I am preparing for a week of study leave in the Midwest. I'll be away from Tuesday, October 12–Wednesday, October 20. I'll be meeting with a few pastor friends in Chicago (where I attended seminary) to envision what the church might look like in the future and how we might help get us there. I'll also be spending a few days in the north woods of Wisconsin with a handful of parishioners from a church I served in Monroe, Wisconsin.
Rev. Judy Davis will be leading worship on Sunday, October 17. We'll be worshiping at 10:30 a.m. and folks can also join from home on Facebook. (You can also watch services at any time here.) Following the guidelines of Sacramento County and the CDC, we continue to practice social distancing and require masks while worshiping together in person. If you plan to attend a worship service at the church, you can find out more about our safety protocols here.
If there is a pastoral emergency while I'm away, you can contact Maria in the office (Mondays and Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.). Our prayer team is standing by, as are our elders and deacons should you need support. Also, please note the office will be closed next Tuesday, October 19.
Having just held our "healing service" this past Sunday, I felt that the article below—”Everyone Around You is Grieving”— might resonate with many of you. It's written by John Pavlovitz, who is a Unitarian pastor and author. We might be wise to offer more regular healing services, and we should continue to keep kindness and grace at the core of our being.
COMING UP:
Sunday, October 31 - Reformation Sunday. We'll be celebrating our Presbyterian tradition together.
Sunday, November 7 - All Saints Day. We'll honor all of those saints we have loved and lost, and who know rest in peace with their Creator. If you have a name you'd like read at this special service, please share the information with the office by Wednesday, November 3.
Our annual Stewardship Campaign begins in November—stay tuned!
Wednesday, November 10, will be a "Lunch and Learn" event. We'll be making Advent wreaths together and then enjoying a delicious meal.
Autumn Prayer
O God of Creation, you have blessed us with the changing of the seasons.
As we welcome the autumn months, may the earlier setting of the sun
remind us to take time to rest.
May the brilliant colors of the leaves
remind us of the wonder of your creation.
May the steam of our breath in the cool air
remind us that it is you who give us the breath of life.
May the harvest from the fields remind us of the abundance we have been given and bounty we are to share with others.
May the dying of summer's spirit remind us of your great promise
that death is temporary and life is eternal.
We praise you for your goodness forever and ever.
Amen.
Blessings on all,
Jesse
