As with so many churches throughout

Christendom, Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City began

meeting in homes. It was the early 1970s and the city was only about 12

years old.

Residents Jimmy and Margo Booth,

along with the Waldemar Zimmermans and the Sapper family, went door-to-door

locating anyone interested in helping start a Lutheran church.

The first full worship service

was on a cold, snowy day in Sept. 1974 and the service was held at the

Glenlock Recreation Center. A portable altar was made by Mr. Zimmerman.

(As an aside, he also made a doll house which was raffled to help raise

funds when the Old Courthouse was firebombed in 1982. Dr. Helen Sams was

the winner, much to the delight of her grandchildren.)

In Sept. 1974 the Rev. John

Weber was sent to oversee the new Lutheran mission and liked what he saw.

He is still serving the congregation.

The membership has grown from

an original 80 to 500 in 1984 to 1,700 at the present time.

The youth and adults participate

in activities not foreseen in its beginning. Each summer its youth travel

to Alabama to help in building activities as well as conduct Bible studies.

This past summer they participated in special mission activities in Atlanta.

Members participate in a mission

program designed to help out brand new congregations. Over 60 families

participate in a covenant by which each family donates $50 to the new

congregations.

Along with the members of the

Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Christ Our Shepherd members are building

a Habitat For Humanity house which is expected to be completed a month

early. It should be ready for occupation by the middle of November.

Also serving this congregation

is Pastor Miriam Beecher.

Worship services are each Saturday

at 7 p.m., Sunday at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. with Sunday School

at 9:45 a.m.

The church is located at 101

Peachtree Parkway North and can be reached at 770-487-8717.