We have moved rather rapidly

We have moved rather rapidly through the first weeks of autumn. Have you noticed how lovely the fall foliage is this year? On the other hand, we’ve endured an amazing number of days of fog and clouds. Somehow, however, that produces the exact lighting conditions needed to make the red and golden trees practically glow.
Alas, the pandemic is still with us, curtailing our autumn events and activities. Through it all, we are very grateful to be able to worship each Sunday – in our own sanctuary – singing hymns with our organ, sharing prayer concerns amongst our church family, and hearing the Word preached. As we look around our neighborhoods, we realize what a blessing that is.
For better or worse, the cold weather and important holiday seasons are fast approaching. It appears that celebrations are going to be quite different this year. Given the nature of our nation’s people by now, tired of compromising their lifestyle for fear of a virus, inundated by political turmoil, we’re not quite sure how the population is going to mark the holiday occasions – will there be defiance or disappointment? We can only hope that logic, in combination with common sense, will create some memorable celebrations.
With pandemic-caused increased time at home, we would like to feel that some of the spare time could be spent pondering the reason why we mark these special holidays: Thanksgiving in November, Christmas in December, and even New Year’s Day in January. At their inception, each day was set aside for somber reflections on their significance for our lives. Not for planning special meals, nor for seasonal decorations, not even just for family get-togethers.
As we face the approach of November, we anticipate the arrival of Thanksgiving. Being a uniquely American holiday, its purpose should be to cause all of us to pause and realize how blessed we are to live in a country founded on Biblical values, by men of extraordinary faith and wisdom. And while we’re being thankful on that one day, let’s keep a heart that is always thankful to God. It will not only help us feel the meaning of the holiday, but will carry us through all these other intervening and troublesome days. Virginia                                                                                            O come, let us sing unto the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.  For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.               Psalm 95:1-3