When I was a teenager, I used to love laying on my back in the middle of the horse pastures on my parent’s farm while looking up at the stars. I would do this with my best girlfriends, and we would talk and dream about the future. As teenagers often do, I had big dreams for my life. Back then, I dreamed about traveling the country and telling everyone about the life-changing news of Jesus. My Dad became a Christian a few years after me, and when he did, he was on fire for Jesus. We would dream together about the future, and we would imagine traveling the country on a bus and setting up tents in towns to preach the gospel. I look back on those days of wild-eyed dreaming, and I think of how innocent and pure they were – they were missional dreams, and although my life didn’t pan out as I dreamed, I do believe my life has panned out exactly as God dreamed.

What are your dreams for your life?

What are your dreams for us as a church?

I have been thinking a lot about our future together. When I think about our future, I am hopeful and excited. As I have mentioned in previous letters, I have been spending time listening to and learning so much about you. I have been learning about your history and story – the ups and downs and all the way it has shaped who you are today – and who you are is good.

Last Wednesday night, I sat with the Church Council at what was a very Spirit-led meeting. Over the last month, we have been discerning and praying for God’s direction for the church when it comes to the 2023-2024 Budget. As you’ll see, we are taking a leap of faith. We are believing in and trusting in God’s provision for the future. We have seen an increase in attendance and giving, and we believe that if we continue to steward our resources faithfully, walk in the power of the Spirit, and lean into God’s dreams for us, God will provide through you and those who aren’t yet part of the church. 

Ultimately, this budget is a forecast, and at the end of the day, we will steward what we have and can always make adjustments along the way. This budget is also a reflection of the beginnings of our hopes and dreams for the future together. In other words, over the next six months as I listen and learn, sit and pray with you and you with me, our mission and vision will take shape. As I mentioned, I hope that you will join us for our Worship and Prayer nights throughout the summer. There, we will ask God, What are your dreams for Good Shepherd, Lord? 

On Sunday, May 7th at 12:00pm, we will gather for lunch and a time of thinking about the future together for our Annual Meeting. In addition to approving the budget and voting for Council members, I will share my reflections and learnings from the last two months. I will also share some of my ideas that fit within a 7-month plan that include an Engagement Pathway and mission and vision alignment. Finally, I will share some of my hopes for 2024 and beyond.

I believe that God is calling us to step up and step out in ways that are linked to God’s missional imagination. I believe that God is calling us to dream God-sized dreams, and while we don’t know exactly what that looks like, the Annual Meeting is the start for us to lean in together in faith and prayer. I can’t wait to see you there. Our future will be as strong as our togetherness. 

As I often say, “I need you; you need me; we need you; you need us.”

This Sunday, I will be preaching from John 21 on a sermon called “The Church of the Future.” I am so excited about how the Spirit provided the message, and I can’t wait to open the word with you. I will be preaching live at the 9:00 am Traditional Service and the 10:29 am Contemporary Service. I will be on video on our 9:01 am Contemporary Service and the 10:30 am Traditional Service. I look forward to greeting everyone between services at the Connect Desk!

Can’t wait to see you on Sunday – in-person or online.

From my heart,

Pastor Tara Beth