Whoooosh!!   Did you see that???  It was the month of October.  In case I miss it, I want to take the time now to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!  And many of you are thinking, “Now, wait a minute Pastor.  It seems you forgot about the month of November.”  Let this be a consideration for all of us, that we don’t focus so much on Advent and Christmas prep that we lose sight of the month of November.  The month of November offers us three unique considerations that benefit the Church and continue to shape God’s people.

            The first consideration is the celebration of All Saint’s Day.  We celebrate the Church Triumphant on November 4^th.   This celebration is such an emotional and at the same time, an uplifting day for many who join us in worship.  To be able to consider and celebrate with a very intentional focus on the promises of Christ as sure and true and at work in those loved ones who have now been clothed with immortality and the imperishable is truly a gift of God for all of God’s people.  This day provides for us the stirring of a living hope that dwells within all the disciples of our Risen Lord.  It is He and He alone who has conquered sin, death and the grave and provides for us a glimpse of the feast to come as all the beloved saints of light join us in the Eucharistic feast of Holy Communion. 

Another consideration that the month of November holds for the people of God who follow the liturgical calendar is recognizing that November marks the end of the liturgical year.  November 25 is Christ the King Sunday and the last Sunday of the Church year.  We begin November considering the Church Triumphant and we close the month considering the One who has formed and is constantly reforming through His Triumphant and Glorious reign as our Lord, King and Savior.

And the third unique celebration of the church during November is the opportunity to focus our hearts and attention in an intentional way in our Thanksgiving celebration.  Of course, we do give thanks and praise every day, but to have a service dedicated to really considering God as the core of all things that build, promote and provide life, is again, a gift of God for all of God’s people.  Have you ever noticed that in the very act of giving thanks to God changes your outlook on life?  You can be down and feeling low and the moment you recognize God’s goodness and presence at work in your life leading you to give thanks for God’s activity at work, your whole perspective of life changes at that very moment!  What a precious gift God provides for you to practice each morning and evening of the week.

My prayer for all of us during the month of November is that we slow down and take advantage of the month of November.  God has many precious moments in store for us during this special month as long as we don’t let it zip on by in our rush to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

Pastor Dan
Contact Pastor Dan at: pastor@mtzionelca.com