Good Shepherd

03/15/2026

Due to the winter storm, both morning and evening services are cancelled on March 15. While we are not able to meet and worship the Lord in person together, we encourage you to join another live-streamed worship service, such as one of these other PCA churches:
- Christ Church PCA (Katy, TX) at 8:30am or 11:00am (CST) https://www.youtube.com//streams
- Westminster Presbyterian Church (Atlanta, GA) at 7:45am or 10:00am (CST) https://www.youtube.com//streams
- Black Hills Community Church (Rapid City, SD) at 11:45am (CST) https://www.youtube.com//streams

Send a message to learn more

03/12/2026

2026 Passion Week Services:
Maundy Thursday - April 2, 7pm
Good Friday - April 3, 7pm at Grace Covenant Church, Bloomington
Easter - April 5, 10am
All are welcome!

03/12/2026

Join us April 5th for Easter Brunch, 8:30-9:30am, followed by our Easter Service at 10am. There is no evening service on April 5th.

12/28/2025

Due to the winter storm warning in effect, both morning and evening services are cancelled on December 28. While we are not able to meet and worship the Lord in person together, we encourage you to join another live-streamed worship service, such as one of these other PCA churches:
- Christ Church PCA (Katy, TX) at 8:30am or 11:00am (CST) https://www.youtube.com//streams
- Westminster Presbyterian Church (Atlanta, GA) at 7:45am or 10:00am (CST) https://www.youtube.com//streams
- Black Hills Community Church (Rapid City, SD) at 11:45am (CST) https://www.youtube.com//streams

Send a message to learn more

12/11/2025

03/24/2024

We will have our March 24 AM service and Sunday School as normal. The PM service is cancelled due to the coming snow.

11/15/2022

Please join us for worship on Sundays at 9:30am and 5:00pm. All are welcome. Morning worship services are also livestreamed on our YouTube channel:

Pastor: Judson Marvel Address: 15321 Wayzata Blvd, Wayzata, MN 55391Phone: (952) 473-2828

01/25/2021

CORPORATE WORSHIP CHANGE: Good Shepherd, please note that starting on Sunday, Jan. 31, we are resuming one in-person worship service at 9:30am. It will be on livestream. At this point, because of the combined numbers of the current worship services, there is no need to sign-up ahead of time. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Jud or Pastor Brennan.

12/04/2020

Ladies of GSPC,

The Women's Ministry team would like to invite you to join us in a study of the Gospel of Matthew in 2021. We will be reading, writing, and discussing Matthew 1 - 16 from January to May. After a two month summer break, we will finish the gospel by early December. The study will consist of weekly small group meetings (online or in person) and large groups every 6 to 8 weeks.

Please follow the link below to the online sign up. You will find all the small group options for the study, along with an optional purchase of a Journible for writing the book. Journibles will be ordered December 15, but the sign up will be active until Jan 3.

Here is the sign up: https://forms.gle/Cp6ZBS3VKmfbdqP1A

Please let Jodi know if you have any questions!

11/20/2020

Good Shepherd family,

I found out recently that I have been in contact with someone exposed to COVID. Currently, I feel fine. I took a COVID test yesterday. The result came back negative.

However, because of the CDC recommendation to self-quarantine after exposure, my family and I will choose to quarantine for the next two weeks.

What Is Next for Corporate Worship?

First, between Pastor Brennan and me, sadly, we cannot offer in-person corporate worship for Sunday, Nov. 22 or Sunday, Nov. 29. We aim to resume the options for in-person corporate worship on Sunday, Dec. 6. For Sunday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 29 we will live stream only the service. I will send details when they are ready.

Second, I plan to host an online prayer service on Sundays at 5pm. I know these can be difficult times for the church. Isolation, sickness, or a lack of employment can fuel discouragement and anxiety. We must find creative ways to offer our prayers to the Lord and encourage one another. Consider joining me for the evening prayer service starting this Sunday. I will send details when they are ready.

An Exhortation

As we approach Christmas, I see a connection with the season of Advent. Advent is a time when the church remembers the virtue of patience and waiting upon the Lord. In joyful expectation of Christ's return, I offer a few words of encouragement.

First, rejoice that Christ is king (Ps. 2:2). He has overcome the world (John 16:33). He continues to govern all things to their right end. He sustains His brothers and sisters through His indwelling Spirit. Just as He calmed the storms of the sea for His disciples, so does His peace comfort you. Keep looking to Him. Keep reading His Word. He alone is your hope and confidence.

Second, remember the sufferings experienced by your brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world (1 Pet. 5:9). Find ways to serve others. For example, a friend of mine serving in Indonesia sent me a request this morning. During the COVID crisis, his main stress is feeding and sheltering poor refugees and Indonesians. It would be a huge thing, he writes, if anyone wants to support a refugee monthly. He writes, "Our [financial] fund mainly went for emergencies, but with the COVID and the rising prices... our refugees are unable to go to their new nations. We need something like World Vision where an individual or group in the U.S. sponsors one or a family in Indonesia." If you are interested in this opportunity, please let me know.

Third, respond with lament. The proper response of God's people is not to disregard the difficulties of life. Instead, Scripture teaches us the posture and language of lament. To lament means to protest about the chaos and harshness of life. Its posture is prayer to the Lord. Its language is found in the Psalms. For example, Psalm 77 is a lament when the people of God are in a low condition. The Psalmist is distressed (v. 2), inconsolable (v. 3), troubled (v. 4), and desperate (v. 7). Then, he challenges those thoughts and emotions by remembering the deeds of the LORD (vv. 11-18). He closes with an affirmation of the Lord's guidance even when he could not see a way (v. 19). He ends with hope and trust even as he voices his complaint.

This example teaches us the response of lament. We protest the harshness of life to our Lord as we also remember His steadfast love shown in His wonderful works.

We are God's people waiting upon the Lord. This is our long advent, and we have the assurance that Christ will return. I ask for your patience with the session and it leads Good Shepherd. I also ask for your patience with each other. May our patience, hope, and faithfulness "result in praise and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 1:7b).

In Christ, Pastor Jud

09/02/2020

Pastor Brennan and I are sending a weekly encouragement based upon Galatians 5:15 and guided by Alexander Strauch’s, If You Bite and Devour Each Other. The aim is to instruct what God’s Word teaches about conflict and how we should respond. When conflict flares, we must consider the instruction of God’s Word to walk as children in light. We pray that these might be profitable for correction and instruction in the Word of God.

“Pursue Reconciliation”

When we sin against each other, it creates division and disharmony among the body of Christ. The one sinned against could respond by slandering, gossiping, or holding grudges. The sinner could respond in similar fashion. Thus, sin not only creates disharmony, but our response to sin could also deepen it.

Jesus teaches us another way. Pursuing reconciliation is the responsibility of all parties. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother” (Matt. 18:15). Jesus teaches that the one sinned against must go to the sinner. This goes against conventional thinking that the one sinned against has a right to anger because the sinner hasn’t apologized. No, Jesus says. The one sinned against has the duty to pursue reconciliation.

The sword cuts both ways. In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus teaches that if you know you have sinned against another person, you must pursue reconciliation.

What is the point? In conflict, everyone bears the responsibility to pursue reconciliation. The reason is that the sinful flesh does not discriminate between sides. Idolatry, enmity, envy, and things like these are against the Spirit. As Paul warns, “I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21).

How do we pursue reconciliation? In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus instructs us to admonish one another privately first. If nothing works, then one or two witnesses should join you. If that doesn’t work, then the matter must be brought to the elders (Matt. 18:15-17).

As we live together as the body of Christ, we must walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. This includes an eagerness to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1,3). We maintain this unity of the Spirit by pursuing reconciliation with each other according to the Word of God.

In Christ, Pastor Jud

08/26/2020

Pastor Brennan and I are sending a weekly encouragement based upon Galatians 5:15 and guided by Alexander Strauch’s, If You Bite and Devour Each Other. The aim is to instruct what God’s Word teaches about conflict and how we should respond. When conflict flares, we must consider the instruction of God’s Word to walk as children in light. We pray that these might be profitable for correction and instruction in the Word of God.

“Control the Criticism"

The sixth biblical principle to consider for handling conflict is to control the criticism. Criticism is the act of judging unfavorably or faultfinding. There are times when criticism is necessary and right, such as a friend finding fault with your actions (Prov. 27:6). Nevertheless, as Alexander Strauch writes, “Faultfinding critics have an amazing ability to gather a flock of contentious complainers, and they can wield fearsome destructive power in a church.”

Paul warns against quarreling over “opinions” or “disputed matters”, which appear to be distinct from fundamental doctrines (Rom. 14:1). By separating “opinions” or “disputed matters” from fundamental doctrines, Scripture recognizes freedom for disagreement. Paul’s concern, however, is the kind of person we become in such disagreements. Too easily criticism can be in the form of slander or unmerciful judgments.

Another kind of criticism is grumbling. J.A. Motyer writes, “Grumbling is associated with selfish complaining, unbalanced criticism of small matters, impatience towards what is not understood, grudging unwillingness to be helpful.” James warns against grumbling against one another and Paul admonishes believers to do all things without grumbling (James 5:9; Phil. 2:14).

How do we replace this sinful criticism with godly instruction?

First, pray for wisdom and tact. D.A. Carson writes, “All of us would be wiser if we would resolve never to put people down, except on our prayer lists.”

Second, check your attitudes and motives. Ask yourself, “Does my criticism violate the commands of Scripture?”

Third, speak gently. Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23).

Fourth, include words of encouragement. Charles Spurgeon once said, “Blame comes best on the back of praise.”

Fifth, welcome criticism. If we need to rebuke our brother or sister in Christ, we must also be willing to receive it. David writes, “Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it.” (Ps. 141:5). You might find that your critics are your best teachers.