From Larry Seiger

Over the last couple of weeks, I've been jotting down my thoughts about our church. What does Good Shepherd mean to me and my family? It turned out to be more complex than I anticipated. I'm so pleased that our church welcomes some of the best musicians in our region but also finds a way to include the youngest of voices. Our church is one of the most beautiful structures in Raleigh, yet we don't forget the powerless immigrants picking food for our tables in remote parts of the state. We are about as close to the political power structure of the state as a church can be, but we don't forget about the homeless and hungry.

My appreciation of Good Shepherd has grown. As soon as my children were able to understand, Jennifer and I began teaching them that they can make a difference in our world, yet over time I've discovered that some of the most satisfying experiences have come from pooling our efforts and not by individual accomplishment. Most notable in this category is our pledge to help name the nursery for Janet Gilliam. Alone, our family could never have made such a thing happen, but together, with other like minded, spirit led people, we were able to achieve a greater result.

I am excited about the future of our church. We have members who think big. Thanks to them we have our beautiful Parish Life Center. But just as important, the majority of the people of Good Shepherd think small: feeding the hungry, erecting houses, helping the needy pay heating expenses, teaching children to care for others, giving blood and supporting the financial needs of our own church so we can continue to reach out to the world with God's message of love. I believe that this is our calling. To be a big church that thinks small and a small church that thinks big!