From Natalie Valchar

Mike and Natalie Valchar live with their 3 children, Katie, Grace and Joseph, in Wake Forest and have been members of Good Shepherd for 2 years.

Mike and I were recently reminiscing about the time we first visited 3 years ago, when we only knew 2 other people that attended Good Shepherd. I introduced myself to Pattie Lamb, only because she was sitting in front of me one Sunday – what divine hands led to that introduction! Patti connected the dots for us and in no time our family was welcomed, included in children’s activities, inspired and challenged by the theological intelligence of the clergy, and heard a consistent message of God’s love for all.

Our children were nervous about being at a new church and I remember my daughter Katie specifically telling me that it was such a big and tall (physical) building that she was a little scared. Well, those days seem as if they never happened because literally within the course of a month after Sunday School started, our kids were showing us where the “fun bags” were kept, that there were free candles (Joseph thought they were a prize for sitting through church) and better yet, there were secret stairs in the back of the ministries building! What we all experienced then, and continue to treasure, is a safe, loving, intriguing, and empowering environment for our entire family. Every program we have touched so far has been very strong, and stronger yet is the leadership at the helm. Having lived in other places and been members of other Episcopal churches, we feel so glad and truly appreciative of what the Church of the Good Shepherd has to offer and realize moreover that it is a treasure. Further, I can relate to Katie’s feeling of being intimidated by the “bigness” of Good Shepherd, but honestly, even in those “small moments,” I do not feel unseen or unnoticed. For one of the first times, I am humbled to be a part of the church, its congregation and to be involved in its programs. We are in awe of all that is accomplished through and at the church, and I often wonder if our family is “pulling its own weight”, not only financially but with our time and talents. This humility inspires Mike and me to look for ways give more of ourselves.

Mike and I were given this passage, in a beautiful frame, for a wedding gift over 15 years ago. It’s a powerful, yet simple passage and I find myself still touched and moved by it. At first glance, it’s a wondrous vision of living through Christ. For me it goes further as an inspiration for creating a home and experience for my family. With three children, I’m still working hard on the calm part. While I fall short of many of these attributes as a human, I am most inspired by the last line – “finding it home” –which is what our family has experienced at the Church of the Good Shepherd.