Message from Pastor Karyn for November 2020
It’s November. I don’t know why that feels momentous, but then again, every new month feels like we have made it through the latest obstacle and are one step closer to the end—of what I am not sure, but that is how it is feeling to me. It’s November. We made it.
Of course, November brings an election. An important one. Voting has always been, for me, the most concrete way I participate in our democracy. I remember growing up, sitting with my parents at the dining room table, listening to them talk through the issues and the candidates before going to the polls. Then, when I was old enough, I would join in on the conversation and take my place in the line to cast my vote. Of course, we would see all our neighbors there in the gym of the middle school down the street, kids playing outside or in a corner of the room and so voting felt like all of us coming together to make sure our voices were heard. Voting has always been my sacred duty as a citizen of this country. It is strange to me not to going to the polls on November 3, to experience the sense of community voting together brings, but this hasn’t been a year for usual community building activities.
What I have found this year, especially as we approach November 3, is a deeper pull, a deeper call, to trust God more than ever. It is hard to put into words, but it feels like the Holy Spirit is pushing beyond my preconceived notions of what it means to fear, love and trust God above all things to move me into a deeper and more profound relationship with God for the sake of the world. It has certainly been challenging and by no means something only I have been feeling.
This year, on November 3, in answer to the call to fear, love and trust God above all things and to practice our faith and citizenship together, we at First Lutheran are calling our members to a day of prayer. What does that look like, you may ask? The first thing is that we are inviting people to sign up to pray during each hour of the day starting at 5:00 a.m and ending at midnight. You can sign up on SignUp Genius for any given hour, but it is not expected that you would pray for the whole hour. The second thing is that we will be live streaming prayer services throughout the day at 6am, noon, 6:15pm and 9:45pm. These will be, primarily, short prayer services centered around a specific scripture and include some songs and a reflection. The 6:15 worship service will be Holden Evening Prayer.
We invite you to be in prayer the whole of the day and to join us in this day of prayer as our country decides on leadership. As we do so, may we always remember that it is in God that we put our trust.
Be well. Be kind. Christ is with you.
