November 2022

Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.
– Cicero

November is a month of transitions. The bright leaves of October still cling to the trees, but by the end of the month we will likely have had at least one serious frost. On the first day of November, the church remembers all the saints who have blessed our lives of faith, and who from their labors rest. We will remember those who served our nation, selflessly giving their devotion and duty to a common cause. We will gather with friends and family to give thanks for the bounties God has poured into our lives. And, with bellies still full from the feast, we will look to the night sky in search of the star of Advent reminding us of the promise of the coming Messiah.

We have so much to be grateful for, even amidst a world that seems turbulent and troubled. Each Sunday, as we present our gifts we sing the words of the Doxology (literally the “words of glory”): Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Our joy is founded on the blessings we receive from God, and our gratitude is a tangible reaction to that grace. Where in your life are you moved to gratitude for all the gifts that God has provided?

November also sees the church looking ahead to the year that is to come. At our Quarterly Business Meeting last month, we approved a proposed budget for next year.

This month, we will begin our Stewardship drive to meet that goal. In our church bylaws (don't forget the Special Meeting on Sunday the 13th to vote on the proposed revisions!) we read that: stewardship is our response to the blessings bestowed by God. As you prepare to make your pledge, I invite you to think on the joys and gratitude you feel, and to allow them to guide your response to all that God is doing in your life, and here at First Baptist.

Yours in Christ,
Pastor Jon