Beloved,

It has been a heavy couple of weeks in the life of our congregation. But the heaviness has not negated my hopefulness for our future. When I came to Good Shepherd, I came with a deep sense of call and love – that has only grown. God was writing a story then, God is writing a story now. Jesus never promised a trouble-free world (John 16:33), but Jesus has overcome the world. As your shepherd, I want you to know that I am for you and I am for us. On Thursday, January 11th, we will gather together for another Shepherd’s Heart Live. This will be a time with me, our pastoral staff, and church leadership to dream about the future. I am excited to share my heart with you, and I am excited to hear from you the dreams you have for our future. I am praying it will be a rich time and I am believing that God will be abundantly present. 

As we approach the serene and joyous night of Christmas Eve, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude and love for you. This season, rich with wonder and awe, invites us to pause and reflect on the profound mystery and beauty of God’s love made manifest in the birth of Jesus.

With all the whirlwind surrounding us – the demands on the season, parties to attend, gifts to buy, and meals to make, it would be easy to lose sight of the manger. My prayer for you is that you would find space to prepare your hearts for this season that reveals the mysterious love of God made known in a baby.  In that humble beginning lies the greatest story ever told, a story of unending love, hope, and redemption for all mankind. Weekends like this, we can blink and before we know it, it’s over. But savor the moments. Savor the carols. Savor the story. Savor the candles. Savor the celebration. “Joy to the World, the Lord has come!”

This Christmas Eve, we are blessed to offer a variety of services to celebrate as we together “Marvel at the manger.” I warmly invite you, your family, and friends to join us in worship for any one of our 7 services. As we gather, let us remember that the heart of Christmas is not just in the grandeur of celebrations but in the simple and profound truth of God with us. So, come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Let us open our hearts to the wonder of His love. Let us be reminded that in the midst of our busy lives, the mystery of a baby in a manger is enough to fill our hearts with true joy and peace.

May this Christmas Eve be a time of blessing, joy, and renewed hope for you and your loved ones. Looking forward to celebrating with you the birth of our Savior. 

I love you more than you know, Good Shepherd. I am hopeful for us and will forever be a prisoner of hope. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

From my heart,

Tara Beth Leach