A Welcoming Congregation on Leta Drive in Colorado Springs
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church sits on Leta Drive on the south side of Colorado Springs, just east of Fountain Creek. The congregation's motto, "Rooted in faith. Grounded in love. Serving with purpose." captures what members describe as a family atmosphere where people of all ages can deepen their faith, discover their purpose, and experience God's grace. Pastor Peter Jisung Lee frames the church's mission in four movements: to seek God first, to grow in Christ, to serve in the Spirit, and to share God's love. Everything the congregation does is built on those three core values of worship, discipleship, and service.
Good Shepherd belongs to the Mountain Sky Conference, a regional network of more than 300 United Methodist churches across five states. The church also partners with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to support disaster response and humanitarian aid, and maintains a Covenant Missionary partnership with Rev. Althea Belton, a Church and Community Worker at Gulfside Assembly in Waveland, Mississippi. Those connections shape a congregation that is at once local in its daily rhythm and global in its reach.
Sundays at 9:30
Weekly worship is held every Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. at 1201 Leta Drive. The service follows a traditional United Methodist pattern with congregational singing led by accompanist Kristin Amundson, scripture readings, a children's message, a sermon, and prayers. Holy Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. Visitors are welcomed warmly and invited to "come exactly as you are."
The church building holds a main sanctuary along with a cry room near the sanctuary for parents who prefer to keep young children with them, and a nursery is available for children five and under during every service. Sunday school for children of all ages meets during the service, beginning with a Children's Time at the front after which children are invited to Children's Church for age-appropriate lessons drawn from the Old and New Testaments. A second, separate worship service - the AIM Upper Room Church Worship Service - follows at 11:30 a.m. in the same building.
AIM Upper Room Church: A Shared Building, A Second Congregation
One distinctive feature of Good Shepherd is the presence of AIM Upper Room Church, a separate worshiping community that meets in the building and shares facilities with the United Methodist congregation. AIM Upper Room Church holds its own Sunday worship service at 11:30 a.m. and gathers for Bible Study on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. and on Friday evenings at 6:00 p.m. The two congregations share the sanctuary, fellowship space, and office resources while maintaining their own ministry rhythms, and the partnership reflects Good Shepherd's commitment to be a church home for more than one expression of Christian community.
Holy Communion, Children's Time, and Sunday School
Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month is a particular highlight of the worship calendar. The sacrament is open to all who wish to receive, in keeping with United Methodist practice.
Children are woven into the life of the church from the very start of the service. Following the Children's Time message, children may remain in the sanctuary or move to Children's Church, where they explore Old and New Testament stories through lessons, activities, and discussion. Two traditions especially shape the children's ministry. On the second Sunday of each month, the Noisy Offering invites the whole congregation to give loose change, which the children then collect; the funds are used for mission projects chosen by the children themselves, teaching generosity from an early age. Throughout the year, children also take part in the Palm Sunday procession, waving palm branches as the church marks Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.
Seasonal community events extend the children's ministry outward. An annual Easter Egg Hunt is held on the Saturday before Easter and welcomes children and families from the surrounding neighborhood. Each summer, Good Shepherd hosts a free Vacation Bible School open to all children in the community, with music, crafts, games, Bible stories, and hands-on activities. In the fall, the church parking lot becomes the setting for Trunk or Treat, a safe and welcoming Halloween celebration with decorated trunks, games, prizes, food, and candy that draws families from across the area.
Wednesday and Thursday Rhythms: Bell Choir, Caring Team, and the Food Pantry
Wednesday mornings at Good Shepherd begin with a Fitness Class at 9:30 a.m. and continue with the Shepherd Caring Team Meeting at 10:30 a.m. in the Conference Room, where lay members coordinate the church's pastoral care for those who are ill, grieving, or otherwise in need of support. On Wednesday evenings from September through May, the Bell Choir rehearses at 6:30 p.m., preparing music for worship services and special occasions.
Thursday is the church's outreach day. The Emergency Food Pantry opens from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. every Thursday except national holidays, and may close during severe weather for the safety of volunteers and guests. The pantry provides a three-day supply of food to individuals and families experiencing hardship, including cereal, soup, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, jelly, and canned or frozen meats. When available, fresh produce and dairy are added. Assistance is limited to once per month per household, reflecting the pantry's role as an emergency stop-gap rather than a long-term solution. The shelves are restocked through donations from the congregation, the wider community, and Care and Share Food Bank For Southern Colorado, and dedicated volunteers serve each month. A Fitness Class also meets on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m., making the building a busy hub of activity on weekday mornings.
We Care Bags: A Small Meal with a Big Impact
About fifteen years ago, the Insights Sunday School class felt called to respond to hunger in the community, and that conviction gave rise to the We Care Bags ministry. Each We Care Bag is a simple sack lunch - a single meal for one person in a moment of need - assembled by volunteers and labeled as a gift from Good Shepherd United Methodist Church. Every item is chosen to be nourishing and easy to open: an individual-sized pull-tab can of Beanie Weenies, a 4 oz. applesauce cup, a snack-sized peanut butter cup, crackers with cheese or cream cheese filling, a breakfast or protein bar, and an 8 oz. boxed water, along with a plastic spoon, paper towel, and Handi-wipe. Over the years the ministry has made small updates, such as switching to boxed water, to better care for both people and the environment. The We Care Bags are coordinated through United Women in Faith, and donations of supplies or help packing are welcomed from anyone who would like to participate.
United Women in Faith
United Women in Faith is a sisterhood within The United Methodist Church that has, since 1869, put faith, hope, and love into action through mission work around the world. The Good Shepherd unit is an active one. Members gather on the first Saturday of each month from September through May at 9:30 a.m. in Cooper Hall for prayer, devotional time, and discussion, often drawing on articles from response, the United Women in Faith magazine and selections from the organization's recommended reading list. Guest speakers from local organizations are invited regularly to help the group stay connected to needs in the community.
The unit's ministry reaches well beyond the church walls. Each year members assemble and ship hygiene kits for UMCOR, support the congregation's covenant missionary, contribute to local memorials and outreach programs, and help fund Vacation Bible School, the Easter Egg Hunt, and Trunk or Treat. They also celebrate new life in the congregation with gifts for babies. In 2025 alone, the Good Shepherd unit contributed more than $6,000 to mission work, sharing God's love with women, children, and families both near and far.
Good Shepherd Men
Good Shepherd Men offers a parallel space for men in the congregation. The group meets on the second Saturday of each month from September through May at 8:00 a.m. in Cooper Hall. Gatherings begin with a hearty breakfast and continue with devotional time, meaningful conversation, and an open, confidential environment for sharing. The group exists to encourage one another through the joys and challenges of life, to strengthen each man's walk with God, and to build lasting friendships grounded in Christ. Whether a man comes seeking encouragement, connection, or simply a place to share his journey, he is invited to join.
Insights Sunday School and Lifelong Learning
The Insights Class is the church's adult Sunday School group, a discussion-based community centered on scripture, faith-based topics, and seasonal studies. Discussions are held on Sunday mornings from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Conference Room, following worship. Studies typically last six to eight weeks and often align with the liturgical seasons of the church year, with Pastor Peter often joining the conversation. Roy Laney currently serves as class leader. The class is built around shared participation and community learning, and newcomers are welcomed into an open, conversational environment where questions are encouraged and a range of perspectives is honored.
Rooted Locally, Reaching Globally
Good Shepherd's identity as a United Methodist congregation is expressed through its denominational connections. The church belongs to the Mountain Sky Conference, a regional network that includes more than 300 United Methodist churches across Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho, committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ and building communities of faith, hope, and love that are deeply rooted, justice-minded, and growing in grace.
The church also supports the worldwide mission of the United Methodist Church through UMCOR, which provides disaster relief and ongoing care for vulnerable communities, and through a Covenant Missionary Partnership with Rev. Althea Belton. Rev. Belton serves as Coordinator of Local Missional Engagement at Gulfside Assembly in Waveland, Mississippi, where she leads family-centered ministries focused on education, spiritual growth, recreation, and cultural opportunities for underserved communities. The partnership includes prayer, ongoing communication, and financial support from Good Shepherd, and it links the small congregation on Leta Drive directly to ministry on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Visiting Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd United Methodist Church is located at 1201 Leta Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80911, and can be reached by phone at (719) 392-5782. The church office is open on Monday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Sunday worship begins at 9:30 a.m., with the AIM Upper Room Church Worship Service following at 11:30 a.m. Nursery care is available for children five and under during all services, and parents who prefer to keep young children with them may use the cry room near the sanctuary. Sunday school is offered during the service for children of all ages, and an adult Sunday school class meets at 11:00 a.m. in the Conference Room.
The Emergency Food Pantry is open on Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and the Good Shepherd Men and United Women in Faith groups meet on the second and first Saturdays of the month respectively from September through May. Online giving is available through a secure giving portal linked from the church's online presence. Whether someone is searching for a new spiritual home, looking for answers, or simply needing a safe place to rest and heal, the congregation at Good Shepherd offers compassion, complete acceptance, and a community that seeks to seek God first, grow in Christ, serve in the Spirit, and share God's love.