NOVEMBER, A TIME TO REMEMBER AND TO GIVE THANKS

November is a month that is traditionally associated with harvest time, even if along the North shore of Lake Superior, we do most of our harvesting in September and October. This year, harvesting has taken on a whole new meaning for me, in that living in our new home we have inherited a vegetable garden and apple trees, something we’d not had before. This meant that from August through October, we were eating garden fresh produce: beets and beet greens, potatoes, tomatoes, and apples. Fresh chives, mint and dill served to season many dishes throughout this time, too. The magical part of this experience has been that we didn’t do the planting; we weeded, watered, tended, and harvested, but the garden was planted by the skillful hands of the previous home owners. Many times I found myself thinking of St. Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 3:6, where he writes, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” The verse reminds me that God is ultimately the source of all life and growth, but that we humans often benefit from the work of those who came before us, whether in gardening or establishing a church or expanding frontiers of knowledge. God’s goodness and generosity underlie all of these things, but our forebears left us a legacy to build upon.

During November there are two days that stand out as we ponder the heritage left to us by others, the planting done by those before us that now allows us to water or harvest. All Saint’s Sunday, which falls on November 6 this year, is a day when we consider all saints—believers in God---on earth and in heaven. As such, we name those of our community who have died this past year and honor them with the tolling of the church bell. As we do this, we are acknowledging the planting, watering, and harvesting they did in their years among us. We recognize our indebtedness to them as we continue to plant, water, or harvest in our own ways and times. A community and church like our own are clearly an effort over time, by many generations, that evolve to meet the current needs but are dependent upon the work of those before us.

Veterans Day, November 11, is another day when we reflect gratefully on the sacrifices made by others, who in service to their country, helped create our democracy and our nation. As good citizens, we continue to build upon their sacrifices, hopefully by participating in our civic responsibilities, including voting on November 8. But we would likely not have the privilege of voting, if not for those veterans who planted and watered, so that we might harvest.

It has been said that “we are standing on the shoulders of giants”. Names like Hippocrates, Archimedes, Abraham and Sarah, St. Paul, Mary, Augustine, Shakespeare, Luther, Bach, Einstein, and others come to mind as we contemplate how our lives, from faith to the arts to technology to medicine, have been made immeasurably richer and better by those before us. We may only hope and pray that we continue on in the important work of planting and watering, so that those who come behind us may find a harvest worth reaping.

In thankfulness for our mutual planting, watering, and harvesting in God’s Kingdom,

In Christ, Pastor Susan

Celebration of Music


SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13 - CELEBRATION OF MUSIC
Our nearly annual Celebration of Music event will take place on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 3 PM this year. We will be highlighting a variety of gifted Northshore musicians, including the Superior Sounds choir, Sam Black, the Knife River Bell Choir, Lauren Burton, Jim Madison, Tracey Gibbens, Susan Berge and much more. An elegant reception will follow. Can you help with that? We need bars or other classy desserts! Please let Sandy Holt know if you can provide something, and mark this date on your calendars now! As part of our November effort to remember those in need, please bring a food shelf donation with you to the concert.