Good Shepherd,

As I sit down to write this letter, a familiar whirlwind of emotions from a year ago fills my heart. It’s been an entire year since I’ve had the honor of joining you as your pastor, and this week I have been thinking about our last 12 months together.

I recall the eve of our first Sunday together with vivid clarity: the butterflies in my stomach, the restless energy, and the endless rehearsing of my sermon wondering how we would all connect, considering the new ground we were breaking together. That next morning, we could not believe the reception of warmth, welcome, and hospitality. We were home. My children, dressed in their best, were blissfully unaware of the significance of the day, yet you welcomed them—and me—with open arms and hearts, creating a sense of belonging from the very start. They were home.

Standing before you that first time, I felt the Spirit’s assurance wash over me, a sign that we were embarking on this journey together, not just as pastor and congregation but as a family committed to each other and to the path God has set before us.

This year has been rich with blessing upon blessing. I continue to hear countless stories of God moving in hearts and lives through the ministries of Good Shepherd. God’s blessings are palpable on Sunday morning with not only 41% growth in attendance, but with worship engagement, energy, and the joy that fills our building. God’s blessings are felt through your hands and feet. Just a couple of weeks ago, 700 of you showed up at Feed the Need and packed 100’s of thousands of meals that will be shipped around the globe for hungry children. Good Shepherd, you are a faithful, beautiful, and loving flock. You are making a local and global impact, and I still can’t believe we get to do this together.

Sure, we have had some trials together, much like any deeply committed relationship. Together, we’ve navigated the complexities of embracing change, of making bold decisions, and of growing through the vulnerabilities and imperfections that make us human. Yet, here we are, a year later, continuing to live out our mission, step by step. This journey with you has been one of mutual trust and shared vision, propelled by the same Spirit that guides us toward a future filled with promise and potential.

As we look forward, I’m filled with the same excitement and determination as I was on day one. We’re on a remarkable journey, Good Shepherd, with every moment bringing us closer to realizing the extraordinary story God is writing with our collective lives. I dream of us embracing the Spirit’s call to adventure, to step out of our comfort zones, and to engage in the missional life we’re called to live.

Through every high and low, know this: I love you deeply and am committed to walking this path with you, hand in hand. I look forward to the laughter, the tears, and the blessings that lie ahead, confident that, together, we will witness the unfolding of something only God can write.

Here’s to continuing our adventure, to being open to the Spirit, and to all the places we’ll go, together. Thank you, Good Shepherd, for a year of love, learning, and growth. I am so grateful for every one of you, and I can’t wait to see where the next year takes us.

From my heart,

Pastor Tara Beth