November is here, only 55 days until Christmas!! How’s that shopping going? I have a few gifts ready, but there is still more to do or purchase. My granddaughter is into Poke’mon, they were popular when my children were  small, and they’re here again and just as crazy hard to get. I’ve never figured out the draw of this card game, but then I am a huge Star Wars fan so I probably shouldn’t question it!!

So November comes in rather mild—a bit darker since daylight savings starts November 1st—but the weather has been good, there have been years when it was pretty cold. I saw the other day that someone posted on Facebook that they spotted snow falling down, I’m not quite ready for that!!

November always starts with a day to remember those who have gone to their heavenly home-All Saints Day. We will be honoring those who have passed by ringing a bell at church for those who have finished the race and are now with Jesus in their heavenly home. We miss them terribly but realize that their days are filled with joy and overwhelming peace, no pain, no sorrow, simply the love of Christ and the Father to sustain them for all eternity. I often reflect on a scene from The Lord of the Rings, Return of the King, where Pippen and Gandalf are have a conversation in the midst of an intense battle.

  • Pippin: "I didn’t think it would end this way."
  • Gandalf: "End? No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path, one that we all

must take."

  • Gandalf: "The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass, and then you see it."
  • Pippin: "What? See what?"
  • Gandalf: "White shores, and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise."

Pippin responds by saying “That isn’t so bad”, plus it gives him courage to face the battle that is raging before him, unafraid of what lies ahead.

Is it coincidence that November starts off remembering those who have died, then moves right into Thanksgiving and celebrating the many blessings God has given us over the years, and then it leads us right into Advent where we celebrate the greatest blessing we have ever received, God’s Son, Jesus Christ!

Wow, November is an awesome month!! The Community Thanksgiving Service will be held at the United Methodist Church on Sunday the 22nd at 6:00pm. I look forward to this service every year as we once again have the chance to celebrate and worship our Heavenly Father and the many ways he has watched over us during the previous year, alongside of our brothers and sisters from other churches whose faith is strong and love of Jesus is just as deep as yours and mine. I believe that we will all be worshipping together in glory, so we might as well begin now

and get just a tiny hint of what heaven will be like.

The final Sunday of this month is the first Sunday of Advent. It is the beginning of the church year as we prepare to receive the Christ child, born in a manger. Only a few get to worship the infant King, the shepherds and angels, eventually wise men from afar, but for the most part, the birth of our Savior is similar to the thousands of babies born each day around the world. Yet, nothing will ever come close to the gift the world was given the day Mary gave birth to Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us! November is a month to give thanks, so please join in the celebration and honor all that encompasses our lives, those we remember, the here and now, what lies ahead, surrounded by the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you Jesus!! Hallelujah!

Amen!

Him, old men and children. Let them

praise the name of the Lord, His name

alone is honored. His glory is higher

than the earth and the heavens.