Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in
Christ Jesus.
 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (CEB)

Every November as I contemplate the message I want to share in this space, whether it is the Prevue newsletter or news for some other church that I have served, I think about this month as a time to remember gratitude. So, I just wanted to name three things I am grateful for today.

My first gratitude is to all of you. I am so thankful to be a part of the ministries of this wonderful church. As I write, we have just completed our season of gratitude and generosity with a beautiful day of commitment and consecration. I thank those who have named their commitments to our ministries and who joined in fellowship and sharing at the meal following worship on October 16. I am so glad we are making stewardship a stronger practice at First Church. Thank you to Kathy and Vanessa who stepped up at a moment’s notice when Tim and Angie unexpectedly were unavailable to prepare our meal. This is a church that supports one another. Thank you! 

My second gratitude is for our saints. The month of November begins with All Saints Sunday.  On this day we will celebrate the lives of those saints from our church who have helped shape us and helped make us who we are today. We celebrate their faithfulness, their work, their discipleship, and their lives. I have had the privilege of knowing some of these saints. I have learned about others through the stories of those who loved them. It is a sacred and holy tradition to keep these stories alive in our hearts and memories. This year All Saints Sunday will be November 6 and I hope you will plan to attend worship on that special day.

The third gratitude is for the opportunity to get away to rejuvenate and recharge. It has been a busy time and will continue to be throughout the rest of the year. And so, taking some time to recreate, to rebuild and to renew is needed. Thank you to our amazing staff and teams that make taking some time away possible. I am grateful to all of you. In my time away, I have been able to appreciate the beauty and abundance of the natural world. I captured a small glimpse of it on one of our hikes through the salt marshes of a tidal river in Eastern Maine. There is beauty in the changing forms of flora and fauna. Blueberry barrens are a carpet of vermillion. Green leaves turn to scarlet. Vibrant goldenrod flowers are transformed into pillowy white clouds on stems contrasting against the crimson leaves of the marsh vegetation. Fallen trees decay and metamorphose into banquet tables for forest birds. The wild geese call as they move southward silhouetted against brilliant clouds. 

I am grateful for the extraordinary beauty of this world. I am reminded by this autumnal shift, that soon winter’s dormancy will be upon us, but with it comes the promise of transformation into new life in the spring. 

Here is a short video I made of that day’s beautiful walk.

In Gratitude,

Pastor Duane


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