July 24

Beloved of Good Shepherd Church

Grace to you and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord!

Greetings from Wells, England! We are guests here in Wells where the Good Shepherd Choir is in-residence for the week, but we are also something altogether more than guests. I am vividly aware that we are full members in a grand, long-held tradition of common worship. Our voices and the intentions of our hearts seem to effortlessly join the seamless procession of Christians who have prayed and worshipped here for well over 1000 years. The magnificent Wells Cathedral in which we say and sing our daily prayers is a towering and somehow tender host and the immediate object of our affection. It is a masterpiece of art and acoustics, and the people here are friendly and kind in a way that reminds of me of you back at home. While the cathedral does have a rich tradition of bishops, lords, and royalty, there is no hierarchy here splitting us into groups of more and less important, rather all are welcomed warmly as if he or she were the sole, honored guest. That is, of course, how God sees all of us. God looks upon us through the single lens of His infinite love. Each one of us, whether a prince or princess, peasant or pilgrim, is loved by God as if he or she were the only available object for God’s love.

I am struck nearly speechless with gratitude for the 1200 year procession of people who have constructed and preserved our tradition of Christian love and worship in this place, and I am inspired all the more to return home at the end of our pilgrimage to carry on in the magnificent 100 year long tradition of our own worship space and indeed to add our unique contribution to the place (perhaps in the shape of a parish hall?), so that for generations to come followers of Jesus will have a place to live into and out of the Gospel call to love God and each other with all our hearts. May our church be a place where spiritual pilgrims receive a warm, kind welcome as they join us in prayer and song. Wells Cathedral is 1000 years on in her life. It occurs to me that we're the ones getting Good Shepherd started in her 1000 year tradition. We are very much laying the foundation. How wonderful is that?!

I have prayed and will continue to pray for you here in Wells Cathedral where we are guests and more than guests. I offer prayers of great thanksgiving to God for His gift of you to me and to our church. Finally, you should know that your choir, the Angel Choir of Good Shepherd, is absolutely stunning and is making an offering of song in this place that would make you very proud. 

Remember this always - God loves you, and I love you too!

Love is all,

Hendree+