It’s the most wonderful time of the year! OK, you’re probably thinking of Christmas – what with the song and all – but I’m talking about fall, Baby!
Honestly, can you beat autumn? The leaves turn beautiful colors, the weather cools off (break out those hoodies!), the smell of pumpkin spice fills the air, and dead, pokey grass is everywhere! Seriously, what is our obsession with hay?
Anyway, fall is also a pretty important time in the Church. Nov. 1 is All Saints’ Day, when we take a moment to remember those who have lived faithful lives and gone on to await the return of Jesus and the resurrection to everlasting life.
The night before is All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. In the Lutheran Church, we celebrate the Reformation on the same date.
Way back in 1517, a German Catholic monk named Martin Luther challenged the Church to reform the practice of selling God’s grace. He did that by nailing 95 arguments against the practice to the doors of the local church. Somebody removed his arguments, took them to a relatively new invention called the printing press, and copies were distributed throughout the country.
It led to some difficult things, but it also led to some good things. Because of Luther, you can read the Bible for yourself today – right there on your phone! No, he didn’t invent the Bible app, but he did create the first translation of the Bible into a common (not Latin) language for the first time in centuries.
Today, we are thankful for reformers like Luther and others, who challenged leaders in the Church to be faithful to God’s Word in the Bible. Obviously, Christians still disagree on many things, and we have countless churches, denominations and non-denominations to prove it!
One thing we can all agree on, however, is that God is good. He created this incredible planet on which we exist, and He painted the gorgeous fall colors we now enjoy. We may have come up with the pumpkin spice, but he made the pumpkins and the spice!
Go to church this weekend. Hear some good news for a change, and be reminded of the love God has for you.
And hey (hay!), fall back into the peace of knowing that as crazy as people can be (hello, mirror!), God’s got this – and it’s going to be OK! Happy autumn, everyone!
Peace Lutheran Ministries offers three worship opportunities every week: a casual, blended service at 6:30 p.m. Saturdays at Peace Lutheran School & Early Childhood Center, 3161 Lawndale Road; a traditional service at 9 a.m. Sundays at Peace Lutheran Church, 3427 Adams Ave.; and a modern service at 11 a.m. Sundays at the church. Both Sunday services are livestreamed and can be watched any time at www.YouTube.com/PeaceSaginaw.
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