About Our Church

Lutheran "in a nutshell"

Lutherans identify with ideas known as “the Solas”, originally expressed in Latin: Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura. These point to the understandings that we share: Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone are the ways in which we experience salvation through Jesus Christ. Lutherans place great emphasis on the difference between Law and Gospel.

Lutherans are evangelical (Gospel-bearers), Protestant, liturgical, creedal, sacramental, and use the Holy Scriptures, the Book of Concord and its related documents as the theological core of the faith. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is one expression of the Lutheran heritage, more open and progressive in practice and belief, and enjoys full communion relationships with Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, and others.

Lutherans trace their origins to the year 1517, when Martin Luther and other theologians sought to reform the Roman Catholic church of their day. With his ideas rejected by the pope, the renegades became known as Reformers. Luther was branded a heretic and excommunicated. He continued to preach, teach seminarians, and wrote an astounding amount of pamphlets, books, music, and letters.

- Pastor Wayne Shipman

Community Building & Involvement

Worship at Good Shepherd doesn't only take place in the sanctuary for one hour on Sunday morning. It also happens out in the community. We take the saying, "God's work, our hands," very seriously and hope that you will join us at:

The Marshall Public Library to clean picture books in September

The Pocatello branch of the Idaho Foodbank to prepare food for distribution the 4th Monday of each month

The Aid for Friends Shelter to help prepare the evening meal on the 3rd Tuesday of the month

The Halloween Parade in Old Town Pocatello to pass out granola bars to people of all ages

Feeding the 5000 Families events around town during the Lenten and Easter season to collect food and money donations for the Idaho Foodbank

Portneuf Valley Interfaith Fellowship events around town to celebrate important services and events like the Community Thanksgiving Service, the Martin Luther King, Jr. service, and the World Day of Prayer

Children's Music Camp in conjunction with the First Presbyterian Church during the summer

Other events throughout the year

- Elizabeth Dyer

Good Shepherd History

1950

In December, 1949, mission developer, Pastor Homer Berner, arrived in Pocatello with the task of forming the first United Lutheran Church in Idaho. The first service was held January 29, 1950, at the Memorial Building with 42 prospective members attending. The first offering gather amounted to $10.48.

By April 20, 1950, 87 members had signed the charter. In August, 1950, land was purchased for a house-chapel at the corner of Hubbard and Marlo Streets named by Pastor Berner in honor of Martin Luther. Ground was broken March 11, 1951.

Pastor Paul Funk, called in October, 1951, directed the purchase of property at 18th and Clark as Good Shepherd's permanent home. Ground breaking was September 6, 1955, and the new church was dedicated April 29, 1956. The parsonage at 169 Gilmore was also purchased.

Good Shepherd opened a kindergarten in 1956 to service its members, welcoming non-members in 1957, and continued until 1975 when kindergarten was made available in the public school system.

In 1957, Pastor A.E. Cox came to Good Shepherd. On December 18, 1959, his wife, Carol, was killed in an automobile accident as they were driving Good Shepherd youth to a Luther League event. Don Wolverton, one of the leaguers, died later as a result of this accident. Pastor Cox and member, George Wright, were injured.

1960

In 1960, Pastor A.E. Cox left Good Shepherd to serve a Salt Lake City congregation.

After a long search, Pastor John L. Baglien, his wife Rene, and their five children came to Good Shepherd in 1961. During his tenure, the parsonage was remodeled to better accommodate his family.

In 1958, the Service Book and Hymnal (red hymnal) was available to newly formed LCA congregations. Good Shepherd members voted to use this worship hymnal in the early 1960s. There were protests by some, but was accepted by most members.

In 1962, Good Shepherd left its mission status and became self-supporting.

Pastor Baglien left in 1963 and eventually held positions in the church-wide offices. His replacement was Pastor Charles Anderson.

During the 1960s, the interstate highway system made freeway access to Good Shepherd a valuable evangelism tool.

Pastor Anderson served Good Shepherd for six years leaving in 1969. During this time, many college staff members made Good Shepherd their church home sharing their many talents and time with the congregation.

For a time, Pastor Anderson's wife, Gloria, served both as a kindergarten teacher and organist.

1970

Pastor Gerald Hoffman, his wife, Martha and two children came to Good Shepherd in 1969, staying with us for nearly 12 years. During his stay, times were good with growth in membership and programs marking the way. Some of the more memorable events were:

Early in the 1970s, two worship services were developed. Originally a Sunday morning/Monday evening service was changed to two Sunday morning services with one service during the summer months.

A new leader for the already well-known choir came to Good Shepherd. Dan Bowman arrived in 1970 and continued until 1998 when his son, David took the baton.

In 1972, the congregation elected charter member, Laura Duran, to become the first woman council member.

The Lutheran Book of Worship (green book) was adopted for use in 1974.

In 1975, the mortgage for the parsonage was burned; the church parking lot received a new finish thanks to Henry Knipple, and Sandra Knutsen became the first woman congregation president.

The happy event of burning the church mortgage was held in 1976.

In 1977, the Lamb's Quarters was purchased to be used by the Sunday School and Youth Groups. Communion training for those in the 5th grade was initiated during this time.

Doyle Bergquist came to Good Shepherd as a Lay Associate in 1978 to return in 1987 as the wife of pastor Gordon Young.

In the late 1970s, the ground work was laid for expansion of the entire church building.

1980

Pastor Gerald Hoffman left Good Shepherd in 1980 to serve a congregation in Spokane, Washington. He was remembered well by the congregation and community.

Following nine months without a pastor, Gary Brenna, his wife Gretchen, and two children, accepted a call to come to Good Shepherd in the spring of 1981. Pastor Brenna brought with him an awareness of the need for social justice, outreach programs and ecumenical practice that remains a part of the congregation.

The formation of a food pantry, the distribution of food baskets at Christmas and Easter to the needy of the community was established along with an effort to minister to students at ISU and, on a limited basis, pulpit exchange with the Episcopal congregation. During this same time Polish refugee families lived in the Lamb Quarters while finding employment and establishing a permanent home in Pocatello.

The building program initiated in the late 1970s was abandoned in 1981 and monies pledged were directed to energy efficient remodeling in 1985.

Leaving Good Shepherd in 1985, Pastor Brenna next served in a Centralia, Washington congregation.

The first of Good Shepherd's interim pastors, Pastor Paul Riensche, arrived in 1985 along with his wife, Marge. He was to stay for two years maintaining the already established outreach programs and guiding the congregation to more stable financial conditions and encouraging worship be done to the best of members abilities to the glory of God. During his stay, a special fund was established and completed, to purchase a badly needed organ to add to the meaning of worship services.

Pastor Riensche left in the spring of 1987, just prior to the arrival of Pastor Gordon Young. In July 1987, the congregation celebrated with Pastor Young, his wife Dale, and five-year old daughter Katie, the birth of their daughter Elizabeth.

The newly formed ELCA came about in 1988, with many structural changes within the church-wide system.

Lenten soup suppers, a children's choir, "The Sonshine Kids," and active Youth Groups, including a clown ministry, came into being during the late 1980s.

1990

To start off a mission-filled 1990s, a special 40-year anniversary celebration was held in 1990 with many attending. A time of spiritual growth and renewal under Pastor Young's guidance developed where we saw the donation of NRSV Bible for use in the pulpit.

A special education effort to inform young people of the congregation of the threat of AIDS along with sexual behavior and drug and alcohol abuse was presented by knowledgeable, qualified members of the congregation.

In 1992, "Now the Feast and Celebration" liturgy was adopted as an alternative worship service.

The congregation celebrated the burning of the Lamb's Quarters mortgage in 1993.

In October 1994, Pastor Young accepted a call to serve a congregation El Paso, Texas.

Interim Pastor Earl H. Barnard, was with Good Shepherd from December 1994 to June 1995. He helped lay the ground work for a major church basement remodeling project.

Pastor Steven Humberg and his family came to Good Shepherd in July 1995. He was to lead the congregation through a time of building improvements. The kitchen was relocated to what was once a stage area, a nursery was created where the kitchen originally was, and a handicap accessible bathroom and ramp was included in the project. Dedication was in June 1996 with thanks given to the many members who participated in seeing the project was accomplished.

In early 1998, once again under Pastor Humberg's guidance, a facelift of the main floor and sanctuary took place. A dedication service was held on Easter Sunday of that year.

The blue hymnal, "With One Voice," was made a part of alternative worship settings. A time of growth and furthering of the ministry of Good Shepherd began happening with weekly coffee hours following Sunday worship services.

Many outreach programs were developed along with the initiation of Christ Care, a small group ministry. Crossways, an intense 2-year Bible study, followed in 1998.

A committee was organized to prepare for the 50th anniversary celebration of the congregation in the year 2000.

In May 1999, Pastor Hamburg left to serve a congregation in Park River, North Dakota.

Interim Pastor William Klover, came to the congregation in July 1999 and left in September 1999 due to health concerns.

2000

In October 1999, Interim Pastor Barbara Condon, and AiM Jerry Rosin, came to lead the congregation as the search for a new pastor was conducted. Together they continued the programs already in place, introducing new and refreshing approaches to carry out these programs while leading the congregation into the new century.

In late May 2000, Good Shepherd rejoiced with AiM, his wife and his children, as he announced he would be attending seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to complete his studies to become a minister.

Pastor Michael Blaess came to Good Shepherd from Australia where he and his wife, Pastor Kristine Amend Blaess (Community Presbyterian Church, Rigby), spent a year on the Graduate Preaching Fellowship following graduation from Luther Seminary.

He arrived here in January 2001 and immediately became a part of Good Shepherd's Long Range Planning process. Phase 1 of this process considered Good Shepherd's ministry, mission, vision, and values. From that process came the motto: In the name of Christ, welcome home.

In December 2002, Good Shepherd saw the establishment and growth of its Endowment Fund with a generous initial deposit from the congregation of $120,000.

In these years, Good Shepherd's vibrant worship life was enhanced by the contributions of many, including a choir cantata on the Fourth Sunday of Advent and Good Friday, a litany for Lent written by choir director David Bowman, new altar parakeets, and large, draping banners in the chancel and the nave of the sanctuary.

Long Range Planning Phase 2 began in January 2004 to determine if the facility was furthering or limiting God's mission and our ministry.

The congregation celebrated with Michael and Kristine the birth of their son Jack Bede in May 2005, and the birth of their daughter Natalie Katherine Lux in September 2007.

Building on the past, for the future, ground was broken for the building addition in September 2007. One year later, on September 7, 2008, the congregation celebrated the dedication of the building to the glory of God and the rededication of ourselves to sharing the Good News of life in Christ with each other, the community, and the world.