trying to overcome that tendency.
Hospitality. Hospitality is important at Good Shepherd. We've learned that hospitality can be service, evangelism, and worship all at once. It recognizes that others – especially visitors – are worth extra effort and thoughtfulness. It's one way to fulfill our Baptismal Covenant to seek and serve Christ in all persons and respect the dignity of every human being.
Children & Youth. The children's and youth ministries at Good Shepherd are strong. In addition to providing opportunities for fellowship and Christian formation, Good Shepherd has historically been a means of evangelism by welcoming young people whose families are not currently active in any church. We also have a vibrant Vacation Bible School. Youth mission trips are well attended, and our youth are active in diocesan renewal programs. We place great importance on providing excellent children's and youth ministries.
Renewal. The renewal movement has had a strong effect on Good Shepherd. Numerous parishioners have attended The Purpose Driven Life and are active in other ministries. Our parishioners' leadership in these ministries has been a resource for the entire diocese. The Alpha Course, while primarily intended as a tool for evangelism, has also sparked renewal in the spiritual life of existing parishioners.
Focused on Mission. At Good Shepherd, we've traditionally avoided the debates that sometimes embroil the Episcopal Church. We think it's unhealthy for those issues to dominate and define our denomination, and we believe they distract us from our true mission, which is to equip the saints to share Christ's love. That's our focus, and we have a Vicar who shares that focus.
Our Journey. Good Shepherd is a church that is eager to grow as a Christian community, led by (if we are attentive) the Holy Spirit. That's not God's vision for either the priest or the people. Instead, we have a relationship with Vicar that is centered in Christ and nourishes growth of both the Vicar and the laity. We have a Vicar who, like Jesus, calls others into ministry and shows them how to live their faith in daily life. We yearn to know God better, and we pray that God will help us do that, and then will help us fulfill God's plan for our lives, both as a community and as individuals.
[ to table of contents ]Good Shepherd Church was formed in 1991 when the former Saint Chad's Episcopal congregation, a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee, decided to sell it's temporary building on Wilson Street and relocate. For over three years church services were held in a local school auditorium. In 1997 the congregation remodeled a store front to serve as a temporary home until a permanent facility could be built. In 1998 a six acre parcel of land at the Northwest corner of highways 19 and County Trunk C was purchased. A large sign was erected at the site in August 1999.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new 5600 square foot phase one facility was held April 30, 2000. Our new building was completed and dedicated in December 2000. The phase one building provides an efficient worship space, narthex, social hall, kitchen, rest rooms, church offices, sacristy, church school rooms and a multi-purpose area
Worship Services.
| Sunday Services | |
| 8:00 am | Holy Eucharist, Rite I |
| 9:15 am - 9:45 am | Adult Forum (nursery available). Click here for more information |
| 10:00 am | Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with full choir and Children's Chapel (nursery available) |
| 12:00 am | Informal Prayer & Praise Service |
| Weekday Services | |
| Weekdays at 9:30 am |
A Daily Devotion for Individuals and Families (from The Book of Common Prayer, page 136) is held daily in the Chapel. Everyone is invited to attend. |
| Wednesday at 6:30 pm |
Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with unction (Unction is the rite of anointing the sick with oil, or the laying on of hands, by which God's grace is given for the healing of spirit, mind, and body.) |
Christian Education.
Nursery (Infant through age 5).Open from 9:15 a.m. until 11:15 a.m. on Sundays. Our children are guided in making their first steps in God's kingdom through simple activities offered in the Good Shepherd Nursery.
NOTE: The Nursery wil be available for most Adult classes. Please call ahead
Childrens Worship Service (Age 4 through 8).The Children's Worship Service is held during the 10:00 a.m. service as a way to give young members of the congregation a child - friendly worship environment. The Children's Worship Service is designed to introduce our younger children to the liturgical celebration of God's love. They will hear and reflect upon Bible stories and are given time to be creative. They offer prayers and share a feast. Children meet their families in Church at the peace to participate in the Holy Communion together.
Staff. Our ministries are currently supported by volunteers, full and part-time staff consisting of a Vicar, and Director of Music and Worship. In addition, parishioners regularly serve as office volunteers.
Facilities. The church buildings rest on 6 parcels of land and include the main worship space, the church offices, and parish hal. Within the past five years, we have completed significant outdoor improvements, including the construction off a large paved and landscaped courtyard that accommodates outdoor worship services and fellowship gatherings, and an entry courtyard and fountain that provides quiet space for reflection and a welcoming transition from the parking areas to the main worship space.
Ministries. A description of missions and ministries of the parish is set out in the Ministries and Missions Pages.
[ to table of contents ]Good Shepherd Church was formed in 1991 when the former Saint Chad's Episcopal congregation, a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee, decided to sell it's temporary building on Wilson Street and relocate. For over three years church services were held in a local school auditorium. In 1997 the congregation remodeled a store front to serve as a temporary home until a permanent facility could be built. In 1998 a six acre parcel of land at the Northwest corner of highways 19 and County Trunk C was purchased. A large sign was erected at the site in August 1999.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new 5600 square foot phase one facility was held April 30, 2000. Our new building was completed and dedicated in December 2000. The phase one building provides an efficient worship space, narthex, social hall, kitchen, rest rooms, church offices, sacristy, church school rooms and a multi-purpose area. Watch our progress!
The Parish. The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd is a growing community of Christians which provides an environment to worship and serve God, and to live and share the love of Jesus with all people.
Good Shepherd is a congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee serving the greater Sun Prairie area. We are a growing, diverse community of Christians involved in a wide variety of ministries. See the "Ministries" section of our web pages for a listing of the many opportunities for worship, service, evangelism, education, and pastoral care. Visit our "Prayer Request" page to request specific prayers for guidance, thanksgiving, healing, or any other need. Our congregation strives to care, share, and hang-in-there! You are welcome to visit us anytime!
[ to table of contents ]Background. We believe the long-term vitality of our church requires longterm planning. Accordingly the vestry and other lay leaders embarked on a planning process that involved the entire parish and resulted in the Good Shepherd Plan for the Future.
Praising, Serving, Sharing. We describe three components of our life that define this parish: praising God in worship, serving one another and the larger community in Christ's name, and sharing the Good News of God's love. "Praising, Serving, and Sharing" form Good Shepherd own three-legged stool.
Goals and Objectives. The Goals and Objectives in the Parish provide specific, yet flexible, initiatives that both grow out of and provide support for the Mission Statement, Core Values, and Vision Statement. The Goals and Objectives cover seven areas of parish life: Service and Outreach; Worship; Christian Education; Evangelism and Newcomer Ministry; Pastoral Ministries; Stewardship; and Communications. They are primarily based on discussions with ministry leaders, and are consistent with the Core Values, Mission Statement, and Vision Statement.
A Living Plan. The Plan for the Future provides a roadmap and a measuring stick for Good Shepherd over the next several years. It is the product of significant time, thought, prayer, and effort. Though clergy input was solicited and appreciated, the planning process and product were overwhelmingly a lay endeavor. The parish has endorsed the Plan, and our vestry's responsibilities have been organized around the Goals and Objectives. We really intend to use a Plan as we move forward, and we would expect our Vicar generally to endorse and help us implement the Plan. However, the Plan is intended to be a living, growing document. It's not carved in stone, and we look for our Vicar, as well as the laity, to examine the Plan – particularly the Goals and Objectives – on an ongoing basis and suggest modifications, additions, and revisions that are appropriate for a living, growing parish that prayerfully continues to try to discern God's will for this community.
We urge you to take part in the Parish, you could provide useful insights into sharing Christ with the community.
[ to table of contents ]In this section, we focus on ministries that are meaningful in our parish life. These are not the "most important" ministries at Good Shepherd, nor are they "representative" of the diverse opportunities for growth and service available here (we wouldn't know how to identify those ministries, anyway). But they do provide insight into special aspects of the Good Shepherd community.
The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee-Haiti Project is an outreach ministry of the Episcopal Church in southern Wisconsin. It is a partnership in mission and community development with the people of St. Marc’s Episcopal Church, School and Clinic in Jeannette, Haiti and the people of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee. Together we seek to respond to Christ’s call to use our skills, time, money and God’s love to make a long term difference in people’s lives.
[ to table of contents ]This group meets Tuesday nights at 7:00. It is led by the Holy Spirit, and is facilitated by a couple of our parishioners who have extensive experience with individual prayers of healing and renewal. Included in the study is the art of Theophostic Healing Ministry. This group has been practicing and growing since early 2003. (Always open to the public)
Pledges to Good Shepherd have not increased in the last few years.
We have committed in our Plan for the Future
to educate each other about the Biblical principle of tithing. By that
standard, given our general membership, we have much work
to do. Moreover our current levels of parish
giving do not provide us with the means to fulfill our understanding of
God's vision for Good Shepherd.
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For several years, the budgeting process has been difficult, because we have felt constrained in our ability to undertake missions and ministries after paying nondiscretionary expenses. Much of our mission and ministry support is made through our diocesan assessment. However, we would like to be able to provide more direct financial support for areas of ministry within and outside the parish.
To address the financial concerns noted above, the Executive Committy has engaged Bishops Committy to help develop a stewardship plan with elements that could be used in later years. We selected Bishops Committy because we recognized that a stewardship plan for this parish must be based on good principles and must preeminently recognize that "true stewardship offers the Christian the opportunity to give back to God as an act of gratitude and worship." We believe that the plan developed with Bishops Committy will not only help fulfill the parish's financial goals, but, more importantly, can be a catalyst for further spiritual growth in the parish.
Missions Support. Expenditures for Missions and Outreach in the operating budget do not reflect additional funds raised for the Haiti Mission.
In the next few years, the parish will face challenges that test and focus our faith. Many challenges are unforeseeable, but at this point, we believe these are some issues that will occupy the attention and prayers of our Vicar, lay leadership, and parish-at-large:
Broadening the Vision. The lay leadership – particularly those involved in developing and implementing the Plan for the Future – have "taken ownership" of our Vision Statement: "Good Shepherd will become a church that serves the world in the name of Jesus Christ, strengthened and equipped by His love in community and worship." We understand that life at Good Shepherd must equip us to go beyond Good Shepherd to share Christ with others in daily life. The parish-at-large has endorsed the Plan, but it will be a challenge to educate, encourage, and equip all parishioners to make the Vision Statement a reality in their individual lives, which must occur if it is to become a reality in our corporate life as a parish. Growth and change are part of God's plan for Good Shepherd, but we must pursue change in a loving way that nourishes spiritual growth in our members, rather than leaves them feeling left behind by a church they love.
Maintaining Focus. As noted previously, Good Shepherd historically has not devoted energy to debates that distract us from our primary mission to equip one another for ministry in Christ's name. In the face of disagreements within the church, we will be challenged to remain focused on that primary mission and to recognize and love, as brothers and sisters in Christ, those with whom we disagree.
Finances. Institutionally, Good Shepherd is a good steward of its resources. We run a pretty tight ship. But because our fixed costs make up such a large portion of our budget, it will important for the parish to increase its giving to Good Shepherd in the coming years, so that we can expand our mission and ministry. We are confident that The Executive's Commmitte will help in this area. But we must also continue to remember that God's love is about abundance, not scarcity – about confidence, not anxiety. Ultimately, our financial support of Good Shepherd is a reflection of our relationship with Him. If we can truly appreciate God's blessings, then we naturally will want to express our gratitude through gifts to the church, and we will be willing to step out in faith, knowing that God will take care of us. We know that our Vicar will keep these truths before us, and make teaching and working on stewardship a year-round component of our Christian formation.
Demographics, Growth, and Facilities. Our worship space is large enough to accommodate more worshipers, and our educational classrooms, meeting spaces, and fellowship facilities are larger then our current needs. This suggests two challenges: first, we must grow our attendance and communicant numbers, and second, we must plan for capital improvements to our non-worship facilities to allow us to have room for everyone. Of course, spiritual growth is key to increased attendance and new-communicant growth. Especially when our neighborhood is in a period of Development, with new families looking for authentic and meaningful worship for themselves and their children, we must continue to explore how we can serve our neighbors with fresh and inviting worship opportunities, in addition to traditional Sunday morning worship. We also must graciously and creatively incorporate new members into the vibrant ministries of this parish. If parishioner involvement and communicant numbers increase, both the need and the ability to mount a capital campaign for new or improved facilities will become apparent. But, as in all things, we must be diligent in trying to discern God's plan for Good Shepherd rather than our own.
[ to table of contents ]We hope that this Profile and the other accompanying materials help you learn something of the community God has created and is creating at Good Shepherd. We are excited about what God has in store for this church.