November: one month to go. It’s countdown time; countdown to Thanksgiving, countdown to Black Friday, countdown to Christmas. The first Sunday in November celebrates All Saints’and we get an extra hour of sleep on November 5. That’s all well and good, but it also signals to pastors that there is three weeks until the Feast of Christ the King.

What hasn’t been said up to this point is that the service outline continues to preserve a Lutheran -ized version of the Latin Mass. Just as the sacred scriptures preserve for us the Word of God, so the Divine Service preserves among us Christian tradition and the Lord’s Supper. There are some things you just don’t play with. More on that next time: and I promise, not so long.

During this time of pastoral vacancy, may our Lord continue to bless this congregation with wise leaders, capable volunteers and eager workers. In all things may Jesus be honored and adored.