Shepherd's Heart 06/26/26
Good Shepherd,
In some ways, it feels like just yesterday that we were starting demolition in the Worship Center, tearing up carpet and deconstructing the stage. In other ways, it feels as if we’ve been worshiping and doing ministry in the dust forever. It’s hard to believe that nine months (almost to the week) after moving contemporary worship down to the Activity Center, our building project is nearing completion!
I’ve commented many times about how much fun it’s been for me to come to church every day and see the progress made. The real joy, though, has been seeing your faces light up each Sunday (and in between) as you’ve seen the progress being made! From the first looks through the archway into the new Chapel, to the “I didn’t know that wall was coming down” surprises, I have loved nearly every step of walking this journey with you! Here are a few more memories that I will hold dearly forever:
Love you, Church! You are a blessing to me and many!
-Tom
In some ways, it feels like just yesterday that we were starting demolition in the Worship Center, tearing up carpet and deconstructing the stage. In other ways, it feels as if we’ve been worshiping and doing ministry in the dust forever. It’s hard to believe that nine months (almost to the week) after moving contemporary worship down to the Activity Center, our building project is nearing completion!
I’ve commented many times about how much fun it’s been for me to come to church every day and see the progress made. The real joy, though, has been seeing your faces light up each Sunday (and in between) as you’ve seen the progress being made! From the first looks through the archway into the new Chapel, to the “I didn’t know that wall was coming down” surprises, I have loved nearly every step of walking this journey with you! Here are a few more memories that I will hold dearly forever:
- Raising the shade to reveal the new stained glass window for the first time on Mother’s Day … and still seeing people experience the “Creation’s Symphony” in new ways
- Watching nearly every single person who enters or exits through the front doors stop to find first, Good Shepherd, and second, their own home on the giant map of those who we are called to invite to walk together in the calling of Christ for a life of eternal impact
- Honoring the past of the Sanctuary by restoring the chancel furniture and two sanctuary doors for use in the new Chapel
- Seeing people of all abilities have the opportunity to get out from under the weather and enter our church in a more comfortable and accommodating way
- Finding the place where my family signed the concrete floor of the (then) Worship Center seventeen years ago AND signing the floor again to commemorate new beginnings for the sacred space (We wrote two verses: Isaiah 43:19 and Deuteronomy 28:6)
- No one is working harder than our Worship and Tech Teams to be ready!
- It will be bright!
- It will be loud!
- Pastor Tara Beth will preach the Word as boldly as she ever has!
- Ryan Hammer and the band will lead us to worship as passionately as we ever have!
- The Holy Spirit will be present, just as He always is at Good Shepherd!
Love you, Church! You are a blessing to me and many!
-Tom