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Well, the end of October is here with Halloween coming today. The wind and the rain of the last days of October have made it feel more like autumn. With November starting tomorrow, it is hard to believe that we are just weeks away from Thanksgiving followed immediately by the Advent/Christmas season. I am looking forward to these next two months as we bring to a close a great 2025.
This week my devotions were the Gospel of Luke. How good it was to read Luke 1 and 2 again which of course is the Christmas story. Ironically, I was working on the first sermon I will preach in Advent much of this week drawing inspiration from Luke’s account of our Savior’s birth. The newsletter will be out this weekend, and you will learn more about the upcoming Advent preaching series, “Why Christmas?”
Last Sunday, it was great to hear the choir again in our 8:15 service. As Lori mentioned, the choir is in need of more voices, and the bells are in need of more ringers. If you are interested in being a part of either or both, talk to Lori. On Sunday, we wrapped up the “Just Like Jesus” preaching series and now we will turn our attention to thanksgiving and Advent.
Continue to pray for Loren “Corky” Bucher as he is in rehab at Newport Meadows in Christiana. Carolyn Welch had her surgery yesterday and is recovering in the hospital. Mary Poe got home late last week and is continuing to recover and gain great mobility following her surgery last month. I was able to make some phone calls and check in on some folks this week. But let me encourage you, if you haven’t seen someone at church recently, check in on them with a phone call or visit. It is one of the ways we serve each other in the church.
Early Sunday morning, Ruth Richardson, Mary Etta Reinhart and Linda Hunter are traveling with a group from Wilmington Church of the Brethren and Lititz Church of the Brethren on a BDM trip to Kentucky. We failed to commission them this past Sunday but will certainly be praying for them on Sunday as they begin a week of service.
Don’t forget to turn your clocks back this Sunday. Enjoy that extra hour of sleep. This is the last Sunday to bring your coats in. It is great to see two boxes full of coats. Don’t forget to pick up a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child. We got a late start on that so we will need to turn those around rather quickly. Coming up on Wednesday is “The Big Drop” so be prepared for an amazing night as we partner with Solid Rock Youth Ministries for this event. Don’t forget to register for the event.
This Sunday is Remembrance Sunday, the first Sunday after all Saints Day (November 1). We will be remembering six church members who have passed since last November. I will be sharing a message on the importance of remembrance from Philippians 1.
Lastly, let me close with a favorite verse the Lord has been impressing on me over and over again recently. Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” When I marvel at a tree with brilliant fall color or catch a beautiful autumn sunrise or sunset, I am reminded of this truth. All physical and temporal things have a limited lifespan, but God’s Word will endure forever.
Come to church on Sunday with a worship-hungry heart (remember that sermon from September!) and let’s get ready to worship God in remembrance of the saints who have gone before us. Enjoy the last day of October and the first weekend of November as well as that extra hour of sleep. And remember, it is Friday…but Sunday’s coming!
Pastor Kevin
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