About

I would like to personally welcome you to the Church of the Good Shepherd Congregational, United Church of Christ.

I am pleased that you have chosen to worship with us and excited about all the things God has been doing and will do in our Congregation! Each and every Sunday, we enter this sanctuary with anticipation of what God wants to do in each one of our lives. There can be no doubt whatsoever that God is a personal God who cares very deeply about everything and everyone about which we are concerned.

Once again, we embrace you in the spirit of Caritas (car-re-tas) as you worship with us! There is nothing quite like joining with people in a sense of unity, with the single purpose of bringing praise and honor to our Lord. Lives are being changed by the power of God. There can be little doubt that we have very little power on our own to affect change in our lives, yet when we choose to allow the Lord to lead and guide us, amazing things can happen.

As we begin the summer months, once again, we find there are so many things that can distract us from the Lord. Yet, I want to encourage you today to do all you can to continue to keep God first and foremost in your own lives, as well as those of your loved ones.

Thank you for all the ways you make a difference in our church and community.

Together, we can have a lasting impact!

Rev. Jesse Knox III
Senior Minister

The Church of the Good Shepherd was birthed from the visionary efforts of three community leaders who worked to establish a spiritual community that would allow for African American men and women to gather in fellowship and service. The first service was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. Henderson on March 9, 1922.

The Church of the Good Shepherd was officially founded February 22, 1925 when twenty-four members signed the charter as members of the Langley Avenue Congregational Church. Created out of the recognition that another congregational church would be welcomed on the South side of Chicago, three members from Lincoln Memorial Congregational Church, Dr. Lawrence Blanchet, Mr. Williams McSee and Dr. John L. Campbell, met for the purpose of organizing a strong Christian church with a broad field of Christian service and faith.

Since that time, the church had occupied three locations: the parlor of Charles T. and Rena Henderson’s private home at 4827 South Langley Avenue where the congregation took on the name of Langley Avenue Congregational Church; 5347 South Michigan Avenue where the congregation was renamed Liberty Congregational Church and its current location in 1929.

The congregation acquired the former Crerar Presbyterian Church at the corner of 57th Street and Prairie and named itself The Church of the Good Shepherd with a sanctuary and spacious parsonage. In 1972, the educational wing was completed adding 13 classrooms; in 1983, a Wicks American Pipe Organ was installed in the church and dedicated December of that year.

Senior Ministers have been Rev. Harold M. Kingsley (1927-1944), Rev. Arthur Douglass Gray (1944-1952), Rev. Dr. Joseph H. Evans (1953-1967), Rev. Dr. Kenneth B. Smith (1968-1984), Rev. Dr. David E. Chambers (1986-2008) and Rev. Jesse Knox III (2011-present), along with numerous outstanding assistant ministers.

We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God,
and to your deeds we testify: You call the worlds into being,

create persons in your own image, and set before each one

the ways of life and death. You seek in holy love

to save all people from aimlessness and sin.

You judge people and nations by your righteous will

declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior,

you have come to us and shared our common lot,

conquering sin and death and reconciling the world to yourself.

You bestow upon us your Holy Spirit,

creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ,

binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues, and races.

You call us into your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship,
to be your servants in the service of others,

to proclaim the gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil,

to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table, to join him in his passion and victory.

You promise to all who trust you forgiveness of sins and fullness of grace,
courage in the struggle for justice and peace, your presence in trial and rejoicing,
and eternal life in your realm, which has no end.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto you.

Amen.