Pastor’s Message for October 2023

Grace and peace in the name of Jesus Christ,

The seasons are changing and the lush green of summer will soon yield to the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows of autumn. Perhaps you will embark on a picturesque fall foliage road trip? Or maybe you will find yourself engaged in the annual ritual of raking up those leaves that look so beautiful on the trees but less so on the ground.

We know why the leaves are green in the summer. Plants harness the sun’s energy through a process known as photosynthesis. To do this, plants are constantly producing a chemical named chlorophyll. As the seasons change, the plants produce less and less chlorophyll. The transformation of the color of the leaf occurs when there is not enough green chlorophyll to mask the presence other chemicals within the leaf. Previously unseen chemicals such as orange carotene or red anthocyanin were always there, but unseen. In essence, the leaves assume a color that was always there, we were simply unable to see it until the green shroud concealing it was removed.

This natural phenomenon reminds me of the way that John Wesley described God’s grace, particularly what he called prevenient grace. Wesley described prevenient grace as the grace which God gives to all people everywhere, from the vilest sinner to the purest saint. It is grace which is always present with us, calling us toward God’s presence. The problem is most of us are unaware of that ever-present grace because of the veil of sin. But even if it is unseen, the grace is there all along. You will never meet a person in whom God’s grace is not at work, even if it is hidden.

So this year, as you enjoy the beauty of fall’s foliage take a moment to reflect on the constant, unseen grace of God that accompanies you on your journey. Just as the leaves reveal their hidden colors, remember that divine grace is always there, waiting to be acknowledged and embraced.

God loves you, and so do I,
Pastor Jim