While many Christians may not circle this Sunday on their calendars with great anticipation, it stirs deep and sentimental memories for me. This Sunday, we observe Good Shepherd Sunday.

As a child, I attended a congregation called Good Shepherd. It was my home, the place where my faith was formed. I was baptized, confirmed, married, and ordained there. For a brief time, I even served as its interim pastor. One of my fondest memories is the way that the congregation embraced Good Shepherd Sunday each year. Because of the church’s name, the day was celebrated with particular joy and attention, something I only came to appreciate later in life. As a child, it simply felt like a birthday celebration for the church.

I have since learned that many congregations share this kind of connection. A church named Ascension, for example, is likely to highlight Ascension Thursday with special enthusiasm. Names matter, and they shape how we experience the rhythms of the church year.

This year, as Good Shepherd Sunday approaches, my reflections are also shaped by grief. The image of Christ as the loving shepherd feels especially meaningful as we remember the recent passing of a beloved colleague and dear friend, Rev. Dr. Joanne Bond, longtime pastor of Cross of Christ in Babylon. Joanne died suddenly while visiting the Holy Land this past October.

Her calling to reflect the Good Shepherd was evident in every aspect of her ministry, and quite literally in her love of sheep. Cross of Christ’s “Feeding the Flock” ministry to those in need beautifully embodied her pastoral heart. Anyone who knew Joanne will remember her collection of sheep-themed items and her steadfast refusal to eat lamb. It was both a personal quirk and a quiet testimony.

This Good Shepherd Sunday, I will remember her with gratitude, trusting that she now rests safely in the care of the Shepherd she so faithfully served, no longer among the wandering, but forever gathered into the fold.

So why do we call this day Good Shepherd Sunday?

The answer lies in the appointed readings. In the historic one-year lectionary, the Gospel for this Sunday featured the Gospel of John 10, where Jesus declares, “I am the Good Shepherd.” That association gave the day its enduring name.

Following the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, many Christian traditions, including Lutherans, adopted a three-year lectionary. In this system, the Good Shepherd texts from John 10 are now read on the Fourth Sunday of Easter. It has also become a day often associated with prayer for vocations, pastoral ministry, and listening for the voice of Christ who calls and gathers the flock.

This Sunday, April 26, at 9:30 AM, we will welcome eight young members into a new step of their faith journey as they receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time. It is a joyful reminder that the Good Shepherd continues to call, nurture, and guide.

Join us as we celebrate this meaningful day. And who knows? You just might hear the Shepherd calling your name, too. No sheepdog required.

Blessings,

Pastor Marc