Together on the Journey in Inver Grove Heights
At 7600 Cahill Avenue in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is known for 9:00 AM Sunday worship with Holy Communion open to all and for an intergenerational community in which generations learn, worship, care for one another, and serve together. The congregation names this shared path 'Together on the Journey, Sharing God's Love.'
Good Shepherd is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Its identity is not confined to one age group. Children are welcomed into the sanctuary, confirmation and high school groups make room for questions, adults study faith throughout the year, and seniors share meals, stories, and outings. The result is a single intergenerational community in which relationships can grow across generations.
Grace-Filled Worship, Lifelong Learning, and Shared Blessings
The mission describes people at every stage, whether their feet are big or small, fresh or worn, running or crawling, and places sharing God's love at its center. The vision commits the congregation to a Christ-centered, relationship-building, intergenerational community through three aims:
- Grace-filled, actionable worship that expresses God's love and calls people to respond.
- Life-long learning through study and discussion of Scripture that welcomes questions, doubts, and struggles.
- Sharing God's blessings with others by contributing time, talents, and resources.
The core values make those aims concrete. The church builds a Christian environment in which acts of service are founded in God's unconditional love, revealed in Jesus Christ, and made visible through the Holy Spirit in Word and Sacrament. Worship engages message, music, and community to inspire and transform people. Learning honors questions, doubts, and struggles with faith. Members share time, talents, and resources to meet needs and joyfully give their presence for the support and care of others.
A 45-Minute Sunday Service With Room for Families
Every Sunday at 9:00 AM, Good Shepherd gathers for worship in the sanctuary at 7600 Cahill Avenue. Each service lasts about 45 minutes. A greeter at the front door welcomes arrivals, and a card in each pew explains what to expect. There is no dress code: visitors are simply invited to come as they are. ADA accessible parking is available at both the front and back of the building, with the rear spaces closest to an entrance.
Open Communion and children in worship
Worship proclaims the Good News of Jesus' love for all people at every age and in every place on their faith journey. Message, music, and community shape the service. Holy Communion is offered every Sunday, and the Lord's Table is open to all who gather. Good Shepherd provides juice and a gluten-free option for bread. Children of any age may receive Communion or a blessing.
Children of all ages are welcome and strongly encouraged to attend worship. Families with small children are encouraged to sit near the front so children can see and participate more fully. A nursery and the Lil' Worship Corner are available for parents and grandparents with infants and toddlers. On the first Tuesday of each month at 1:00 PM, the congregation also gathers for Timberhills Worship at Timberhills.
Sunday worship audio is posted and emailed each Sunday. People who listen away from the sanctuary can call 651-451-6229 to hear the service. Good Shepherd also makes Communion available to people who cannot be present, including elements for home or Communion delivered by a pastor.
Children Learn Through Worship, Play, and Family Time
The Inter+Gen Ministry Team provides faith-learning opportunities for children, families, and people of all ages. Children discover that they are chosen and deeply loved by God through worship, classroom teaching, faith milestones, service opportunities, and special events. The church sees Jesus as the heart of these offerings and treats children as full participants in the life of the congregation.
Little spaces that help families stay close
The nursery is a quiet space for babies to eat and rest in the InterGen wing. Changing stations are located in both restrooms in the Commons area, the family restroom in the InterGen wing, and the nursery quiet space. Parents may visit the nursery area with their children during services and ministry events, and audio from the sanctuary can be heard there during worship.
The Lil' Worship Corner is a dedicated space in the Commons for young children who need a break. Age-appropriate toys, books, and coloring pages allow children to explore while remaining near the worship service. Parents and children are encouraged to rejoin worship when they are ready.
Sunday school, activities, and family gatherings
Sunday School meets at 9:45 AM and serves children from nursery through fifth grade. The nursery class includes children six weeks to two years, Pre-K welcomes children ages three to five, and additional classes are offered for kindergarten through fifth grade. During the school year, children can pick up a Kids Kit on their way into the 9:00 AM worship service. Each kit contains an activity connected with the day's theme. After worship, the Kids Korner offers a short lesson and time with a pastor.
Family Fun Night happens once a month during the school year. Although all ages are welcome, it is designed primarily for pre-K and elementary children. A meal, Bible story, and activities help children learn about God's love together. Several times during the school year, Jesus Jamboree brings children together after worship to play, celebrate, and learn about the love of Jesus in a faith-filled setting.
Good Shepherd welcomes children of any age to receive Communion. A child receiving Communion extends both hands to the Communion server, while a child not receiving Communion can keep hands at the sides to receive a blessing. The church periodically offers Communion classes with parents. Its First Communion class is open to people of all ages and follows the ELCA's teaching on First Communion; those who complete the class are celebrated during Maundy Thursday worship. The fall Bible Instruction class gives children who do not yet have a Bible, or who want a refresher, a kid-friendly introduction to the Bible and a Bible to keep.
Confirmation and High School Faith in Everyday Life
Confirmation ministry serves middle schoolers in grades five through eight. Young people deepen their understanding of the Christian story and Lutheran traditions, connect faith to everyday life, and build relationships with peers, parents, and the faith community. Good Shepherd also has a 9th Grade Faith Statements activity and 9th Grade Confirmation Worship as students move through later stages of faith formation.
High School ministry creates space for exploration, doubt, and discovery. Youth are invited to ask questions in a safe place, consider where God is at work, and explore how the gifts of the Holy Spirit strengthen and guide them. The ministry seeks to build confidence and purpose while helping young people practice faith in the world.
- Breakfast and Bibles gathers students for breakfast, Bible study, and connection on the first Sunday of each month at 10:00 AM.
- Monthly gatherings build relationships through game nights, escape rooms, cornhole tournaments, laser tag, mini golf, and moonlight bowling.
- Serving together gives youth opportunities to put faith into action through service projects and summer mission opportunities.
- The Good Shepherd Cheer Squad attends sporting events, concerts, and other activities to cheer on Good Shepherd youth.
Special music guests also have a place in worship, sharing their musical skills with the congregation.
Adult Faith Learning, Fellowship, and Service
Good Shepherd understands faith development as a lifelong journey. Bible studies and other educational experiences are offered throughout the program year to challenge, stretch, and deepen faith as people live it at home, at work, and in the world. Past study series have included The Book of Exodus, The Beatitudes, and Banned Questions About the Bible. Adult Bible study is also offered Tuesday at 11:00 AM.
Learning is joined by all-church gatherings designed to strengthen relationships. Adult Ministry hosts events that bring generations together, including cheering during bingo, sharing cupcakes during Oktoberfest, and enjoying a popsicle at the all-church picnic.
- Men's Ministry offers game nights, bowling, service projects, and fellowship through which men support one another and grow in faith.
- Women's Ministry brings women together through retreats, kickboxing classes, service, and time for friendship, faith, and laughter.
- Seniors Ministry creates opportunities for shared meals, local outings, stories, and growth in faith among older members.
These gatherings welcome singles, couples, and families, whether they are new to the congregation or have been part of its life for many years.
Care Through Prayer, Presence, and Grief Support
The Care, Prayer and Support Ministry offers a steady presence during difficult experiences, celebrations, and challenges. People may ask for a prayer concern to be shared with the Prayer Companion Team or keep it confidential between themselves and a pastor. Pastors also make hospital visits when contacted and home visits to members who cannot attend worship. Those visits can include bringing Holy Communion.
- Healing After Loss offers comfort and support for grief following the death of a loved one or another significant loss, such as a job change or relocation. Professionally guided series provide practical tools for coping and healing. The ministry also includes a Surviving the Holidays dinner and worship service, a Grief Lectionary Bible study, and a support group.
- Plan Your Funeral Workshop is offered every other year with practical information from a local funeral home. It addresses funeral arrangements, available options, preparation for end-of-life wishes, and spiritual support for planning a meaningful worship service.
- Plan Your Financial Legacy is offered every other year by the Care, Prayer and Support Team. Led by a qualified financial planner, it explores charitable decisions and how including the church in an estate plan can support ministry and mission.
- Wellness Ministry offers two events each year with a faith-based approach to physical health, mental clarity, emotional resilience, and spiritual growth.
- Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups meet at Good Shepherd throughout the week.
People can also serve through the weekly Prayer Chain, a ministry that sends cards of healing, and the funeral luncheon team. No previous experience is required for funeral reception helpers, and instructions are provided when the meal is prepared.
Service That Feeds, Clothes, Builds, and Advocates
The Social Ministry Team organizes opportunities for all ages to serve people in the community and the world through works of charity and works of justice. Its activities are designed to feed, clothe, build, and advocate for others, drawing on the gifts of money, donations, time, and talents from members and friends of Good Shepherd.
The church's service work includes gathering food and school supplies, providing gas-card assistance for families around the holidays, supporting family caregivers, offering learning about anxiety and faith, and partnering with Shobi's Table, a ministry of the Saint Paul Area Synod. These efforts express the conviction that faith is put into action through both charity and justice.
Social Ministry also engages local leaders and decision-makers to listen and ask questions about the needs and struggles of neighbors. The church defines a neighbor as anyone in need and seeks to understand those needs before deciding how its resources can best serve them.
Resources for the work
Good Shepherd supports local and global ministry through one-time and recurring gifts made with a credit card, debit card, or checking account through SecureGive online giving. The SecureGive app is also available, and gifts can be made by texting 'Gift' and an amount to 855-997-6955. Donors may also set up the church as a payee through online banking. Qualified charitable distributions, securities, legacies, and memorial gifts are additional ways to contribute.
Joining the Journey
Good Shepherd welcomes people to become members by completing a membership form. A pastor or member may then reach out to welcome them and answer questions. New members are invited to a Meet and Greet that includes an introduction to the church's vision and mission, a brief overview of Lutheran theology, time to meet other new members, and refreshments. New members are formally received during Sunday morning worship.
Baptism, Wedding, and Funeral Care
Baptism is treated as a community event involving the entire congregation. The child's faith family, parents, and sponsors promise to partner together in raising the child in faith, and baptized children are celebrated during Sunday worship. Good Shepherd teaches that baptism makes visible what was always known: each person is a special child of God, loved no matter where life leads.
The church regards marriage as an extraordinary gift of God and prepares couples not only for their wedding but for life together. The pastors help couples through the marriage preparation process and the celebration of their wedding.
Good Shepherd also plans funerals and memorial services for those grieving a loved one. Its pastors offer the assurance of hope in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and can help arrange a meal or dessert reception after the service. A director from a funeral home or cremation society is asked to assist on the day of the service.
Facilities Shared With the Community
Good Shepherd makes its facilities available to members and outside organized groups in the spirit of serving God and others by making a positive impact in the community. Spaces can be reserved for meetings, activities, and community events as part of the church's wider commitment to service.
The People and Building That Receive Visitors
Lead Pastor Rev. Leesa Soderlind and Pastor Rev. Courtney Steitz share pastoral leadership, while Rev. Orval Osmundson serves as Pastor Emeritus. Angie Huizel serves as the church's musician, and Wayne Gorr coordinates worship volunteers. These leaders are joined by greeters, welcoming teams, ushers, Communion assistants, and special musicians who help visitors feel at home and support the flow of worship.
Greeters serve at the front doors before worship and are often the first people to meet visitors. Welcomes take place in the Commons after the service. Ushers greet people at the sanctuary doors, assist those with specific needs, collect the offering, and direct the Communion procession. Communion assistants help distribute Communion to the open table.
Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM and Sunday from 7:30 AM to noon, with the office closed on Fridays. Pastors are also available on evenings and weekends by scheduled appointment. For safety, the building is normally locked, but a doorbell allows visitors to make their presence known. It is unlocked for worship, churchwide activities, and special events. The church's main number is 651-451-6225.
A Church for Every Generation
Good Shepherd's shared identity is lived through worship, learning, care, service, and relationships that cross generations. Children encounter the language of worship, students question and discover, adults study and serve, and seniors offer wisdom and fellowship. At 7600 Cahill Avenue in Inver Grove Heights, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church carries its mission through the whole life of its congregation and the community around it.