Pastor's Monthly Letter (October 2016)

Fall Welcome!

Who doesn’t enjoy fresh cool air breezing through an open window? Fall is such a time. I, for one, love this time of year with all the changes that come with the season. Welcoming the season of changing colors - it's harvest time and we are meant to be part of it.

Making and taking time for our spiritual needs begins with God, to whom we lift up our petitions and prayers. As we learn to listen for the quiet voice within the presence of God, we’ll learn to discern the direction for our lives. Embracing all of our spiritual needs through and through is living one's faith to the fullest.

Any season belongs to God. As called upon disciples, we live by God’s holy Word. We proclaim the Word to be true as we share and affirm its authenticity. The Father calls, the Spirit plants (working faith in one's heart), the Son saves, and transformation comes about. Having said this, the joyous news of the Gospel is at hand - it's harvest time!

After a busy and eventful summer, our annual Flea Market opened anew the opportunity to reconnect with neighbors and friends in the community and beyond. For many, this is a festive time of good deals and tasty food! Our congregation was blessed in receiving many nice donations (some of which was brand new items). We are also grateful to our coordinator (Elder Dolores Joseph) and other volunteers who so generously gave their time, making the Flea Market into another successful year!

Besides outreach through our church activities, my family and I also take advantage of building up the network of friends through local scouting. Most recently, a joyous surprise came about when we discovered a native of Sweden and her pre-teen son, who resides in the same block where our local Scout Troop meets!

So true, sometimes the world is rather small. It is also true that one can never have too many friends. I love my friends and thank God for them. Though friendships may come and go due to circumstances of our life, memories ever so precious to us remain in our hearts, perhaps captured and kept in one's private collection like a photo album. All of our special moments are a gift from a loving God, whose own friendship with us never goes away.

Capture your own moments, take a breath, and marvel at the beauty of the season, it’s harvest time - let us rejoice and give thanks to God!

In Christ,
Pastor Anette