Our History...
In the late 1950's, the suburban residential development that began at the close of World War II was in full swing in north St. Louis County. Because of the population shift to the suburbs, it became necessary to establish new church homes for the many people moving into the area.
In order to help meet this need, the Board of Missions of the Western District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod extended a call to Pastor Arthur H. Strege to begin the work of organizing a congregation there. Pastor Strege began his work in the Hazelwood area on July 1, 1958.
One of the first tasks undertaken was a door-to-door religious survey of the residents living in the area, and following up on all those who indicated that they were Lutherans or had no church affiliation. Pastor Strege was commissioned as Missionary of the Western District in the Hazelwood area in a service held at the Lutheran Church of the Atonement, Florissant, on September 7, 1958.
The congregation's first worship service was held on October 5, 1958, with 131 people in attendance. The text for Pastor Strege's sermon was John 10: 14-16, 'I am the Good Shepherd,' from which the congregation later took its official name. The first worship services and Sunday School were held in the board meeting room of the Hazelwood Village Hall. Other meetings and activities were held in the basement of the parsonage. Hazelwood Village Hall was used for services and Sunday School for a year and a half; Russell School auditorium was used for a year and a quarter.
Charter Membership Sunday was observed on February 9, 1959. A total of 73 communicants and 61 children were received into membership that day. It was also the day for the congregation's first communion service. One year after the first church service, on October 4, 1959, Pastor Strege was installed as Pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd.
Groundbreaking services were held on Sunday, October 18, 1959. Work was underway on the first church building. The cornerstone was laid on December 6, 1959. The congregation was able to move into its new building on June 4, 1961, and the dedication of the first unit was held on September 24, 1961. Continuing need for educational space led to the design and construction of an educational wing to provide classroom space and overflow for church services on the first floor and classroom space on the ground floor. The addition was dedicated on June 12, 1966.
In the spring of 1967, Good Shepherd called Mr. James Glander to be Teacher for Good Shepherd at Atonement School and to serve as Youth Counselor. In 1977, his title was changed to 'Director of Christian Education.' He continued to serve the congregation until 1980. Mr. James Luedtke was called as Teacher for Good Shepherd at Atonement School in the fall of 1980. He currently serves the congregation, part-time, through senior member and shut-in calling.
A Weekday School program of religious education for children in Grades 4 - 8 was begun in September 1972. A Preschool for three year olds was begun in September 1977, and a class for four year olds was added in 1978.
The need for additional assistance for the pastoral work in the congregation led to the engaging of a vicar. In 1973, Andrew C. (Jack) Diehl began his year of vicarage at Good Shepherd. He was followed by Vicar Kenneth Hintz in 1974 and by Vicar Donald Hinkel in 1975.
A third unit was dedicated on May 4, 1975. It consisted of offices, two studies, a new narthex and entry, tower, choir practice and meeting room, sacristy, and choir alcove. Also included were twelve classrooms and two multipurpose rooms.
During the summer of 1976, Marcus C. Lohrmann was engaged as a part- time assistant for one year. The need for full-time help with the pastoral work led the congregation to call Marcus Lohrmann as Assistant Pastor in 1977. He was later designated as Associate Pastor.
The congregation withdrew from membership in The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod in 1979, and affiliated with the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches that same year. Good Shepherd joined the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America upon its establishment in 1988.
In 1989, Pastor Lohrmann accepted a call to Hicksville, Ohio. In 1990 Good Shepherd called Pastor Paul E. Judson. He was installed as Associate Pastor on September 9, 1990. In June 1997, he accepted a call to Wayne, Nebraska.
In December 1998, our congregation merged with the members of Calvary Lutheran Church. Pastor Arthur Strege retired after 41 years of faithful service to our congregation in February, 1999. We called Pastor David Swan to be our new pastor, and he was installed as pastor of our congregation on Sunday, May 23, 1999.
Current blessings include a dedicated core of volunteers working to make the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd meet the full potential of God's design for the church. Immediate challenges include reaching out to those suffering from economic struggles in the congregation and the community and updating the structure to be more efficient for use and energy consumption. During 1999, a new sound system was installed, along with an infrared listening system for the hearing impaired.
As of January 1999, the present membership stood at 793 baptized members. Following Christ's example we look forward to the future, inviting God's Holy Spirit to lead us.