Dear St. John’s family and friends,
There is something about autumn that invites us to slow down and pay attention. The days grow shorter. The leaves begin to change. The fields yield their harvest. We begin to prepare for the colder months ahead. And perhaps, in the midst of all that change, autumn gives us an opportunity to pause and ask a simple question: What has God entrusted to us, and how are we using those gifts?
That question has been on my mind as I look toward the coming weeks at St. John’s. Our church calendar will soon become busy with gatherings, worship opportunities, service projects, and community events. But I don’t want us to see these simply as things we need to fit into our schedules. Each one offers us an opportunity to live more deeply into who we are called to be as the people of God.
We will gather around tables. We will remember those who have gone before us. We will honor those who have served our country. We will collect warm clothing for those who may need it. We will give thanks for God’s blessings. We will worship alongside neighboring congregations. And we will join our community in celebrating Christmas.
At first glance, these may seem like very different activities. But underneath them is something that connects them all: we are called to be a people who notice God’s gifts and then share those gifts with others. The gift may be a meal shared with a friend. It may be a coat sitting unused in our closet. It may be an hour spent volunteering. It may be a listening ear offered to someone who needs encouragement. It may be the simple gift of showing up.
Sometimes we think that serving God requires something extraordinary. But much of Christian discipleship happens in ordinary moments when we choose to make room for another person. Jesus reminds us again and again that God’s kingdom is revealed through such things. We don’t need to have everything figured out. We don’t need to be able to do everything. We simply need to be willing to offer what we have.
That is one of the things I appreciate about St. John’s. We are a congregation with many different gifts, experiences, ages, and perspectives. We may not all contribute in the same way, but each of us has something to offer. And when those gifts are brought together, something greater than any one person can accomplish begins to happen. As autumn unfolds, I invite you to consider where you might be called to participate. Perhaps God is inviting you to reconnect with someone. Perhaps you have a gift of time or service that you have not used for a while. Perhaps there is someone in our community who needs something you can provide. Or perhaps you simply need to come and receive the gift of being part of this community yourself.
And please remember: you do not have to do everything. Faithfulness is not measured by how many activities we attend or how much we accomplish. Sometimes faithfulness means simply being present, offering what we can, and trusting God to use it. As the season changes around us, may we remember that everything we have ultimately comes from God. May we receive those gifts with gratitude and share them with generosity.
And may St. John’s continue to be a place where people find welcome, friendship, purpose, and the love of Christ not only in what we say, but in the way we live together. May this autumn be a season of gratitude, connection, generosity, and grace.
I look forward to walking through this season with you.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Scott
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