Finding Faith ... in the kickoff of the church year - Rally Sunday

By Pastor Devlyn Brooks

Our girls, like many other students around the region, are now back in school.

Our son is already away at college for another year.

The days are continually growing shorter, with later sunrises and earlier sunsets.

I’ve even seen the signs of the coloring of leaves while we were in Bemidji last weekend.

And in a sure sign that it’s not summer anymore, I’m seeing the ubiquitous ads for pumpkin spiced everything everywhere I look!

There’s no doubt about it: Fall is officially here!

The well-known scripture Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us that there is a season for everything, “a time for every matter under heaven.”

And living here in Minnesota, we are keenly aware of what is soon to come, a long, dark cold winter.

However, even with the thoughts of the ice and snow looming in the back of my mind, as we move into the early days of September, I can’t help but think of our season of return to our normal church year.

We will be holding our Rally Sunday, with the traditional potluck afterward, and a return to Sunday school classes as well, on Sept. 11.

We will soon again hear the patter of those tiny feet running up our church stairs to come join their parents just before service begins. We’ll see friends and neighbors we might not have seen since last spring. Our church once again will be revitalized after our slower-paced summer schedule.

And, while this means that summer is in the rearview mirror now, I must admit that I am very excited about this change in season! I am so ready to be back to our normal church schedule!

By the time we get to June each year I am ready for a slower pace for a while, but after three months, I am ready for the familiar rituals of Sunday morning church. Arriving early at the church on a cool fall Sunday morning, maybe even being able to see my breath. Watching the sun rise out my eastern window in the Pastor’s Office, while I listen to classical music on the radio. Reflecting on the day’s service before everyone else arrives.

There is simply nothing like a Sunday morning in our beautiful church! So bring on the fall!

Our Education Committee is working to finalize all of the pertinent details for this year’s Sunday School. And I’ll have more details about confirmation coming out in the weeks to come.

Meanwhile, I hope that you all are as excited about our return to Sunday services as I am! We’ll see you in a couple of weeks!

Until then, blessings to all!