Seasons and Seasons

         The first tinge of color is appearing on the maple and sassafras trees.  The ninety degree temperatures of summer are moderating to reading in the sixties and seventies.  Farmer Market fare has shifted from blueberries and peaches to squash and pumpkins.  A change of seasons is upon us.

            These are the words of the “Teacher” in the Book of Ecclesiastes:  For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1 is a good summary of this “Pastor’s Blog” project.  I want to explore the seasons of our lives and the seasons of our church year.  Occasionally I may sprinkle some “seasoning” on my remarks such as “Alleluia” or “Lord, Have Mercy”.  I want this blog to be part inspiration and part education (Bible study).  My goal will be a weekly entry accessed primarily through the website of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Woodstock, VA.

            The book of Ecclesiastes, found in the Hebrew Testament under the name Qoheleth, was likely written, or compiled, around 200 BCE.  It is an anthology of sayings and proverbs common to that time and put within a religious framework.  Reading this book in the context of the Mediterranean world of that time, we can see the struggles of faith and skepticism and even disbelief.  We might even say such thoughts continue into the 21^st Century.

            Ecclesiastes concludes with the verses (12:13-14) The end of the matter; all have been heard.  Fear God, and keep his commandments, for that is the whole duty of everyone.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, wether good or evil.

            Until that time we will continue to live in that holy tension between God’s time for things to happen and our ideas about what should occur and when.  During this holy tension there will be times when we will experience our “autumning”. Leaves flutter to the ground.  Leaves are caught in the winds of change.  Leaves themselves change.  We cannot predict with certainly when that happens.  We, as the leaves, will eventually land on Holy Ground in God’s good time and we will be changed by the Mystery of God.  The promise of the God and the Church is that there will be a greening in Easter glory.  We meet this change not with the fear of fright but with the fear of awe at the Grace bestowed upon us.

            I invite you to join me in naming the seasons of our lives as they are touched by the seasoning of God’s Grace.

Grace and Peace

Rev. Clara