in the pew: winter corridors
Reconciling remembrance of loss
...with preparation for the coming holidays.
On November 1st we have a time to remember all those people of faith who have gone before us. Often a full worship service is dedicated to a celebration of both those who have died during the year and those who have been born. Slides may be shown of those members in the church who we have known so well or perhaps have not known at all.
For me, November brings wonderful memories of the birth of my great grandnephew, my wedding over 45 years ago, some elections that brought the result I was hoping for, and some special Thanksgiving tables shared with family. But it also brings disappointment about some elections that I wasn't so happy about, memories of a time when we couldn't afford to have a turkey for Thanksgiving, and sadness about the death of my sister, Patt, on our anniversary.
In truth, if you’ve lived awhile, you’ve experienced memories at opposite ends of the spectrum in all months and on all days of those months. In the church, we have the opportunity to make it possible for the people who walk in the door to know that they can experience both the highs and lows of their lives together in a supporting environment.
Artist Notes
The following devotional considers not necessarily what we go through, but rather how we decide to go through all facets of life as a church community.