From the Pastor's Study
How grateful I am for our church community.  Since the tragic events of September 11th, we have been able to pray together, sing those meaning-filled Methodist hymns together, worship together, study together, share our griefs and anger, hopes, and fears.  God has been our Eternal Source; the Word our companion; the church our touchstone.

What is it that has helped you to remain faithful during these days of trial and tribulation?  What has given you courage to witness to your faith in a God who companions us, encouraging us to relinquish our fears so that we might live daily out of love?  

I have turned to the Psalms during my morning prayer time.  Their wisdom speaks anew.  Recently I prayed with Psalm 85, which concludes with these words: 

O God, I will hear what you have to say, your voice speaks of peace,
peace for your people and your friends and those who turn to you in their hearts.
Your help is near for those who fear you and your glory will dwell in our land.
Mercy and faithfulness have met; justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice look down from heaven.
You will make us proper, and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before you and peace shall follow your steps.
In these verses I heard God calling me, calling us, never to abandon the hope for justice and peace.  I was reminded of God’s dependence on us to make it happen - in our own lives, in our own families, in our places of work and school, in our church life, and in God’s global village.  In this season of harvest, when we gather in the fruits of our labor, the psalmist offers us a powerful harvest image when he writes: “Faithfulness shall spring from the earth.”  Ah, yes, let us harvest faithfulness this season and offer its bounty to the whole world.

This season of harvest is also our season for stewardship, a time when we make our financial commitment to our church, the Lexington United Methodist Church, for another year.  How appropriate it is that stewardship falls in the midst of harvest and thanksgiving.  With joy we share the fruits of our lives with our church; with gratitude, we offer our thanks to God for the blessings of Divine Love and Grace that we have known in these difficult days; and then with generous hearts, we give our financial pledge of commitment to our church for another year.  Let us be generous and intentional with both our thanks and our giving. 

And may we continue to keep the faith, believing that with God’s guidance, justice can and shall march before us, and that we can and shall walk in the steps of peace.  

 With thanksgiving, 

Rev. Susan Morrison