Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, “I am he.” – Mark 13:5

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.  – John 18:37

Beloved of God,

November is one of those transitional months and, within the church, it is packed with meaningful events and worship opportunities, beginning with the observance of All Saints Sunday on November 4^th and ending with Christ the King or Christ Reigns Sunday, the final Sunday of the church year, on November 25^th.   In between these bookends come Veterans and New Member Sunday on November 11th and Thanksgiving Eve on November 21st.  (You can read more about each one of these opportunities for worship and special aspects associated with them in the pages below.)

During November our scripture readings anticipate the return of Christ, when his reign will come to complete fruition and all that God has intended for this universe will find fulfillment.  The Bible speaks in veiled language of “signs” that will help us know that this day is upon us, but these signs are shrouded in mystery, and history has shown that it’s best to avoid prognosticating.  Many a date chosen by someone as the definitive “day of the Lord” according to some scheme or another has come and gone.  The work of those who follow in the footsteps of Jesus continues in ways both mundane and sublime, and we know where our energies are best invested: loving God and neighbor.

Within society at large, Election Day is also a November staple.  November 6^th looms particularly large this year as voters weigh in on the first two years of the president’s term by way of congressional contests and battles over initiatives.  Mid-term elections have historically provided a mid-course correction and power shake up in Washington DC, and this year more than most there’s a lot in skin in the game for all sides of the political spectrum.   Alongside the national issues there are significant state issues to be decided.  Some, like I-1631, ask us to look further into the future than most, and to consider what kind of future we want for our planet’s inhabitants.

The standard political mantra asks voters: “Are you better off now than you were two years ago?” But we who have come to know Jesus and have been trying to follow his Way know that this old, tired question is inadequate.  Instead of focusing on self-interest we have learned to ask after the welfare of our vulnerable neighbors.  Whatever the outcomes of this particular election, the issues on our local, state, and national agendas and the deep-seated challenges that accompany them will continue to require passionate resolve if they are to be fruitfully addressed.  We all benefit when we set the bar for our leaders very high.  Remember to vote!

How can we be faithful as individuals and as a community of faith in these busy, turbulent, and challenging times? One starting point is being clear about our mission as a congregation. Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is the center of our life together.  When we invest our energies in loving God and serving neighbor, we demonstrate to others and to ourselves just who we are and what we stand for.  Being grounded in grace allows us to set our sights outward; to venture beyond ourselves, our needs, our desires, and to thus discover what God is already up to in the world around us. Knowing this, we then join God in that good work.  If there’s any work more important than this, I don’t know what it is.

As I stood with thousands of others in vigil outside of Temple de Hirsch Sinai last week singing ancient songs of hope, I was reminded how life-giving the power of a unified community can be.  In a world full of violence, with tweets and sound bites run amok, God used that gathering to affirm LIFE, and to remind us all that HOPE and LIGHT cannot be extinguished no matter how dark the night.

Pastor Erik