Shepherd's Heart 10/17/25
I remember the smell of the uncarpeted room and the permanent marker when I wrote my best friend's name on the concrete of the Worship Center 15 years ago. I get chills thinking about the teenagers I have witnessed over the last 8 years who have sung and prayed through late night worship sessions in the Sanctuary. I know the spot in the room 6 years ago when God (and my little brother) said "It's your turn to run a marathon." I will never forget the place I stood when I made my vows to my husband 5 years ago. I'm brought to tears recalling my daughter's baptism just 1 year ago. You know and I know, the Worship Center and the Sanctuary are not just rooms in a building. They are holy spaces where we have encountered God and been moved by the Spirit, individually and collectively.
We are right at the start of a transformation process for our beloved holy spaces and naturally, this brings forth all kinds of emotions. We remember the baptisms and funerals, weddings and retreats, the prayers in the valley and the praises on the mountains, and all the times God met us in the pews and the seats. As I have been trading stories with all of you over the last few weeks, I have been filled with an immense gratitude. How incredibly blessed and beloved are we that our infinite and holy God has chosen to dwell among us here in these ordinary bricks and mortar spaces?
We are certainly moving Forward Together. We have preview pictures to grasp a little excitement for what these rooms will look like (thanks Aspen!). We get to witness significantly creative leadership as we gather in the activity center in the transition (thanks worship team!). We get glimpses of construction work beginning in roof repairs and unwinding cables (yay building team!). But I also sense a bit of healthy nostalgia among us because good things have happened here.
If you're also feeling this tension of transition, this is your invitation to the Summit on October 22 at 5:30pm. There will, of course, be information to share (thanks Tom! thanks Council!) but, more importantly, there will be time for us to collectively celebrate the good foundation we have built in each space. I am excited to walk together through a "Liturgy of Changing Spaces" as part of the Summit. We will worship and pray over our memories and ask God to stir in us new pictures of how He will continue to meet us in these holy rooms.
I am so grateful for you Good Shepherd. We have a beautiful history that is worthy of celebration. And we also have an incredible God who is with us as we follow his lead. In preparation for our Summit gathering, you'll find cards in the lobbies to write your favorite memories. We'll read those together in our "Liturgy of Changing Spaces". As we transition and stretch together, let's not neglect gathering to share those memories and prepare our hearts for the good that's ahead.
Walking with you,
(Soon to be your Pastor) Elisabeth Lectka
We are right at the start of a transformation process for our beloved holy spaces and naturally, this brings forth all kinds of emotions. We remember the baptisms and funerals, weddings and retreats, the prayers in the valley and the praises on the mountains, and all the times God met us in the pews and the seats. As I have been trading stories with all of you over the last few weeks, I have been filled with an immense gratitude. How incredibly blessed and beloved are we that our infinite and holy God has chosen to dwell among us here in these ordinary bricks and mortar spaces?
We are certainly moving Forward Together. We have preview pictures to grasp a little excitement for what these rooms will look like (thanks Aspen!). We get to witness significantly creative leadership as we gather in the activity center in the transition (thanks worship team!). We get glimpses of construction work beginning in roof repairs and unwinding cables (yay building team!). But I also sense a bit of healthy nostalgia among us because good things have happened here.
If you're also feeling this tension of transition, this is your invitation to the Summit on October 22 at 5:30pm. There will, of course, be information to share (thanks Tom! thanks Council!) but, more importantly, there will be time for us to collectively celebrate the good foundation we have built in each space. I am excited to walk together through a "Liturgy of Changing Spaces" as part of the Summit. We will worship and pray over our memories and ask God to stir in us new pictures of how He will continue to meet us in these holy rooms.
I am so grateful for you Good Shepherd. We have a beautiful history that is worthy of celebration. And we also have an incredible God who is with us as we follow his lead. In preparation for our Summit gathering, you'll find cards in the lobbies to write your favorite memories. We'll read those together in our "Liturgy of Changing Spaces". As we transition and stretch together, let's not neglect gathering to share those memories and prepare our hearts for the good that's ahead.
Walking with you,
(Soon to be your Pastor) Elisabeth Lectka
Posted in Shepherds Heart