Good Shepherd Lutheran Church sits on McCarthy Road in Palos Heights, a southwest suburb where it has been a fixture of the community for more than seven decades. A member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Good Shepherd welcomes worshippers to two Sunday services and surrounds those services with an unusually deep music ministry, a full slate of programs for children and youth, and a long list of outreach partnerships that reach into the Palos community and around the world.
From a Palos Schoolhouse to a Growing Sanctuary
The story of Good Shepherd began on February 4, 1953, sparked by a Palos resident named Irene Hutzler who wanted to provide worship services for her neighbors. The earliest services were held in Palos East School, where Rev. Dr. Harry Huxhold served as the first pastor. A dedicated church building followed in 1956, and Rev. Victor L. Brandt succeeded Pastor Huxhold in 1960.
Good Shepherd took two decisive steps in the mid-1970s. In November of 1976, the congregation responded to controversies within the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod by becoming a charter member of the English Synod of the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches, an association that would help give birth to today's ELCA in January 1988. Both Pastor Brandt and the congregation's first associate pastor, Wayne A. Basch (called in 1977), served as vice presidents of the new synod, and Pastor Brandt would later serve as its bishop. A $475,000 expansion project in 1978 carried the 25-year-old congregation into a new chapter of ministry.
Pastor Basch became senior pastor when Bishop Brandt retired in 1986. In 2001, Good Shepherd broke ground on a $3 million building project that produced the current sanctuary along with remodeled Sunday School and music space, all paid off debt-free when the new worship space was dedicated on March 17, 2002. Rev. Chris Buresh was called as associate pastor in 2016 and became senior pastor after Pastor Basch's retirement in 2018. Rev. Andrew Bell joined the pastoral team as associate pastor in 2021.
What Good Shepherd Believes
The congregation describes its mission as "a caring fellowship of all God's people empowered by grace to proclaim the gospel and lovingly serve as Jesus teaches." Its vision is to "transform lives by making the hope of God real through bold faith, service, outreach, discipleship and helping all people discover their God-given value."
Six values shape the life of the church: drawing nearer to God, practicing grace, generously serving, prioritizing love over judgment, welcoming all, and fostering community. Those values show up in the congregation's openness at the communion rail (all are welcome to receive the sacrament regardless of church affiliation, and anyone who prefers a blessing is welcome to come forward), in the relaxed dress code of the sanctuary, and in the willingness to host new ideas and partnerships that advance the church's mission.
Sunday Worship at McCarthy Road
Sunday worship takes place at 9:00 am and 11:00 am in the sanctuary. The 9:00 am service is livestreamed so members at home or away can follow along, and bulletins for each service are posted online. Services typically run about 45 minutes and follow a familiar Lutheran shape: scripture readings, prayer, music, a sermon, and Holy Communion. Bulletins lead worshippers through the hymns and pages of the prayer book, and ushers greet visitors as they enter to answer questions and help find a seat.
Visitors are encouraged to come as they are. Most people dress casually, some wear jeans and sweaters, and others prefer dressier attire; the congregation emphasizes freedom and comfort over any dress code. Children are a visible part of the 9:00 service on the first Sunday of each month, when all Sunday School students join the opening of worship for a children's message before heading to their classrooms.
Music Across Generations
Music is one of the defining features of Good Shepherd. Aaron Basch, a lifelong member who has sung in the music ministry since childhood, directs the program, supported by organist Beth Ridderhoff. Six ensembles share their gifts in worship, with at least one group contributing to a service every month of the year.
- Adult Choir - rehearses Wednesday evenings and is open to anyone in high school and older.
- Carillon Adult Handbell Choir - directed by Michelle Podewell, rehearses Thursday evenings and is open to high school age and older.
- Flute Choir - directed by Joy Ausec, has graced services since 2004 and rehearses Wednesday evenings.
- Junior Choir - directed by Michelle Podewell, is open to students in 3rd through 8th grade and rehearses Monday evenings.
- Joy Ringers Youth Handbell Choir - directed by Michelle Podewell, is open to students in 3rd through 8th grade and rehearses Wednesday evenings.
- Cherub Choir - directed by Angeline Pope, gives the youngest singers a place to explore music Sunday mornings before Sunday School.
Together, the choirs create a layered sound that anchors worship from the youngest Cherub singers to the senior members of the Adult Choir.
Growing in Faith: Children, Youth, and Confirmation
The Children's Ministry serves everyone younger than 11, with Sunday School for children ages 3 through 5th grade. During June through August, Sunday School meets at the 10:00 hour; through the regular program year, classes meet during the 11:00 am service. Each first Sunday of the month, students start in worship for the children's message before being dismissed to class. A staffed nursery near the sanctuary is available during the 11:00 service for infants and toddlers, with a closed-circuit monitor so parents can stay with their child and still follow the service. Parents can also enroll in Frolic, a free email newsletter of faith-building activities for use at home.
Fellowship events for families run throughout the year, including Trunk or Treat, Gingerbread House Decorating, Easter Eggstravaganza, and a Windy City Thunderbolts baseball game. Vacation Bible School is a flagship summer event; the recent "Rainforest Falls" VBS drew 206 children and 120 volunteers.
Youth Ministry serves 6th through 12th graders through a three-year confirmation program. Sixth graders meet Monday evenings and study Luther's Small Catechism. Seventh graders also meet Monday evenings, working through the Old Testament in the fall and the New Testament in the spring before a final "Witness to the Faith" session. Eighth graders meet Sunday mornings between services and finish the program by preparing a two-to-three-minute faith speech presented to the congregation during a worship service.
High school ministry centers on fellowship events, service projects, the ELCA Youth Gathering, and a summer mission trip that runs two out of every three summers (with the ELCA Youth Gathering filling the third). Six months of monthly meetings, activities, and fundraising build the team before they travel. Youth-led worship typically happens in February. Middle and high school students regularly volunteer in Sunday School, assist with Vacation Bible School, and pitch in on church events.
Service to the Palos Community and Beyond
Local Ministry at Good Shepherd takes the same shape as its mission: a broad set of partnerships that put faith into practice. The congregation's outreach efforts include:
- Food pantry support - monthly food collections, an annual Sunday School bake sale that benefits the pantry, Easter Blessing Bags filled by members and dropped off at the pantry, and a Thanksgiving food drive during services.
- Homeless cooking and shelter visits - a monthly kitchen crew that cooks, freezes, and distributes meals to homeless shelters, with periodic shelter visits and dinner service led by the high school youth.
- Clothing drive - an annual collection of warm clothing and blankets before Thanksgiving, partnered with Morningstar Missions in Joliet.
- Feed My Starving Children - groups from the congregation volunteer year-round to pack meals for families around the world.
- Rudolph's Big Build - since 2012, Good Shepherd has used its parking lot to frame and panel walls for a family home; in 2018 the event was renamed in memory of long-time participant Bill Rudolph.
- High School Mission Trip - a summer service trip that takes high school youth to a different community to volunteer, paired with the ELCA Youth Gathering every third summer.
- Supporting local businesses - a running list of "Friends of Good Shepherd," including Jimmy John's, Beggar's Pizza, Palos Golf, Pop's Beef, Walgreens, Wolf's Bakery, and Honda of Lisle.
Pastor Chris also hosts "Community Bridge," a monthly program on Channel 4 local cable access, interviewing people making a positive impact in the Palos community.
An Annual Capital Improvement Grant
Good Shepherd sets aside $10,000 each year as a Capital Improvement Grant for an outside agency or ministry undertaking a major project. In 2025 the gift went to The Night Ministry to help with facility improvements as the organization prepared for its 50th anniversary. The annual Good Shepherd Giving Tree program layers on additional funding (up to $50,000 each year) directed by the Missions Committee to nonprofits doing God's work in the region. The 2026 Giving Tree recipients include Beds Plus+, South Suburban PADS, Park Lawn, South Suburban Joy Emporium, and The Night Ministry. A longstanding goal commits roughly 30 percent of the congregation's annual operating expense to local, national, and international ministries.
Life Together for Adults
Adult Ministry at Good Shepherd is built around weekly and monthly gatherings that make space for both learning and friendship. Mondays bring the Faith Discussion group and the Body & Soul men's basketball group. Tuesdays host the Faith, Prayer and Joy Prayer Group, Bible Class, and the Discovering the Bible group. Wednesdays are the regular day for the Over Fifty-Five (OFF) Club, which meets once a month for older members to socialize. The Adult Activities Committee plans seasonal gathering points like the Rally Day Luncheon in September, refreshments during the Christmas Choir Concert in December, and the Ash Wednesday Luncheon. Trustees keep an eye on the building and grounds and the garden team always welcomes extra hands for planting, weeding, and watering.
A Sound System That Meets You Where You Are
Good Shepherd recently installed an Auracast transmitter in the sanctuary, allowing anyone with a compatible hearing aid, cochlear implant, or Bluetooth-enabled headphones to stream the worship audio directly from the room's microphones. The setup works like headphones but pulls sound straight from the service rather than from a phone. Connection directions are available as worshippers enter the sanctuary, and the addition is part of an ongoing effort to make the 9:00 and 11:00 services easy to follow for every ear in the room.
Connecting With Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is located at 7800 W McCarthy Road in Palos Heights, with the church office reachable at 708-448-4170 and info@good-shepherd-church.com. Sunday bulletins, the monthly newsletter, the calendar, the annual report, and recorded sermons are posted online, and online giving is available through a dedicated giving page. The congregation maintains a Facebook page and a YouTube channel with additional sermons and stays connected with the broader community through the Community Bridge program on local Channel 4.