Hi My Gladstone Village,
I wanted to follow up from our IGNITE Gladstone brunch meeting last Saturday and say a HUGE thank you to all those who attended, engaged with the conversation and dreamed with us…it was so good to hear from everyone. My prayer is that you found the time purposeful and meaningful as well as fun.
I wanted to share more about the TikTok quote I mentioned that morning, “Everyone Wants a Village, But No One Wants to Be a Villager”…consider this:
We all long for a village.
A place where we are known.
A place where people show up when life falls apart.
A place where someone notices when we’re missing.
That longing is not accidental—it’s God-given. The church was designed to be that village.
But here’s the tension:
Everyone wants the benefits of a village, yet few want the responsibility of being a villager.
Villagers don’t just attend.
They participate.
They notice.
They invite.
An invitational church culture doesn’t begin with a program or a stage—it begins with villagers who refuse to outsource love. It’s built by people who stop asking, “Why doesn’t the church feel more welcoming?” and start asking, “Who am I welcoming?”
Villagers open circles instead of closing them.
They make room at the table instead of guarding their seat.
They see newcomers not as interruptions, but as answers to prayer.
Invitational culture costs us something.
It costs comfort.
It costs familiarity.
It costs the safety of staying with people who already know our stories.
But this is the way of Jesus.
Jesus didn’t wait for people to find Him—He went to them.
He didn’t protect His inner circle—He expanded it.
He didn’t love from a distance—He invited people into proximity.
If our church is going to feel like home, someone has to build the house.
If our church is going to feel like family, someone has to act like family.
Villages don’t form accidentally. They are formed intentionally—one invitation, one conversation, one act of courage at a time.
So the challenge is simple, but not easy:
Don’t just look for a village.
Be a villager.
Because when ordinary people choose to live with open hearts and open hands, the church becomes more than a place we attend—it becomes a place where lives are transformed.
And that’s the kind of village the world is still desperately looking for.
I love the village we have created at Gladstone and I believe more people in our community are longing for such a place to belong. As I shared on Saturday, as part of the 3-year Good Shepherd strategic plan, Gladstone’s specific goal is to be at 2 worship services in 2027. This may be overwhelming, daunting news for some and exciting, hope-filled news for others…or, a balance of both for some. There are no immediate plans for this, but our attendance trends have been growing and we are beginning now to have conversations about all the details that would have to happen to make this a reality.
On Saturday, there was some time for input and discussions, but I also know that I did not get to hear everyone’s voice and that some of you may have thought of additional questions or thoughts to share since then. If that’s you or if you just want to have a further conversation about anything shared, I’d love to hear from you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me and let’s get something scheduled. I also want to provide the opportunity for folks to give some feedback or share ideas anonymously. If you like, I’d encourage you to take this survey.
I’m so very excited about the work God is doing in and through our Gladstone village. I hope you are as well and that we can be villagers together.
It’s an honor to be your pastor,
Cathy McIntire
P.S. We have a PARENT/YOUTH meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 4th from 6:30-8:00 to discuss the youth program future at Gladstone. Parents and youth of youth going into 6th – 12th grade next fall are all invited. Dinner will be provided.
