Shepherd's Heart 09/04/26
From the Desert to Good Shepherd
About a month and a half ago, my wife, Chandra, and I traded the mountains and desert of Oro Valley, Arizona, for the rolling hills and greenery of Naperville, Illinois. After nine years of ministry at Resurrection Lutheran Church, saying goodbye was not easy. Resurrection was much more than a place where I served…it was a community filled with incredible people who loved us, supported us, prayed for us, and became dear friends. I will always be grateful for those nine years and for the many ways that God shaped my life and ministry through the people of Resurrection. There was sadness in leaving, but also a deep sense that God was leading us into a new chapter.
In some ways, coming back to the Upper Midwest feels like coming home. I grew up here, so I know what’s coming when the temperatures start dropping. After nine years in Arizona,
however, I may need to remind myself how to use an ice scraper! We’ve now had about six
weeks to settle into our townhouse in Woodridge, and three weeks ago I officially began serving at Good Shepherd. From the very beginning, Chandra and I have been overwhelmed by the warmth and kindness that we’ve received. Thank you for every handshake, hug, conversation, note, invitation, and word of encouragement. You have made us feel incredibly welcome.
One of my greatest joys during these first three weeks has been joining this pastoral and
leadership team. I love the laughter, conversations, prayer, and genuine sense that we enjoy doing ministry together. The same is true of this amazing staff. These are gifted, faithful people who love Jesus, love this congregation, and care deeply about the ministry that we share. I’ve already learned that a lot happens at Good Shepherd every week, much of it thanks to faithful people who work behind the scenes. It is a joy to be part of a team where people work hard, care deeply, and still manage to have a lot of fun together.
I’ve also made one particularly important discovery about Good Shepherd… this church has a café! And then there’s Carol, who oversees the café and somehow manages to make some of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. So here’s an invitation… let’s meet for lunch in the café sometime over the next several weeks. I’d love the chance to sit down, share a meal, hear your story, and get to know you better. Between the café, conversations in the hallways, worship, meetings, and all the new faces that are becoming familiar, Good Shepherd is already beginning to feel like home.
So, three weeks into ministry at Good Shepherd, the word that keeps coming to mind is grateful. I’m grateful for this pastoral team and this amazing staff. I’m grateful for the warm welcome that Chandra and I have received from all of you. And I’m grateful that God has called us into this new chapter at Good Shepherd. I’m looking forward to the days and months ahead…to getting to know you better, serving alongside you, laughing together, and discovering where God is leading us. Thank you for welcoming us so warmly. It is truly a joy to be here.
Pastor Tim
About a month and a half ago, my wife, Chandra, and I traded the mountains and desert of Oro Valley, Arizona, for the rolling hills and greenery of Naperville, Illinois. After nine years of ministry at Resurrection Lutheran Church, saying goodbye was not easy. Resurrection was much more than a place where I served…it was a community filled with incredible people who loved us, supported us, prayed for us, and became dear friends. I will always be grateful for those nine years and for the many ways that God shaped my life and ministry through the people of Resurrection. There was sadness in leaving, but also a deep sense that God was leading us into a new chapter.
In some ways, coming back to the Upper Midwest feels like coming home. I grew up here, so I know what’s coming when the temperatures start dropping. After nine years in Arizona,
however, I may need to remind myself how to use an ice scraper! We’ve now had about six
weeks to settle into our townhouse in Woodridge, and three weeks ago I officially began serving at Good Shepherd. From the very beginning, Chandra and I have been overwhelmed by the warmth and kindness that we’ve received. Thank you for every handshake, hug, conversation, note, invitation, and word of encouragement. You have made us feel incredibly welcome.
One of my greatest joys during these first three weeks has been joining this pastoral and
leadership team. I love the laughter, conversations, prayer, and genuine sense that we enjoy doing ministry together. The same is true of this amazing staff. These are gifted, faithful people who love Jesus, love this congregation, and care deeply about the ministry that we share. I’ve already learned that a lot happens at Good Shepherd every week, much of it thanks to faithful people who work behind the scenes. It is a joy to be part of a team where people work hard, care deeply, and still manage to have a lot of fun together.
I’ve also made one particularly important discovery about Good Shepherd… this church has a café! And then there’s Carol, who oversees the café and somehow manages to make some of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. So here’s an invitation… let’s meet for lunch in the café sometime over the next several weeks. I’d love the chance to sit down, share a meal, hear your story, and get to know you better. Between the café, conversations in the hallways, worship, meetings, and all the new faces that are becoming familiar, Good Shepherd is already beginning to feel like home.
So, three weeks into ministry at Good Shepherd, the word that keeps coming to mind is grateful. I’m grateful for this pastoral team and this amazing staff. I’m grateful for the warm welcome that Chandra and I have received from all of you. And I’m grateful that God has called us into this new chapter at Good Shepherd. I’m looking forward to the days and months ahead…to getting to know you better, serving alongside you, laughing together, and discovering where God is leading us. Thank you for welcoming us so warmly. It is truly a joy to be here.
Pastor Tim