Shepherd's Heart 11/15/24
Dear Ones,
As we enter the final week of our FORWARD generosity initiative, my heart is brimming with awe and gratitude. God’s hand has been so evident among us. His grace has met us in abundance, and His Spirit has woven countless stories of transformation and generosity into the fabric of our community. Every step of this journey has been sacred ground, and I have found myself whispering prayers of thanksgiving over and over again: Thank You, God, for this church. Thank You for these people. Thank You for calling me here.
I want you to know how deeply I love being your pastor. Good Shepherd, you are my family, my home, my great joy. Every morning when I wake up, I feel the fire of this call burning brightly within me. I am filled with an overwhelming sense of hope and expectation—not just for the days ahead but for the years and, perhaps, decades to come. I believe with all my heart that the best is yet to come.
Though our FORWARD preaching series has ended, the journey is far from over. This is just the beginning of a conversation about who we are and who God is calling us to be—a church that is For the World, For Our Neighbors, and For 1310. These words are not just slogans. They are an invitation into a life of purpose and mission, an identity that aligns us with the heart of God.
We’ve talked a lot about dreams and plans for our worship spaces and building transformation. But more than that, we’ve talked about making room—not just in our physical spaces but in our hearts, in our schedules, and in our lives—for what God wants to do. This is an ongoing conversation, one we will pick back up in January and February through a series of town hall meetings and a congregational gathering to discern and decide together. We are on holy ground as we walk this journey, and I trust that God will guide us with clarity and wisdom.
As I reflect on this season, I keep coming back to the words of the Apostle Paul:
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV)
Good Shepherd, God is doing more than we could ever ask or imagine. He is stirring hearts, raising up leaders, and calling us to step out in faith together. I see it in the way you serve, in the way you love, and in the way you give—faithfully, sacrificially, and joyfully. I see it in the stories you’ve shared, in the tears we’ve prayed through, and in the laughter that fills these hallways.
I am in awe of what God is doing in and through us, and I am convinced that He is not done yet. The best is still ahead, and I am grateful beyond words to walk this journey with you.
Let us keep moving forward together—with open hands, open hearts, and eyes fixed on Jesus.
From my Heart,
Pastor Tara Beth
As we enter the final week of our FORWARD generosity initiative, my heart is brimming with awe and gratitude. God’s hand has been so evident among us. His grace has met us in abundance, and His Spirit has woven countless stories of transformation and generosity into the fabric of our community. Every step of this journey has been sacred ground, and I have found myself whispering prayers of thanksgiving over and over again: Thank You, God, for this church. Thank You for these people. Thank You for calling me here.
I want you to know how deeply I love being your pastor. Good Shepherd, you are my family, my home, my great joy. Every morning when I wake up, I feel the fire of this call burning brightly within me. I am filled with an overwhelming sense of hope and expectation—not just for the days ahead but for the years and, perhaps, decades to come. I believe with all my heart that the best is yet to come.
Though our FORWARD preaching series has ended, the journey is far from over. This is just the beginning of a conversation about who we are and who God is calling us to be—a church that is For the World, For Our Neighbors, and For 1310. These words are not just slogans. They are an invitation into a life of purpose and mission, an identity that aligns us with the heart of God.
We’ve talked a lot about dreams and plans for our worship spaces and building transformation. But more than that, we’ve talked about making room—not just in our physical spaces but in our hearts, in our schedules, and in our lives—for what God wants to do. This is an ongoing conversation, one we will pick back up in January and February through a series of town hall meetings and a congregational gathering to discern and decide together. We are on holy ground as we walk this journey, and I trust that God will guide us with clarity and wisdom.
As I reflect on this season, I keep coming back to the words of the Apostle Paul:
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV)
Good Shepherd, God is doing more than we could ever ask or imagine. He is stirring hearts, raising up leaders, and calling us to step out in faith together. I see it in the way you serve, in the way you love, and in the way you give—faithfully, sacrificially, and joyfully. I see it in the stories you’ve shared, in the tears we’ve prayed through, and in the laughter that fills these hallways.
I am in awe of what God is doing in and through us, and I am convinced that He is not done yet. The best is still ahead, and I am grateful beyond words to walk this journey with you.
Let us keep moving forward together—with open hands, open hearts, and eyes fixed on Jesus.
From my Heart,
Pastor Tara Beth
Posted in Shepherds Heart