Dear members and friends of Good Shepherd,
This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Amen.
This summer is a wonderful time of recharging and rejuvenation. We are gearing up for a good fall at Good Shepherd! Your church council—and your brothers and sisters in Good Shepherd—are coming up with creative new ideas for renewing our life together—worship, learning, service, fellowship, and fun.
Several years ago, a young pastor in his first year in ordained ministry told me, “I’m tired of planning events that I would not attend if I wasn’t the pastor.” He was not discouraged; rather, what he was getting at was the passion to connect deeply what we do in our life together in the church with our daily lives—our joys and sorrows, our need for meaning and purpose, our whole lives, body, mind, soul, and spirit. During this time when families—and all people—are stretched thin, we need more than ever to make the most of our time and energy and resources doing what matters most.
That is why, while we will be experimenting and innovating with new (and ancient) ways of living and sharing Jesus together, we will also focus intently on the basics: prayer and loving action; meditation on Scripture and care for our neighbors; love for God and love for our neighbors as we love ourselves. I encourage you to get involved in what’s happening at Good Shepherd this fall as you are able—including especially praying for your fellow members and friends, and digging into God’s word alone and together with your brothers and sisters in Christ. We cannot give what we do not have, and we will have what we do not receive, and we will not receive if we do not open ourselves to the presence of God in our midst. But ask, and you will receive!
In Christ, Pastor Eric