Hey friends,
There’s something about fall that’s just hard not to love. Every year when this season rolls around, I find myself slowing down and paying a little more attention. Maybe it’s the way the light hits the trees in the evening, or how the air feels cooler and calmer. Maybe it’s the sound of a football game drifting through the neighborhood or the smell of someone’s first backyard fire of the season.
Even with the Chiefs, Rikki and I always laugh that our favorite thing about football isn’t actually the game itself (though we’ve come to love that more and more). It’s how it brings people together. Neighbors who barely know each other end up sharing snacks, cheering in sync, and celebrating side by side.
There’s something beautiful about that — the way a simple moment can remind us how deeply we need one another. That longing to connect, to be known, to belong — it’s not just seasonal. It’s spiritual.
Maybe that’s why fall feels so sacred. It gives us natural rhythms for connection — gathering around bonfires, walking the neighborhood on Halloween, sitting shoulder to shoulder in a stadium. Something about this season invites us to notice one another again. To put the phone down, linger a little longer, and make room for the people around us.
My hope is that this season brings you more than just a calendar full of things to do. I hope it gives you space to connect — to God, to others, and to the goodness that happens when we show up for one another.
Because faith, at its core, isn’t just about believing something. It’s about belonging somewhere. It’s found in shared stories and honest conversations, in laughter and silence, in the small, ordinary moments that shape who we’re becoming.
So wherever this week takes you — a football game, a bonfire, or a quiet walk or bike ride — may this season draw you closer: to the people who matter most and to the God who holds it all together.
And if you’re looking for even more ways to connect, there are a few opportunities coming up at Good Shepherd that I’m especially excited about. Check them out below.
Peace,
Matt
P.S. This Sunday we are concluding our sermon series Things the Bible Never Said. I don’t want to spoil the surprise but we’ll be tackling the spiciest phrase yet. I promise that you don’t want to miss this one! And invite someone to join you. It’s going to be a great day.
Fall Fest – This Saturday, Noon–6 p.m. (Kids’ activities begin at 3)
A relaxed afternoon of food, games, music, and fun for the whole family. Bring a friend and stay as long as you’d like.
Digging Deeper: Understanding the World of the New Testament – Wednesday, Oct. 29, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
A fresh look at what life was like in the time of Jesus—and how that understanding can change how we read Scripture today.
Grace-Filled Conversations: Understanding and Supporting Our Transgender Neighbors – Saturday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. An open, grace-filled space to listen, learn, and love more deeply.
