Peace and Blessings to you, Beloved Church.

A Time of Transition

Dearly Beloved Church, In our younger years, it is not uncommon to be scared of the dark. Crawl spaces, attics, caves, and the deep sea — the unknown creatures lurking in such spaces can scare the daylights out of us! Darkness makes the uncertainly of their presence all the stronger. 

November brings a fair amount of darkness as the days shorten and our daylight saving time schedule shifts. Yet the encroaching darkness is not a time for panic or fear. Rather, it is a transition, a time to look ahead to what’s next, especially for congregations like ours who follow the ancient liturgical calendar. We’re about to cross the liturgical threshold into Year C, the year of Luke, but before we get there we get the chance to ponder what all this change means for us. 

Change is part of the fabric of Creation, and as the darkness encroaches I offer this prayer for us: 

God our comforter, you are a refuge and a strength for us, a helper close at hand in times of change. Enable us to hear the words of faith that our fear is dispelled, our loneliness eased, our anxiety calmed, and our hope reawakened. May your Holy Spirit lift us above our sorrow to the peace and light of your constant love; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. (Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Pastoral Care)

c/o Pastor Paul