For Everything There Is A Season
Posted on September 18, 2015
"For everything there is a season..." the author of Ecclesiastes famously wrote many years ago. Of course, we know and experience this to be true. Life is full of joy and sorrow, hellos and good-byes, good times and bad. As many of you know, my brother Nathan also serves as a Lutheran pastor. He has served the people of Joy Lutheran Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma for more than nine years now, but this weekend will be his last with that community of faith. He has accepted a new call to serve the people of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
With this new call comes a time of transition for both his family and the congregations involved. Joys and sorrows, hellos and good-byes, good times and bad will be remembered and shared. As Christians in these times of transition we join in prayer and mutual support of one another trusting that even in the midst of change, God's love and care for us as children of God will not change.
And so, I would like to share with you all a prayer that I have shared with him. It comes from the introduction of Dr. Jon Hurty's arrangement of the hymn, Children of the Heavenly Father, the signature song at the end of Augustana College Choir concerts. May it be for us all a reminder of joy of Christian community and the gift of the communion of the saints.
Fill our hearts, O God, with Love eternal,
Our song with joy, our life with your sweet grace.
May your divine love, guide our every deed,
For you are Joy and Grace and Mercy to all your children.
Amen
Grace and Peace,
Pr. Erik