Daily Devotion

by Peter McCutcheon

As it’s often made aware in Scripture, the Church isn’t a building but a people. The relationships I’ve made with the people (the Church, if you will) of Good Shepherd have allowed me to grow deeper in my faith over these past six years. 

When I first arrived at Good Shepherd, I was honestly surprised to see two female pastors leading. I loved it, and I thought it was so cool that God was calling Heidi and Alice (and Pat, whom I met shortly after!) to lead a congregation. Especially Alice’s tattoos and fork bracelet? I knew this would be a Church that would lead me to grow my faith. I’m thankful that my relationship with the pastors is deeper than just watching from the pew. Pre-COVID, the congregation would shake hands with a loving “Peace be with you,” and being in the worship band, the pastors came and shook my hand! Instant Connection. 

A couple of years have gone by, and I transitioned from high school to college education. Alice filled me in about The Edge House, which is a satellite church next to UC’s campus that GSLC helps sponsor. As well as the free meals on Sunday nights, a true blessing to any college student, Alice and The Edge House provided me a sense of spiritual closeness--an intimate sort of faith that shows that God looks out for me specifically and carefully, as he does all of creation. After having bagels together, small groups, and recommending books on theology, My relationship with The Edge House and Pastor Alice has had a direct impact on my relationship with God. 

Here’s the vignette that may be more obvious to some for a devotion about relationships. I went to the worship band’s Wednesday night rehearsal one September night a few years ago, and met Jenny Whitt, who was singing that week for the service. By divine planning, the bassist (me) and the singer (Jenny) were strategically stationed next to each other. We began talking, and shortly after we started dating. My relationship with Jenny has shown me how much God can make beautiful things out of all of us. She’s so lovely. 

The relationships I’ve developed with the Church of GSLC show all of the relationships God seeks out in me: The peace of the service on Sunday morning, the closeness and intimacy that I found at The Edge House, and the beauty that appears within romantic relationships. I am so grateful for Good Shepherd. Amen.