10/03/2025
Kristin’s Story: Compassion, Community and Curiosity
On any given Sunday, the brightest smile in the Narthex is on the face of Kristin. As Good Shepherd’s unofficial good will ambassador, Kristin works her way from friend to friend - and we are all Kristin’s friends - catching up on family news, sharing her latest travel adventures, and reminding people of upcoming events in the many activities that she loves – Feed The Need, Music Camp, Pumpkin Patch, the Christmas Cantata, the GSFFAM Puppet Ministry - – the list goes on. Kristin also shares her unique interests by collecting soda tabs in the Narthex for Ronald McDonald House, and sometimes performing with her puppet, Kimberly.
Born into the church, Kristin was baptized when we were still Mount Tabor, and confirmed after we became Good Shepherd. Her parents, Karen and Gary, have always seen Good Shepherd Lutheran Church as a loving and nurturing community where Kristin belongs and thrives; where she is cherished for her spirit and personality, and supported and appreciated for her many contributions to the church and the community.
From friends she went through Sunday School and Confirmation with, to new members and visitors, Kristin has an incredible memory for faces and stories and recalls and maintains relationships with people from all stages of her life.
Since she was a small child Kristin, like many people with Williams Syndrome, has been in love with music. Kristin’s whole family is involved in our Music Ministry. Not only does she sing with the Choir and in the Christmas Cantata, she also supports our younger singers by volunteering with Music Camp and our children’s Christmas programming. But Kristin’s favorite project is Feed The Need.
Every year Kristin renews ties with workers from FTN, volunteers from other organizations, and with Good Shepherd members who are there to lend a hand. Though Kristin performs many tasks at FTN, everything from preparing boxes to labeling food bags, her favorite role is working with FTN staff to prepare for the pack.
Each year she eagerly awaits the arrival of the trucks and FTN staff and pitches in to set up the different areas and stations. She shares many stories about FTN, her sadness at the circumstances of the children who are hungry, her excitement as we top our packing goals every year, her joy that children are being fed – and how the pack always goes on, even during the year the lights went out!
Kristin’s care and compassion for others is evident; she is always interested in meeting new people and sharing their stories. “My favorite thing is to meet all the different people who visit, like the college choirs and the bell ringers,” she says. “I like to get to know them and see them when they come back.” Kristin feels that meeting the members of groups who visit our church is one of the most exciting parts of being a Good Shepherd member. And when these groups return year after year, they can be assured that Kristin will be there to greet them with a big smile and a hug.
The generosity of Good Shepherd members - through donations and volunteerism – of Feed The Need and our Music Department, has provided Kristin with a true church home. A place where she is encouraged and nurtured, a place where she can explore her interests and serve her community – a place where she, and all our members, are loved and accepted exactly as they are.
