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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

As I write this letter, I am sitting inside my office at the church and gazing outside the window. The leaves are changing colors and there is a quiet hum of farm machinery. The weather is great, too! This time of year gives us an opportunity to slow down from the “go, go, go” of summer and August and take in the beauty of God’s creation.

This time of year also begins a string of holidays: Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, New Years—oh my!---time really does fly by! As you go about your days, I pray that you may experience some downtime this season to reflect on who God made you to be—and to enjoy the simple but profound fact that God loves you.

This month brings another high stakes election. These days, politics is something best left alone because of its polarized intensity in our society. However, as the church, it is important for us to reckon with the politics of the day and spread the love of Christ within the system as much as possible. We can do this by continuing to engage in conversations with those who think differently than us, lending a listening ear to someone whose experience may be different from ours, or simply stating: “Hey! I disagree with you, but I love you anyways.” These are the small ways we can continue to show up as ambassadors of Christ in a broken world.

Regardless of your political persuasion, I encourage you to make a plan to vote and ensure your voice is heard. As system of church governance—much like our national system of governance—requires participation. Letting your voice be heard in ways that are prayerfully considered and modeled with love is an act of spiritually living into your call to be a part of God’s body in the world.

Within the church, we are continuing to make strides with our Discipleship and Church Growth Committee. Be on the lookout for order forms for yard signs that will help serve as an invitation for our broader community to join us and see what God is doing at Kinsman Presbyterian!

As always, be assured that you are in my prayers, and it is my privilege to serve you. If I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

With God’s grace, mercy, and love,

David