In December, 2004, the Metro Lutheran newspaper did a story on Servant of the Shepherd whish the writer entitled, “A Church for Outcasts.”  At first glance, some of our members were a bit taken aback.  Then it dawned on them that the “outcasts” were the ones that Jesus hung out with and loved the most. Since then, we have proudly adopted that label.  Even our two teams on the River Falls Church Softball League are called “The Outcasts” – with Pastor Frank’s jersey identifying him as “Outcast #1”.

Our theme song is taken from the “Hunchback of Notre Dame” and beautifully gives voice to our prayers:

"God help the outcasts"

I don't know if You can hear me,
Or if You're even there.
I don't know if You would listen
To a humble prayer.

They tell me I am just an outcast;
I shouldn't speak to You.
Still I see Your face and wonder,
Were You once an outcast too?

God help the outcasts, hungry from birth.
Show them the mercy they don't find on earth.
The lost and forgotten, they look to you still.
God help the outcasts or nobody will.

I ask for nothing - I can get by.
For I know so many less lucky than I.
God help the outcasts, the poor and downtrod.
I thought we all were children of God.

I don't know if there's a reason
Why some are blessed, some not.
Why the few You seem to favor,
They fear us, flee us, try not to see us.

God help the outcasts; the tattered and torn.
Seeking an answer to why they were born.
Winds of misfortune have blown them about.
You made the outcasts - don't cast them out.
The poor and unlucky; the weak and the odd.
I thought we all were the children of God.