From the Pastor's Desk

As the leaves begin to turn and the air grows crisp, we find ourselves standing at the threshold of Fall—a season that whispers of change, reflection, and renewal. But for many in the body of Christ, this year’s transition carries the weight of grief. Loss has visited our sanctuaries. Heartache has echoed through our prayers. And yet, even now, God is near.
​What We Must Lay Down

Before we can embrace what’s ahead, we must release what no longer serves us:

• The heaviness of unanswered questions: We may never fully understand why certain losses occurred, but we can trust that God’s wisdom is deeper than our pain.

• The burden of guilt or regret: Let go of the “what ifs” and “if onlys.” God’s grace covers our missteps and meets us in our mourning.

• The fear of moving forward: Change can feel like betrayal when grief is fresh. But healing doesn’t dishonor the past—it honors the God who walks with us through it.

What We Look Forward To

Fall is not just a season of endings—it’s a season of preparation. The harvest comes after the dying of the seed. So we look forward with expectation:

• Fresh encounters with God’s presence: In the quiet of falling leaves, we hear His still, small voice more clearly.

• New assignments and renewed strength: What felt dormant may begin to stir again. Ministries, relationships, and dreams can be revived.

• The promise of restoration: Joel 2:25 reminds us, “I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten.” God is not finished.

A Call to Hope

This Fall, let us not simply “fall back”—let us fall forward. Into grace. Into healing. Into the arms of a God who never leaves us, even when the seasons shift.

We are not alone in our sorrow. We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, upheld by the prayers of the saints, and carried by the Spirit who groans with us. Let this be a time of sacred release and holy anticipation. God’s people, take heart. The leaves may fall, but His promises do not.

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 ​​We Are . . . "Unified As One In Christ!"