OUR BEGINNINGS WERE HUMBLE
Memories…Milestones…Ministries
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
We, the congregation of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, called to be Children of God, choose to love another, worship and serve God, following the teachings of Christ. Working together in stewardship, we seek to spread Gods Word in the community and the world.
Adopted May 29, 1994
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (GSLC) was established on January 1, 1964 as a congregation of the American Lutheran Church (ALC). In 1966, Canadian congregations of ALC merged to establish the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada (ELCC) which, in 1986, merged with three synods of the Lutheran Church in the America-Canada Section to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC). We practice a “liturgical” style of worship (a Greek word meaning “the work of the people”). Using a variety of worship services, we come together to give glory and honor to God in Word, Sacrament, prayer and music. Significant milestones in our worship practices: sharing of the Peace (1982), adoption of the ELCIC policy to commune baptized children (1992) and introduction of Worship Liturgical Assistants Program (1997). We focus on reaching out to a challenging world with gifts of time, talent and treasure and provide a welcoming place for those seeking to experience God’s presence in Word and Sacrament in fellowship with one another.
The first Lutheran worship service in Canada was conducted in Churchill, Manitoba in the fall of 1619 by Rev. Rasmus Jensen, a chaplain who accompanied an ill-fated Danish expedition searching for the Northwest Passage. Lutheranism in our area dates back to 1904 when Norwegian immigrants living in northwest Melville in the Plainview District organized the Zion Scandinavian Evangelical Congregation of Plainview which was a congregation of the United Lutheran Church of America. In 1906, German immigrants who lived in a settlement named Bethanien (later renamed Melville) located 15 miles north of Killaly, organized St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Bethanien. In 1907, this congregation became St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Melville, a congregation of the Ohio Synod.
On September 16, 1956, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church of Melville, was organized as a Home Mission congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church to provide a place of worship for those of the Evangelical Lutheran faith. Prior to this time, the Evangelical Lutheran Church parishes were all located in the rural areas around Melville. Services were held in the basement of the Masonic Temple until November 1956 when a newly built education unit was ready for use and continued to serve as the place of worship was built. Prince of Peace or the “little church” as it came to be referred to, was sold in 1986 and moved to its new and present location east of Melville. Pastor Johan Hesje served this parish from 1956 to 1959. Following Pastor Hesje tenure, Pastor Ivar Moen accepted a call and began his ministry in this parish in May 1959.
As time went on, many rural churches closed due to changing demographics, declining population and poor road conditions. Churches whose memberships and properties were transferred to Prince of Peach/Good Shepherd in Melville were:
In January 1961, there were two (2) congregations in Melville belonging to the newly formed “American Lutheran Church (ALC)”. The councils of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, together with their respective Pastors, Pastor Hohm and Pastor Moen, met to consider how they could most effectively carry on the work of God’s Kingdom. On November 19, 1963, members of the two (2), congregations voted in favor of amalgamation of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and agreed to the building of a new church. On January 1, 1964 a new constitution was adopted and a new congregation was established under the name of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, which was a congregation of ALC. Pastor Holm and Pastor Moen served the newly formed congregation. Worship services continued at both locations with the Pastors exchanging pulpits once a month. From 1964-1965, a new parsonage was built adjacent to the site of the proposed new church building. By July 1965, baptized membership had reached close to 1400 members. For reasons of expediency, the members voted in favor of reverting to two (2) congregations once again. One congregation retained the name of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and received the property on 10h Avenue West and the other congregation reverted to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and received the property on 3rd Avenue East.
Those who retained their membership at Good Shepherd continued their commitment to build the new church. Gerry Norbratten was hired to draft and design the new building, blueprints were drawn, property purchased (7 lots) and, on October 27, 1965, ground breaking ceremonies took place with Mayor Peter Dielschneider and Pastor Ivar Moen officiating. Construction began shortly thereafter. During the building of the new church, worship services were held in the Prince of Peace (“little church”) building. With the “little church” in use for worship, Sunday School had to be conducted in the basement of the parsonage and nearby church members homes. This was a huge leap in stewardship faith. However, thanks to God’s blessings, financial support and sweat equity contributed by the church members, the first worship service was held in the new, although unfinished building, on December 24, 1966.
On May 28, 1967, members gathered to celebrate the dedication of the new church and the laying of the cornerstone. Dr. Karl Holfeld, President of the ELCC and Alfred Litzenberger, Chairman of GSLC officiated. The following items were placed in the Time Capsule: Bible, Luther’s Small Catechism, GSLC Constitution and By-Laws, GSLC History, Dedication Booklet, Sunday Service Folder, Centennial Dollar Bill (without serial numbers), two (2) most recent copies of the Melville Advance and the May issue of The Shepherd, the official church paper. Mortgage burning of the new building took place on May 4, 1980. The following improvements to our church were completed: finishing of the lower level, narthex addition, installation of an elevator and installation of stained glass windows in the sanctuary.
Good Shepherd Church has been blessed with dedicated Pastors who accepted our call and who, with great love and faithfulness, have supported and guided us in our mission and ministry:
April 2020, the COVID Pandemic created many challenges for Pastor Doug and our church family. Five days prior to Palm Sunday, Premier Moe announced that all in-person attendance at public events was indefinitely suspended. Thus began our introduction to online streaming of our church services with Pastor Doug leading worship in front of a propped up cell phone and streaming live on Facebook.
May 2020 to September 2020, it became evident that in-person worship was not in the fore-seeable future so Pastor Doug and Council became very innovative and worked diligently to provide an improved online worship experience for everyone. A microphone stand that allowed the cell phone to be moved and adjusted by Pastor Doug’s wife, Bonnie, made it possible to see Pastor Doug play the piano for hymns. The altar was moved and a cell phone microphone purchased to improve the quality of the audio so that it could be heard clearly.
September 2020 to December 2020, in-person worship was once again allowed and a maximum of 40 people could come to worship in-person. Our first in-person worship was held in the church parking lot. After that, our sanctuary was arranged to allow for the correct distancing of worshipers. Parishioners had to sign in on a Tracking form in case there were any people testing COVID positive after a service. Communion was celebrated with parishioners picking up a plastic sandwich bag with a small container of wine/juice and piece of bread. Masking, distancing and staying seated continued with in-person not increasing so the decision was made to live stream the Christmas Eve service so that no one would be turned away. A very meaningful and emotional service streamed out to over 150 people.
January 2021 to July 2021, in-person numbers for public events increased from 40 to 60 and more in time for Easter. Confirmation was held on two (2) Sundays with the class of 10 split in half to allow family and friends to attend.
Throughout the time of COVID and beyond, financial support and support of our virtual services was and remains consistent. God had not forsaken us and the Holy Spirit led us and continues to lead us to reach people outside of the walls of our church. Thanks and praise be to God as He continues to bless us and helps us to continue our meaningful ministry to our members and outreach to those who wish to know God’s wondrous love. Peace & Blessings!
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
We, the congregation of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, called to be Children of God, choose to love another, worship and serve God, following the teachings of Christ. Working together in stewardship, we seek to spread Gods Word in the community and the world.
Adopted May 29, 1994
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (GSLC) was established on January 1, 1964 as a congregation of the American Lutheran Church (ALC). In 1966, Canadian congregations of ALC merged to establish the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada (ELCC) which, in 1986, merged with three synods of the Lutheran Church in the America-Canada Section to form the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC). We practice a “liturgical” style of worship (a Greek word meaning “the work of the people”). Using a variety of worship services, we come together to give glory and honor to God in Word, Sacrament, prayer and music. Significant milestones in our worship practices: sharing of the Peace (1982), adoption of the ELCIC policy to commune baptized children (1992) and introduction of Worship Liturgical Assistants Program (1997). We focus on reaching out to a challenging world with gifts of time, talent and treasure and provide a welcoming place for those seeking to experience God’s presence in Word and Sacrament in fellowship with one another.
The first Lutheran worship service in Canada was conducted in Churchill, Manitoba in the fall of 1619 by Rev. Rasmus Jensen, a chaplain who accompanied an ill-fated Danish expedition searching for the Northwest Passage. Lutheranism in our area dates back to 1904 when Norwegian immigrants living in northwest Melville in the Plainview District organized the Zion Scandinavian Evangelical Congregation of Plainview which was a congregation of the United Lutheran Church of America. In 1906, German immigrants who lived in a settlement named Bethanien (later renamed Melville) located 15 miles north of Killaly, organized St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Bethanien. In 1907, this congregation became St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Melville, a congregation of the Ohio Synod.
On September 16, 1956, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church of Melville, was organized as a Home Mission congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church to provide a place of worship for those of the Evangelical Lutheran faith. Prior to this time, the Evangelical Lutheran Church parishes were all located in the rural areas around Melville. Services were held in the basement of the Masonic Temple until November 1956 when a newly built education unit was ready for use and continued to serve as the place of worship was built. Prince of Peace or the “little church” as it came to be referred to, was sold in 1986 and moved to its new and present location east of Melville. Pastor Johan Hesje served this parish from 1956 to 1959. Following Pastor Hesje tenure, Pastor Ivar Moen accepted a call and began his ministry in this parish in May 1959.
As time went on, many rural churches closed due to changing demographics, declining population and poor road conditions. Churches whose memberships and properties were transferred to Prince of Peach/Good Shepherd in Melville were:
- Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Plainview 1904-1956
- St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Goodeve 1906-1957
- St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Lake Mona, Duff 1941-1959
- Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Hubbard 1916 or 1917-1969
- Kristiania Lutheran Church, Atwater 1906-mid 1980’s
- First Lutheran Church (New Sweden Lutheran Church) Dubuc 1905-1974
In January 1961, there were two (2) congregations in Melville belonging to the newly formed “American Lutheran Church (ALC)”. The councils of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, together with their respective Pastors, Pastor Hohm and Pastor Moen, met to consider how they could most effectively carry on the work of God’s Kingdom. On November 19, 1963, members of the two (2), congregations voted in favor of amalgamation of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and agreed to the building of a new church. On January 1, 1964 a new constitution was adopted and a new congregation was established under the name of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, which was a congregation of ALC. Pastor Holm and Pastor Moen served the newly formed congregation. Worship services continued at both locations with the Pastors exchanging pulpits once a month. From 1964-1965, a new parsonage was built adjacent to the site of the proposed new church building. By July 1965, baptized membership had reached close to 1400 members. For reasons of expediency, the members voted in favor of reverting to two (2) congregations once again. One congregation retained the name of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and received the property on 10h Avenue West and the other congregation reverted to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and received the property on 3rd Avenue East.
Those who retained their membership at Good Shepherd continued their commitment to build the new church. Gerry Norbratten was hired to draft and design the new building, blueprints were drawn, property purchased (7 lots) and, on October 27, 1965, ground breaking ceremonies took place with Mayor Peter Dielschneider and Pastor Ivar Moen officiating. Construction began shortly thereafter. During the building of the new church, worship services were held in the Prince of Peace (“little church”) building. With the “little church” in use for worship, Sunday School had to be conducted in the basement of the parsonage and nearby church members homes. This was a huge leap in stewardship faith. However, thanks to God’s blessings, financial support and sweat equity contributed by the church members, the first worship service was held in the new, although unfinished building, on December 24, 1966.
On May 28, 1967, members gathered to celebrate the dedication of the new church and the laying of the cornerstone. Dr. Karl Holfeld, President of the ELCC and Alfred Litzenberger, Chairman of GSLC officiated. The following items were placed in the Time Capsule: Bible, Luther’s Small Catechism, GSLC Constitution and By-Laws, GSLC History, Dedication Booklet, Sunday Service Folder, Centennial Dollar Bill (without serial numbers), two (2) most recent copies of the Melville Advance and the May issue of The Shepherd, the official church paper. Mortgage burning of the new building took place on May 4, 1980. The following improvements to our church were completed: finishing of the lower level, narthex addition, installation of an elevator and installation of stained glass windows in the sanctuary.
Good Shepherd Church has been blessed with dedicated Pastors who accepted our call and who, with great love and faithfulness, have supported and guided us in our mission and ministry:
- Reverend Ivar Moen 1964-1970; Reverend Oscar Johnson 1970-1980; Reverend Jerry Borkowsky 1981-1989
- Reverend Roger Panell Haugen 1989-1995; Reverend Darlene Harrison 1995-2005; Reverend Lynda Wowk 2006-2012; Reverencd Doug Schmirler 2013-2021
- Interns who participated in the Lutheran Theological Seminary Internship Program (1978-2004): Kelly Hemming; Allan Pinno; Mabel Woo; David Jensen; Prema Samuel
- Special worship services spoken in English, German and Norwegian were held in July 1976 at the old Zion Lutheran Church in Plainview to commemorate 60 years of Lutheranism in Melville and surrounding areas.
- For several years, Inter-Lutheran Summer Ministry “Galilean Services” took place weekly on Sunday evenings throughout the summer at Melville Beach. Congregations who participated were from Melville, Wolseley, Moosomin, Neudorf, Esterhazy, Estevan and Lemberg. Worship was conducted from the water with worshippers gathering along side in boats or from the shore.
- Women’s Missionary Foundation was established in 1956 as an Auxiliary of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Eventually this group evolved and became the Evangelical Lutheran Church Women (ELCW) of the ELCIC. The ELCW was dissolved in 2010. A new Women of Faith fund was established to honor contributions made by the ELCW and GSLC was able to receive grants to support quilting projects and Divorce Care for Kids.
- We have provided a meeting place for the 2nd Cub Pack, 2nd Scout Group and 2nd Beavers Pack.
- Good Shepherd Lutheran Christian day Kindergarten opened its doors in September 1965 with an enrolment of 13 children. Mrs. Alma Rostad was hired to teach the program with a total of 260 children “graduating” until it dissolved in 1974.
- Time-Out Program was established for mothers and preschoolers. Mothers enjoyed a time of fellowship while participating in Bible Study. Volunteer Grandma’s supervised activities for the children.
- The Congregational Lay Assistant Program was introduced in 1998. Members of GSLC who have completed this course are Lenore Ostlund and Margaret Anne Yost.
- Locally, nationally and globally, we advocate and serve people in need to try to make a positive difference in the world by supporting various organizations such as: Melville and District Food Bank, Melville Association of Christian Churches, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, Gifts from the Heart, Beautiful Feed Ministries and under privileged communities in Zimbabwe.
- The ordination of Collette Baker was held at Good Shepherd on May 7, 2007. Collette was the first member to become an ordained minister.
April 2020, the COVID Pandemic created many challenges for Pastor Doug and our church family. Five days prior to Palm Sunday, Premier Moe announced that all in-person attendance at public events was indefinitely suspended. Thus began our introduction to online streaming of our church services with Pastor Doug leading worship in front of a propped up cell phone and streaming live on Facebook.
May 2020 to September 2020, it became evident that in-person worship was not in the fore-seeable future so Pastor Doug and Council became very innovative and worked diligently to provide an improved online worship experience for everyone. A microphone stand that allowed the cell phone to be moved and adjusted by Pastor Doug’s wife, Bonnie, made it possible to see Pastor Doug play the piano for hymns. The altar was moved and a cell phone microphone purchased to improve the quality of the audio so that it could be heard clearly.
September 2020 to December 2020, in-person worship was once again allowed and a maximum of 40 people could come to worship in-person. Our first in-person worship was held in the church parking lot. After that, our sanctuary was arranged to allow for the correct distancing of worshipers. Parishioners had to sign in on a Tracking form in case there were any people testing COVID positive after a service. Communion was celebrated with parishioners picking up a plastic sandwich bag with a small container of wine/juice and piece of bread. Masking, distancing and staying seated continued with in-person not increasing so the decision was made to live stream the Christmas Eve service so that no one would be turned away. A very meaningful and emotional service streamed out to over 150 people.
January 2021 to July 2021, in-person numbers for public events increased from 40 to 60 and more in time for Easter. Confirmation was held on two (2) Sundays with the class of 10 split in half to allow family and friends to attend.
Throughout the time of COVID and beyond, financial support and support of our virtual services was and remains consistent. God had not forsaken us and the Holy Spirit led us and continues to lead us to reach people outside of the walls of our church. Thanks and praise be to God as He continues to bless us and helps us to continue our meaningful ministry to our members and outreach to those who wish to know God’s wondrous love. Peace & Blessings!
Our Shepherds
PAstor Ron SHumba
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Pastor Doug Schmirler
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