A Season of Abundance

(Goldenrod on a Jamestown Beach)

We have a rule at my house: no fall decorations until October 1st! Most years my daughter would have me decorate for fall before August has waved its last goodbye. But, I’m a summer person who, as many of you know, walks rather resistantly into the fall. It isn’t that I don’t like fall – fall is actually quite lovely. There are still occasional beach days, the fall produce is delicious, and the leaves are beautiful. It is that fall is followed by winter – and winter and I aren’t on great terms.

Despite needing to work on my relationship to winter, I deeply appreciate the abundance of fall. The flamboyance of the leaves, the apples and winter squash, and our turn toward flagrantly giving out candy and sitting at tables laden with pies has the power to open us up to the reconciling work the God of abundance seeks to do through us.

Jesus reminded his disciples in Luke 6:37-38 that God’s abundance and our reconciliation with the world are inseparable: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

As we head toward World Communion Sunday this lovely fall weekend, may this vibrant season remind us that God’s abundance is powerful to heal and reconcile all that is broken..

Blessings,

Pastor Amy
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AND THE TABLE WILL BE WIDE

And the table
will be wide.
And the welcome
will be wide.
And the arms
will open wide
to gather us in.
And our hearts
will open wide
to receive.
And we will come
as children who trust
there is enough.
And we will come
unhindered and free.
And our aching
will be met
with bread.
And our sorrow
will be met
with wine.
And we will open our hands
to the feast
without shame.
And we will turn
toward each other
without fear.
And we will give up
our appetite
for despair.
And we will taste
and know
of delight.
And we will become bread
for a hungering world.
And we will become drink
for those who thirst.
And the blessed
will become the blessing.
And everywhere
will be the feast.