October Sunday Afternoon
I am writing on a spectacular Sunday, this glorious autumn day, giving thanks for wonderful worship this morning, great music, and energetic and responsive congregation (they even laugh at my jokes!). Judy and I made a quick run up north to the cottage overnight on Friday and the fall colors were at their peak--every hill, every tree literally ablaze in the bright sun. No wonder this is my favorite time of year. So today, I just have a few random October thoughts:
Rummage Sale. October means rummage sale and it is always incredible. When folks ask me "How does it happen?", I always tell them there are four keys: First, you gotta have a lot of stuff! Second, you gotta have a lot of shoppers. But most important of all, you have to have strong leadership and lots of volunteers. Our rummage chairpersons give the leadership and the rest of us show up. If you have never volunteered for the rummage sale, try it out this year. Even just a few hours will make a big difference. Call the church office for information (248-646-1200)
Stewardship Campaign. For more than 30 years I have been leading churches in their fall stewardship campaigns and I love it. Thanks to David Chrostek and Melissa Peirce for their excellent leadership. I look forward to next Sunday when we will all bring our pledges in a great act of celebration and praise. I hope you will come on Friday night for the festive Down Home Dessert at 7:00pm.
And in the end. I have a favorite poem I use at funerals this time of year because it expresses my feelings exactly:
When I must go, Dear God, please let it be
A golden autumn day when red leaves fall;
When purple grapes in shining clusters hang
And bittersweet glows bright against the wall.
When o'er the barren fields and russet meads
Their last farewells the crickets cry.
Let me make my silent journey when homing birds
fly south across the sky.
When I must go, Dear God, please let me go
As silently as autumn rain,
As still as lacy shadows 'neath the willow trees,
As calm as is the moon above the hill.
So let me go--and may there be no grief
When life is done and I must say good bye.
I'll take my leave with flowers and falling leaf
And lie in peaceful sleep beneath the sky.
Glorious autumn, wonderful October, incredible rummage sale and stewardship campaign. Life is good. We are blessed.
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