The Good Shepherd icon by Kelly Latimore

 

Kindred in Christ,

 

There are so many voices around us right now, and it is not always easy to tell which ones to trust.

 

This Sunday, we turn to John 10:1–10, where Jesus offers us a different image. He names himself as the shepherd, the one whose voice calls out to the sheep:
“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.”

Jesus names himself as the shepherd, a voice we have heard before, the One who leads beside still waters and restores our soul. A voice we learn to recognize not in the noise, but in the quiet places of trust.

 

It is a gentle image, but it carries a deep invitation:

Whose voice are we listening to?

 

Not every voice leads to life. Some stir up fear or pull us away from one another. But the voice of Christ calls us toward love, toward justice, toward a deeper belonging with God and each other. It is often subtle, more like a steady presence than a shout, which means following Jesus asks us to slow down, to listen closely, to pay attention to what is life-giving.

 

This is also an invitation to loosen our grip on planning alone, and to live in a deeper attentiveness, where listening becomes the way we discern and respond to the voice of God.

 

I am grateful that Nancy Goddard will be preaching this Sunday. She brings a thoughtful, grounded presence, and I am thankful for her willingness to share the word with us.

 

Kim and I are also deeply grateful for your prayers as we draw near to welcoming our baby. We feel held by this community. I am hoping to be in worship this Sunday, unless our little one decides it is time to arrive first.

 

As you move through the week, I invite you to listen beneath the noise. Notice what voices are shaping your heart, and where you hear the quiet, steady call that leads to life.

 

Alongside you,

 

Rev. Paul Ortiz