When any new important relationship begins, there is always a great deal of learning that marks the earliest days and months. The learning takes time before understanding and trust can be built. Over the last 9 weeks, I continue to learn so much about you as a church – your story, your heart, your pain points, and your dreams. This learning will always be part of our relationship, but during these early days, I hope to steward as many as these moments as possible. I have been doing this through one-one-ones with congregants, meeting with ministries and ministry leaders, and working with our staff.

I realize that your opportunity to learn about me may be limited to Sunday mornings and a weekly email. With that, I want to continue sharing my heart with you as a church so we can together learn how to be on mission together. You may have questions, like, “What is Pastor Tara Beth up to week-to-week?” or “How is Rostering going?” or “What are her plans for this Fall?” or “What’s the long-term preaching plan?” I would love to answer your wonderings and share my heart to anyone curious for our first ever, Shepherd’s Heart Live. Join me for one of two options: Tuesday, June 13^th from 7:00pm – 8:15pm or Wednesday, June 14^th from 10:00am to 11:15am. This will be a lighted hearted time for casual conversation and curious questions. I’m looking forward to our time together!

This coming Sunday is Pentecost, the day in which we celebrate and remember the gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s hard to imagine life without the gift of God’s empowering presence. For the early church, the Holy Spirit was an experienced reality. The Spirit was what propelled a fledgling little church to the global movement that continues on today. When I think about the Good Shepherd movement, a flourishing future can only happen with the power and presence of the Spirit. I hope that you are continuing to join me in the 90-day prayer, and praying that God’s Spirit guides us into the future.

This weekend is also Memorial Day weekend. I always think about my grandfather, Gene Moore, on this weekend. My Grandfather was a WWII Navy Veteran and he lost friends and family during the war. I will never know the heartache and pain of losing loved ones due to war, but I honor those who have gone before us for their sacrifice and service to our country. 

This weekend, my family and I are taking a short vacation in Southern California for time with friends, hiking, boating, and a trip to Disneyland. I am looking forward to rest and respite for a few days, and looking forward to coming back rejuvenated for a summer of exciting ministry. I’m so excited to have Pastor Glen preaching both Contemporary services and Pastor Paul preaching in the Sanctuary. 

Pray for our staff and ministry leaders as they ramp up for many events including, Summer VBS, Eternal Impact, and our Highschool Mission Trip, Workcamp. Our staff is hard at work creating spaces for the young and seasoned to connect with God. We are also entering into a season where we are understaffed in our pastoral staff, ministry staff, and administrative staff. If you have the space, reach out to a ministry leader and ask how you can use your gifts for the building of God’s Kingdom. 

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

From my heart,

Pastor Tara Beth