October Devotion - October 2006

Warm, sunny weather

colours turning

Rain, thunder and lightning

Thanksgiving celebration

church anniversary

Synod --

time change and Hallowe’en

What a wonderful busy month October is! Choirs are starting to practice Christmas music. Fall and foul suppers fill the church corridors with a beautiful fragrance. Lawnmowers are used only every few weeks. Mums bloom beautifully in every possible majestic colour.

I’m looking ahead to the end of the year and wondering whether we’ll balance the church budget? -- Church attendance has been strong all year but, it’s always unpredictable...

These thoughts brought me back to the words of Jesus: "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. ... Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ...". (Matthew’s Gospel 6:25-33)

This word of God really challenges my understanding of responsible church management and taking personal responsibility for my church. If we take Jesus’ words literally they may ease our worries -- but, will the stewardship of the congregation be challenged and encouraged to support a stronger ministry? In its many different parts, God’s Church has been both prayerful and generous, as far as my experience goes. Nevertheless, if we don’t work hard for God -- focussing on God and God’s Will, not all congregations will thrive. I take that lesson from the last book of the Bible: Revelation chapters 2 and 3. We don’t have to worry, but we also shouldn’t ‘sluff off’ when God offers us His Spirit to strengthen us! We are always tested by congregational dissent, economic changes in the community, ‘trying’ government changes in the laws about wells and water treatment, insurance demands for churches to be safe spaces ...

We can’t ‘sluff off’!

Unfortunately, Jesus’ words may appear out of step with the many challenges we face today. But, are we really listening carefully? Their insightful honesty should at least stop us in our tracks to think on them a while --

I know we have to carefully plan the church year -- and our family’s life too. We have to plan budgets and prepare for the unforeseen --

But, I still come back to the words of Jesus: [don’t add worry to the list of your ‘to do’s’!]

There is comfort in knowing that God is watching over us. God is always watching and offering a listening ear and help.

God brings us generous new church members. God encourages us to split our job-bonus with our church and moves our heart to leave a bequest to the church. -- I’ve seen it over and over again. * If only we would remember these blessings when we’re pouring over the budget figures for another year and worrying about the outcome of the latest fund-raiser that was almost ‘wiped out’ by the rain and cold weather! -- attendance should have been better!

It’s October. Our church addition is almost finished. The heat has been turned on. It’s cozy and full of promise for a new season of ministry with new friends. "Why are you anxious?" Jesus asked. "Seek first the kingdom and [God’s] righteousness, and all these shall be yours as well." (v.33)

God has been good to us. God has already given us more than we need. Now it’s our turn to remember to say ‘thank you’. THANK YOU GOD, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. THANK YOU FOR WHO WE ARE. ... Even, simply, saying thank-you brings God and us closer together and shows us how helpful Jesus’ advice is.

Amen