The seeds were planted in 1960 when Frank and Anna Gibiser contacted Lutherans in Monroe, Shelton, Easton, and Newtown about starting a more local church. The first meeting was held on a snowy evening in February, 1961 at the Gibiser home in Monroe. Pastor Benson of Salem Lutheran in Bridgeport advised the group of the many obstacles involved, including resistance from local churches to start another church in a town with a population of only 4500.
The first service was held at the East Village Methodist Church, and we were warmly welcomed by their pastor. He closed his welcoming remarks by stating that with the turn out Good Shepherd had for its first service, he could understand why the other churches in town were resisting its start, and he was glad we were in his church where he could keep an eye on us!
Good Shepherd began officially as a mission church of the Augustana Lutheran Synod, which later merged with The Lutheran Church in America Synod. Pastor Orville Lind answered the call to be our first minister and came to Monroe with his family. On November 12, 1961, Good Shepherd was officially organized with 83 adults and 62 children as charter members. Since then we have grown to over 450 confirmed members (January, 1999) and our members come from Monroe, Trumbull, Newtown, Shelton, Easton, Oxford, Bridgeport, Danbury, Fairfield, Southbury, Derby, West Haven, Milford, and Stratford.
February 1961
First meeting at the Gibiser's
April 9, 1961
First service at East Village Church
July 1961
Pastor Lind accepts call
September 17, 1961
Services moved to Monroe Elementary School and start of Sunday School
June 17, 1962
Dedication of the parsonage
October 14, 1962
Purchase 3.8 acres for church property
June 21, 1964
Ground breaking ceremony
May 9, 1965
Dedication of the sanctuary
May 13, 1968
Pastor Peter Drever begins as pastor
December 7,1969
Pastor Charles R. Schwarz begins as pastor
June 6, 1976
Dedication of Gibiser Hall
April 26, 1992
Dedication of the newly renovated building and sanctuary