Dear Friends,

What do you look forward to in September? There are the new college and pro football seasons that start. Major League Baseball playoffs are just around the corner. For many the new school year has just started with new (and hopefully old) friends to meet. New classes, challenges and things to learn. Snowbird friends returning from up north and eventually cooler weather with them. Birthdays and anniversaries are marked by kids getting taller and parents getting grayer. Maybe a new job is in the works. We look forward to new and exciting things. Change is good they say.

But we also need (and sometimes look forward to) things that don’t change. The things that change usually have to do with us. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)” “And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:5)”. We age, we grow, we repent, we learn, we change.

The things that don’t change usually have to do with God. “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Psalm 136:1)”. The grass withers and the  flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 4:8) “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)”. His grace (which means undeserved kindness) His compassion, acceptance and care for us never ends. His joy in us doesn’t end. The eternal life we now enjoy never ends.

Here at Apostles, it has been the summer of big changes. People have come and gone. We have sold the eastern two acres to Caring for Angels. Our preschool was closed. These  changes have led to other changes. We are in a better financial situation without so much debt. We have more space for developing new ministries and youth activities. And in the midst of these changes God’s love hasn’t changed. His presence with us and his blessing to us hasn’t changed either. We often can think of God’s love and faithfulness in a generic sense. Our God is not a generic God. He is very well aware of all the particulars of what is happening with us here at Apostles. He knows and cares about what is happening to each of us individually. And he knows what he has in store for us in the future.

In the next few months, we look forward to celebrating God’s love and grace (which don’t change) in several ways. On Sept 1st, we celebrate the gift and blessing of work. Sept 29 is St. Michael and All Angels Day when the church celebrates the angels God sends to watch over us. October will bring LWML Sunday and Reformation Day, November brings All Saints Day, Veterans Day, the End of the Church Year, Thanksgiving and this year we will have a Hanging of the Greens service on Nov 30th to get the sanctuary ready for Advent/Christmas.

Change is a given in this life. As we deal with the welcome and unwelcome changes in our lives (and in our church) we look to and cling to the One Who loves us more than He loves Himself.

Peace,

Pastor Andrew