Go ServeFrequently Asked Questions
When was Good Shepherd founded?
In February 1965, 81 adults and 50 children signed the charter organizing Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, which is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Metropolitan DC Synod.
What do Lutherans believe?
The Lutheran church confesses in the Triune God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit - and Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. We believe in the Gospel as the power of God for the salvation of all who believe. We believe the canonical scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the written word of God, inspired by God’s Spirit speaking through the authors. We believe that the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed are true declarations of our Christian faith.
What is Luther's Small Catechism?
Luther's Small Catechism (Der Kleine Katechismus) was written by Martin Luther and published in 1529 for the training of children. Luther's Small Catechism reviews the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, the Office of the Keys and Confession and the Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is included in the Book of Concord as an authoritative statement of what Lutherans believe. The Small Catechism is widely used today in Lutheran churches as part of youth education and Confirmation. You may download a pdf version of the Small Catechism here.
How many people attend Good Shepherd?
We are a large inter-generational congregation with over 1200 members. On average, 500 people attend worship services each week and more than 150 people attend Sunday School.
How do I become a member?
New Member Orientation Coffees are held quarterly. These are two-hour sessions which introduce you to Good Shepherd. Membership takes place the following Sunday during services. For more information, contact Pastor Dave or click on the Join Good Shepherd link.
Can I make a donation to Good Shepherd online?
Yes, you can use either a Credit Card or Bank Account to make one-time or recurring donations to Good Shepherd.
Use the following link
to set up and use your account.
How do I arrange a baptism?
Baptisms take place at either of our Sunday services. To schedule a baptism, please call Pastor Dave at 301-869-1780 or pastordave@goserve.net. Read the Baptism Brochure for more information and please complete the Baptism Worksheet and give it to the church office prior to the event.
How does Good Shepherd celebrate the Sacraments?
Holy Communion is the heart of worship at Good Shepherd. Sundays at each service, we receive Christ’s abiding presence through the sacrament of bread and wine. Holy Baptism is often administered to children as infants. However, adults and other non-baptized persons may also receive the Sacrament of Baptism after they’ve completed instruction and confessed their faith.
How are young people Confirmed?
Confirmation classes are held for 6-8th graders. We have focused on this group for instruction because we’ve found that middle school students are at a point in their life where they are intellectually prepared to understand more sophisticated topics of faith and historical teachings of the church. They also are ready to question beliefs and teachings that they have learned up to this point.
When do children take Communion?
We offer communion instruction to children who are in First Grade. Instruction and preparation classes are held in the winter prior to the beginning of Lent. Speak with Pastor Dave if you have further questions regarding communion.
