Dear Friends in Christ,

I am often drawn to that opening line of the poem in Ecclesiastes 3: For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. And then the writer goes on into all those activities and realities that make for the rhythms of life: A time to be born, and a time to die...A time to speak and a time keep silent...and so on.

It dawned on me that November is a time of many 'seasons'! +It's football season, of course! +It's "get your outside yard work done" season! +It's hunting season for many! +It's shopping season for many more! +It's time for farmers to wrap up harvest season in our part of the world! +It's Thanksgiving 'season' for those harvests, and blessings! +It's All Saints' 'season', remembering those who have gone before us! +And of course, this year, it's election season-which sums up a whole lot of our hopes and fears!

Needless to say, it can be a hectic season! And this is an important time to remember what is always in season: +It is time to "do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God!" +There is time to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself!" +It would be a really good time to: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus." +And it's an important time to remember: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." +Plus, it's always the right time for: "Speaking the truth, in love."

Ecclesiastes reminds us that God-who gives us all our days and years-provides time for every matter under heaven!

- Pastor Paul