This week we had our yearly staff retreat. There was time for dreaming, planning, and reconnecting as a team.
But the moment I haven’t been able to shake wasn’t any of that. It was hearing from some of you. Stories of how serving at Good Shepherd has been meaningful—not just in what you do, but in what it’s doing in you.
One story in particular has stayed with me. Someone who serves as a greeter at our Gladstone campus was standing at the doors, welcoming people as they walked in. Nothing unusual—just one of those small, in-between moments before a service begins. And as someone walked in, they paused for a second and offered a simple compliment.
Nothing big. Nothing planned. But it caught the person off guard—in a good way.
And later they said this: “That small moment created a connection for both of us.”
That’s what stayed with me. Because it would be easy to overlook something like that. It doesn’t show up in a report. But it matters.
In fact, those kinds of moments might matter more than we think.
As we spent time reflecting and listening throughout the retreat, that theme kept surfacing in different ways. People talking about creating spaces where others feel welcome. About simple conversations that turn into real connection. About showing up—not perfectly, but consistently—and watching what God does through it.
And it’s happening all over our church. It happens when someone walks in unsure and is met with understanding and warmth. When a conversation turns into something more. When someone feels seen, maybe for the first time in a while. It might not feel like much in the moment. But it is.
One person who serves with our youth said it this way: “I’ve realized I receive as much from it as anyone.”
That’s part of what makes this so meaningful. These aren’t just moments that impact others—they shape us too. They pull us out of our routines, out of our own heads, and remind us that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.
That’s what we were reminded of this week. And it’s why this time of year matters.
We’re on the cusp of summer and summer has a way of quietly shifting our rhythms. Schedules fill up. Travel happens. Weekends look different. And before we know it, it’s easy to drift—not because we mean to, but because life just gets full.
And when that happens, it’s not just a habit we lose. Sometimes we lose these moments, small yet significant.
So as we head into the summer, my encouragement is simple: stay connected. Stay connected to God. Stay connected to this community. Stay connected to the kinds of moments that are making a real difference in people’s lives—sometimes in ways we don’t even see.
Because you never know what might happen in a small moment. And I don’t want you to miss it.
Peace,
Matt Fulmer
P.S. If you’ve been on the fence about serving, this summer is a great time to try. You can sign up to serve on a Sunday or join a team during VBS in June. It’s an easy way to stay connected, find your people and be part of something that matters. Links to both are below.
