Pastor's Monthly Message

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Pastor’s Page October 2023

It’s October!

It’s Autumn!

... A time of hot chocolatey mornings, and toasty marshmallow evenings, and, best of all, leaping into a fresh pile of leaves!

"There is something so special in the early leaves drifting from the trees–as if we are all to be allowed a chance to peel, to refresh, to start again." – Ruth Ahmed

The scriptures we will explore together this month begin with an Invitation to Grace. This is an invitation that extends to all people, from a God deeply desiring a loving and life-giving relationship with humanity.

As we read through Philippians, we are reminded of Jesus’ act of grace on the cross, how he emptied himself and became sin so that all creation might be redeemed through him. As we gather for worship, we are invited to confess our need for God, our distance from God, and our failures before God. And each time we do we discover again the abundant grace of God poured out. 

We will be reminded this month that Jesus is The Cornerstone of Our Faith!

We will hear Jesus explain how receiving God’s grace changes people. Jesus asks us to ponder: if God created the world and everything in it, what doesn’t belong to God? 

We will be reminded that The Kingdom of God is the Kingdom of Right Relationships; we are called to love God, to love neighbor, and to love self. These are the ways God desires us to be in relationship: by being just in all our dealings with others, by not being led astray by the wicked, by sharing the gospel with humility and tender care, and by loving God and neighbor.

Loving relationships need strong Faith. God plants Faith in us, then he nourishes it, through word and sacrament. This nourishment gives us the strength we need to love as God loves.

This month we will be encouraged to continue to reach out together as we help people to make and maintain healthy relationships, as we promote both self-worth and humility remembering how God truly loves us.

May our strength be renewed this month as we grow together in God’s Grace!

Peace in the Journey, 

Pastor Andy