Good Shepherd Church & School

Good Shepherd Church & School If you are searching for a new church home or school for you or your child, please consider becoming a partner in the Good Shepherd ministry.

09/06/2026

Guided By Grace: Growing Together in God's Word "Greatest in the Kingdom"
Pastor Balzer

Come worship together at Good Shepherd! Please join us for worship at Good Shepherd Elgin tonight at 5:00 pm or tomorrow...
09/05/2026

Come worship together at Good Shepherd!

Please join us for worship at Good Shepherd Elgin tonight at 5:00 pm or tomorrow morning at 8:30 am or 10:00 am.

We will stream the Sunday, 10:00 am service.

You can view the services on our page or our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUoytRfSiz-7pk6XnWBBLOg.

Thank you for your faithful support of our ministry.

Even in these uncertain times, the Lord Jesus Reigns!

We want every family to know something very important: If your kids are loud, please still come to church.If you’re runn...
09/03/2026

We want every family to know something very important:

If your kids are loud, please still come to church.
If you’re running late because getting everyone out the door was a battle, please still come to church.
If your toddler won’t sit still, please still come to church.
If your baby needs to eat, please still come to church.
If your child asks questions at the least convenient time, please still come to church.
If someone cries, drops a toy, needs a snack, or has to make their third trip to the bathroom, please still come to church.
If your child doesn’t know all the words, all the prayers, or exactly when to sit and stand, please still come to church.
If you feel like you spent the entire service managing your children and heard approximately 12% of the sermon, please still come to church.
If Sunday morning feels messy instead of peaceful, please still come to church.
If you’re worried your children are distracting the people around you, please still come to church.

Because children don’t learn how to be part of the Church by staying home until they can sit quietly.

They learn by being here.
They learn hymns by hearing us sing them.
They learn prayers by hearing us pray them.
They learn to worship by watching us worship.
They learn that church is home because we make room for them here.

The wiggles, whispers, dropped crayons, crying babies, and little voices are not interruptions to the life of the Church. They are evidence that the Church is alive!

At Good Shepherd, we believe in Loving People to Jesus — and that includes our littlest people.

So bring the babies.
Bring the toddlers.
Bring the big kids.
Come late.
Sit in the back.
Sit in the front.
Step out if you need to, and come right back in.
Just come.

Children are not simply the future of the Church.
They are part of the Church right now. And at Good Shepherd, there is always a place for them.

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” —Matthew 19:14

09/02/2026

Coming Soon! A 4-week challenge for those who serve in the LCMS Northern Illinois District

6th-12th graders: Meet us by the GS firepit for a fun-filled evening of roasting hotdogs, making s'mores, and playing gl...
08/31/2026

6th-12th graders: Meet us by the GS firepit for a fun-filled evening of roasting hotdogs, making s'mores, and playing glow-in-the-dark capture the flag! Bring your friends - this is one you won't want to miss!

Let us know you're coming: bit.ly/SundayNightReset

08/30/2026

Following Jesus: Guided by Grace: Growing Together in God's Word"
Pastor Maske

Read this week's Pastor's Ponderings entitled "Dwelling Richly""Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and...
08/25/2026

Read this week's Pastor's Ponderings entitled "Dwelling Richly"

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."—Colossians 3:16–17
​
What fills your home? Walk into any house and you'll notice something almost immediately. Some homes are filled with the smell of fresh bread or coffee. Others are filled with music. Some are filled with laughter, while others are filled with the noise of televisions or busy schedules.

Paul asks us to consider something even deeper: What fills our hearts? Paul writes: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." The word "dwell" means to make its home. Paul isn't talking about simply reading a Bible verse now and then. He's talking about God's Word taking up permanent residence in our hearts—shaping how we think, how we speak, and how we live.

It's interesting that Paul doesn't first tell Christians to "try harder" or "be better people." Instead, he points us to Christ's Word. That's the Christian life! We are not changed by our own determination. We are changed by God's gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ!

Through His Word, Jesus forgives sinners. Through His Word, He strengthens weak faith. Through His Word, He comforts troubled hearts. Through His Word, the Holy Spirit creates and sustains faith.

As Christ's Word lives in us, something beautiful begins to happen. Our conversations change. We encourage one another. We sing God's praises. Gratitude replaces complaining. Forgiveness replaces bitterness. Christ Himself begins to shape our lives.

Paul finishes by saying, "Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus." That doesn't mean we earn God's approval by doing religious things. Rather, because Christ has already made us His own through His death and resurrection, everything we do becomes an opportunity to serve Him.

Whether we're working, studying, cooking dinner, helping a neighbor, or caring for our family, we live as people who belong to Jesus. Our everyday lives become acts of thanksgiving because Christ has first given Himself for us.

Dwelling with Jesus,
Pastor Maske

08/22/2026

Following Jesus: Taking the Next Steps! "The Rock of Our Faith"
Pastor Maske

Come worship together at Good Shepherd! Please join us for worship at Good Shepherd Elgin tonight at 5:00 PM or tomorrow...
08/22/2026

Come worship together at Good Shepherd!

Please join us for worship at Good Shepherd Elgin tonight at 5:00 PM or tomorrow morning at 8:30 AM or 10:00 AM.

We will stream the Saturday, 5:00 PM service.

You can view the services on our page or our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUoytRfSiz-7pk6XnWBBLOg.

Thank you for your faithful support of our ministry.

Even in these uncertain times, the Lord Jesus Reigns!

Did you know we have a dedicated nursery for our littlest ones, ages 0–3, on Sunday mornings? 🧸 Nursery care will be ava...
08/21/2026

Did you know we have a dedicated nursery for our littlest ones, ages 0–3, on Sunday mornings? 🧸

Nursery care will be available 9:00–11:00 AM, so parents can participate in Discipleship Hour and our 10:00 AM Contemporary Worship service knowing their little ones are happy and cared for. Our nursery even has speakers so our youngest members can listen to the service, hear God’s Word spoken, and dance along to the music. 🎶

Address

195 Nesler Road
Elgin, IL
60124

Telephone

+18477417788

Website

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