Plan Your Visit
Welcome to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
We want to be a place of welcome and blessing for you.
If you are just beginning to explore Christianity, this is a safe place to ask tough questions and test the waters. If you have been journeying with Christ for some time, this is a place to grow deeper in your walk as a disciple. If you have wandered here and there or up and down in your spiritual journey, this is a place to speculate, marvel, seek and find. And if you have been hurt by the church in the past, this can be a place of healing.
What to Wear
This is easy. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in. Good Shepherd is an informal church. You can expect to see people wearing jeans (or shorts in the summer) and other casual wear. Festival Sundays, such as Easter and Christmas, you might find people in suits and dresses. Whatever you wear will fit in at Good Shepherd.
When to Arrive
Once you are able to visit in person, most people arrive only a few minutes before worship. Pastor Kathy is found in the gathering space 15 minutes before worship with a warm smile to greet you. Greeters and Ushers can help answer your questions.
How to Find Us
Good Shepherd is on the southwest corner of East Avenue and Randolph Street in Oak Park (map), one block north of Washington Boulevard. There is plenty of on-street parking on both East and Randolph. On Sundays, please enter through the doors on East Avenue. For non-worship events on other days, the door on Randolph Street is best. Just ring the bell!
For Those with Children
We are a family-friendly congregation. Your children are welcome to attend worship with you, and the little ones (5 and under) are invited to the PrayGround tucked into the front left corner of the sanctuary. Feel free to ask the ushers for books, crayons and toys for quiet play in the pews.
If you prefer, we offer professional nursery care for preschoolers during the 10:30 am service. (Nursery care is currently on hold.)
In every service, younger children are invited to come forward to listen to a short children's message and receive an activity bulletin. Although we offer communion instruction to 2nd graders, all baptized children are invited to commune or receive a blessing from the pastor – it is up to you.
For Those with Disabilities
We strive to remove all physical barriers and limitations within our church facility to create a welcoming space in both form and function. A ramp and elevator at the northwest-entrance provides street level access to the worship space and Fellowship Hall. With seating consisting of chairs and pews, people who use wheelchairs can sit where and with whom they want. A seamless t-coil audio system transmits signals directly to hearing aids and an FM signal system provides individualized audio amplification for those who desire support. Ushers are ready with large print bulletins if needed.