Everyone seems to have a favorite season. As for me, George Eliot’s words resonate deeply: “Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” There’s something about the transition from the green and growth of spring and summer to the retreat and unseen regeneration in the cold of winter that calls me to reflect, regroup, reengage and open my life to what’s next. Though the leaves are falling and the birds are migrating, I know this all anticipates a new thing God will work in creation. It is my favorite time of the year.
Yates is experiencing the changing seasons, too. Ministries to children, youth, adults and internationals which have been at rest are resuming. Administrative committees are working to anticipate the needs of another year of ministry together as well with budgets and leadership slates. The campus renovation continues to move forward and the Capital Campaign team is organizing and preparing for that time of unity and cooperation which will grow all of us in faith. A few weeks ago, we shared the news of Krissy Snyder’s embrace of new work beyond the directorship of the Yates CDC. In the same week, we made preparations to welcome Cynthia Jacko to our staff as ministerial intern for the coming year. It is a changing season for our church.
How are you feeling these days? Maybe you feel spring-like as the clouds have cleared, the sun shines and you sense that better things lie just round the corner. Maybe summer has arrived for you and all is well with blue skies and sunshine. Maybe you are entering a time of autumn maturity and personal harvest. Maybe you are facing the cold and wintery storms of life.
At any given time in any church fellowship people are in different stages and seasons of life. No matter where you find yourself, hear the assurance from Lamentations 3:22-23: “[The Lord’s] compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Whatever the season, God is faithful. Whatever we are facing, God is faithful. Whatever we are feeling, God is faithful. God is true to His Word and true to His church, and “does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17).
In every stage and season of life, God’s faithfulness, mercy and love are present and sufficient. Remember how the old hymn goes:
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above; Join with all nature in manifold witness, To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Thanks be to God for God’s unchanging faithfulness in whatever season of life we find ourselves in today and always!
Grace and Peace,