October Dear Friends
Dear Friends,
I recently returned from a prayer retreat in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. As I sat outside enjoying the beauty of God’s creation, I saw reminders of the change of seasons in some red and yellow leaves on the trees. I watched as a red leaf waved in the wind, let go of the branch, and then fell slowly and softly to the forest floor. I picked up the leaf and tucked it into my journal to remind me of the beauty, grace, and irresistibility of the seasons of nature and the seasons of our lives. As summer turns to fall, which turns to winter, which turns to spring, and back again to summer, so is the process of transformation.
For everything there is a season.
Our church has undergone many changes in its life and lived through many different seasons.
A season of growth, which turned to a season of challenge, which turned to a season of loss, which turned to a season of healing, and back again to a season of growth, so is the process of transformation. In all of the seasons of our church, God has been faithfully present, preparing the way for the next season.
For everything there is a season.
Well, it is time for another new season in the life of our church.
It is time to make the front of our church reflect our calling to welcome all to come just as they are.
It is time to wonder with other people in our church and community what the Bible says about issues we care about so that we can find joy and inspiration.
It is time to commit ourselves to being a place that hosts youth mission workers so that we can help people become who they were created to be.
It is time to take care of our church property, so that our church can be around for the next generation, bringing Christ to our community and bringing our community to Christ.
For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.
The season is here. The time is now.
We are calling it the Transformation Campaign.
We are inviting you to give as you can to support the church as it continues to change and grow and thrive and transform into who God is calling us to be.
As the Apostle Paul reminded the church of Rome long ago, so he reminds us today:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
As the leaves fall, preparing the way for the next season, so we are reminded not to be conformed to the worries of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and hearts, so that we can discern the will of God, trusting that God is at work, already preparing the way for the next season of our church’s life.
It has been said “the true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit” (Nelson Henderson).
I hope you will join me in supporting the Transformation Campaign with your pledges and your prayers, as together we plant seeds of hope, nurture them to grow in faith, and watch the leaves change colors of grace, so is the process of transformation. So is the promise of God’s love.
For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.
Faithfully yours,
Pastor Donna