Walk With Me

Earlier this year, a new song came across my Spotify app. The song is entitled, “Walk with Me.” The lyrics at the beginning go like this:              

Walk with me, Lord. Walk with me. Walk with me, Lord. Walk with me.
While I’m on this road, I don’t want to go alone. I want Jesus to walk with me.

The song goes on, but those are the words to carry us in the month of October and beyond. Some of you will no doubt recognize the same theme in one of our hymns in the red hymnal, “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me.” As a community of faith, we have organized our ministries into three areas: Worship, Grow, and Serve. After living with these three umbrellas for a season or two, those involved in the Serve area of ministry asked for some reconsideration of our branding for our third umbrella.

We have worked with intentionality and integrity to develop and design our ministries outside our walls to encompass the model of accompaniment – the idea of walking alongside our ministry partners instead of “bringing our ideas to their doors.” In earlier days, this area of ministry was called “Mission Outreach.” In the month of October, we are redefining and reforming our meaning and purpose once again to align our ministry with the important work of accompaniment. Those involved in the hands-on work of accompaniment asked us to consider rebranding this area of ministry under the umbrella of “Walk.” It makes sense. The renaming allows us to focus our ministries outside our walls on a parallel track alongside those who invite us to “walk” with them in our local, national, and global ministries.

As we look to the dreams of our Arise 2035, our Ten-Year Strategic Plan and Vision, your voice and your dreams for your church are important contributions to the days ahead. Beginning in October, you will have the opportunity to add your dreams to the “action items” on the posters in the narthex/lobby of the church. As you dream, consider sharing your ideas on those posters, so that we can offer the greatest imagination to the work God will lay before us in our future.

The hymn in the red hymnal begins with these words:

I want Jesus to walk with me. I want Jesus to walk with me.
All along my pilgrim journey. I want Jesus to walk with me.

I believe that is all any of us ever want in this life. I, for one, am happy to have each of you to walk alongside me on this journey of faith and life. To God be the glory.

See you in church,

Pastor Chris

This Spooky Season, Do Not Be Afraid

Lately I’ve been noticing that people have started to decorate their houses and yards for Halloween. Which coincidently prompted my wife to ask if I want to put ours up this coming weekend. “Okay, sure” (thanks-a-lot, over-achiever neighbors). The decorations people choose run the spectrum from cute and silly to absolutely grotesque and terrifying. There was a time long ago that I enjoyed looking at scary decorations and doing things like going to haunted houses, but these days I think we have more than enough going on in our world and in our lives that causes us to be afraid and I for one don’t have any desire to add one more.

Do not be afraid. Over and over, we hear those words spoken in the scriptures. The first time is to Abram when God comes to reaffirm a promise that Abram fears might never be fulfilled. Those words are spoken to Hagar as she seeks shelter and sustenance in the wilderness for her and her son, Ishmael. The words are spoken to Isaac, and to Joseph, to Moses, to Samuel, to David, to Mary and Joseph, and to so many others.

Often those words are spoken by angels, and if the Biblical description of angels having six wings, four faces, hundreds of eyes, or just being engulfed in flames can be believed, then a calming word was probably necessary. Sometimes the words are spoken by prophets seeking to comfort the people in the middle of trying times. Jesus says those words more than a few times to disciples who are overwhelmed by and underprepared for the work ahead of them. Do not be afraid.

The truth is, we all have reason to be afraid from time to time. These are trying times in which we live, and I often find myself feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of hurt in the world and underprepared to do much to change it. Sometimes, perhaps more often than I’d care to admit, I am afraid. And I need to be reminded – sometimes gently, sometimes firmly – do not be afraid.

But I do not believe that these words mean that we should never feel fear. Rather, I think they serve as a reminder to not let fear be our guiding principle. Do not be afraid means that we should not let fear be what drives our decisions. We cannot let fear change who God made us to be. We cannot let fear deter us from doing what God has created us to do.

Do not be afraid. Fear is a powerful manipulator. There are those who would capitalize on our fear as a way of turning us against our sisters and brothers who look, love, and live in ways that seem different to us. And there are even some who would use fear as a weapon to divide and destroy and dehumanize. But that’s not who we were made to be.

The voice of Jesus still calls out to us, urging us “do not be afraid.” We were made to be in relationship – with God and with one another. So may your fears be calmed, and your faith strengthened. May you trust in the One who calls you by name. And may you follow the example of Jesus, who took every opportunity to cast fear aside by drawing closer to the other.

Pastor Tony

Changing Seasons

The season of summer’s long, relaxing days is coming to an end. The air itself is whispering a warning of what’s to come, as the light we enjoyed for so long begins its retreat. The rich, vibrant green of summer is already starting to fade, yielding to a breathtaking spectacle of golds, reds, and oranges.

At our house, we have a locust tree. And as you may know, locust trees are among the first to announce the seasonal change. Suddenly, our driveway and vehicles are blanketed in its falling leaves—a colorful, unavoidable signpost for the family. While the cleanup is certainly a chore, the sheer volume of those early-falling leaves makes a dramatic, undeniable statement: Autumn has arrived.

This transition, marked by the steadfast, almost impatient change in the locust, heralds the arrival of autumn, and with it, the looming presence of winter. Are you ready for winter?

I know I’m not. Many of us would rather just linger in the beauty of fall and then leap straight back to summer! Coming from a place like my home country, El Salvador, where we only navigate the rainy and dry seasons, the drama of these four distinct seasons can feel both wonderful and overwhelming. Wouldn’t it be lovely to just have endless autumns and summers? I’m sure many of you would agree. But the simple reality is that ready or not, these transitions are approaching and are an inescapable part of our lives. This constant flux—from the glory of autumn to the chill of winter—actually holds a profound lesson about our earthly journey.

Just as we observe and experience the transitions of the seasons in nature, this same pattern unfolds in our lives. We enjoy periods of growth, abundance, stunning landscapes, joy, peace, and love. Yet, there are also unexpected and difficult moments—seasons we must navigate even when we feel utterly unprepared. Transitions like starting a new job, a difficult diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, or sudden uncertainty don’t wait for our permission. They arrive unannounced, demanding a change in our reality.

The wonderful, anchoring news is this: God is present in the midst of all these seasons of our earthly life.

He is present in the fresh blooms of spring, the lush green landscape of summer, the stunning beauty of autumn’s colors, and the serene, white silence that covers the earth in winter.

Crucially, God is also with us in seasons of joy and sadness, in moments of peace and turbulence, in times of certainty and overwhelming doubt.

This is the promise we stand on, spoken in Isaiah 41:10:

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Brothers and sisters, we are called to place all our trust in the One who created and governs the seasons. Let us remember that we follow a God who will not let us down. A God who is with us every single day until the end of time. When difficult times befall us, we have a faithful God in whom we find strength, comfort, love, peace, and, above all, unwavering hope. He accompanies us every step of the way, through every single season of our earthly journey.

As the leaves fall, what one unchangeable truth about God will you hold onto this season?

Pastor Edwin

Handbell Music: The Story Behind Ascend!

Many of you may not realize that much of the choral and handbell music that is performed at Ascension has actually been commissioned. There is generally a dedication line at the top of the score that often gives context to the piece. We often thought about what an awesome experience it would be to commission a piece “someday.”

You also may not realize that the equipment we have collected over the years is really quite the envy of other church handbell choirs. When the handbell choir was conceived 25 years ago, we only possessed a 3 octave set of handchimes. Since that time, we have increased our ensemble to 7 octaves of handchimes and 5 octaves of handbells. The cost of all this was many tens of thousands of dollars and was made possible only through generous donations from members of Ascension. Beyond that, we are very fortunate to continue to have committed choir members that help these beautiful instruments come to life and reach their full potential. 

With this church season marking the 25th anniversary of our handbell choir, we believed that “someday” to commission a piece had come! In anticipation of this anniversary, we actually started the process of commissioning a piece several years ago. We quickly found that it is more of an undertaking than what we first envisioned. The biggest challenge we faced was the process of selecting a composer that we could work with and one that would be able to come up with something that reflected our specific vision.

As luck would have it, we attended a weeklong handbell camp in the summer of 2024 where Sandra Eithun, the renowned composer of over 600 handbell pieces, served as the clinician. Over the years, we have enjoyed ringing a variety of her pieces. The layers of her compositions can be on the tricky side, but that is why her pieces are fun to ring and she has become a personal favorite. We were excited to be under her direction and instruction for a week. We met Sandy and enjoyed working with her. By the end of that week, we were confident she was the composer for our commissioned piece.

When we met with Sandy to collaborate on our piece, we made some rather simple requests for what it should represent and accomplish. Since we originally started with only handchimes and lacked ringing experience, we wanted the piece to reflect that by starting the song with handchimes. From there the music builds into a joyous celebration reflecting the evolution of our handbell choir. The crescendo is intended to reflect the growth of our ensemble of instruments and performance skills as well as the joy we feel whenever we make a musical offering to our Lord.

When we heard Ascend! for the first time, it was evident that Sandy used her musical expertise to create the piece we envisioned from the beginning. She incorporated the wide array of our handbells and handchimes. Many of the ringing techniques you have experienced throughout the years are woven in and out of the piece. If you have a musical ear, you might even notice a temporary shift to a minor key early after the handbells start playing that pays homage to our first performance when we fell apart like a house of cards and had to regroup and finish the piece. The charter members of the handbell choir still reminisce about that to this day!

On Sunday, Oct.12, we will perform our commissioned piece, Ascend! (Together We Rise!) for the first time at Ascension at the 8:30 service. It is our prayer that you experience all the joy that was intended with our inception of this commission. We hope that you are able to share in the joy and celebration of Ascend!

Steve & Carol Spieker
 

You Can Go Home Again

You never truly leave your home country behind. A sense of belonging remains tied to the sights, sounds, and flavors of your childhood. This feeling of a deep, ancestral connection resonated with my nephew. Last month, he returned to El Salvador with Ascension’s delegation, visiting the country he left when he was only 8 years old. The idea of going back was both comforting and overwhelming. While his excitement was clear, his true joy came from experiencing and sharing the country’s changes with the others from Ascension who were visiting El Salvador for the first time.

The delegation’s journey began with a powerful and emotional moment. We accompanied my nephew to his brother’s grave as he visited it for the first time. His brother had passed away in the U.S. and was repatriated to be buried in El Salvador. What a profound way to begin our trip. We walked with him, offering comfort and support during the difficult visit to the cemetery. While Jhonson’s loss was the most profound, many in our delegation had close ties to Fabricio and his death, so we all laid flowers on his grave as we spent time in meditation and prayer at the grave of a young man who had been one of Ascension’s youth.

After that visit, the trip was filled with new experiences with the community. We had the opportunity to interact with children and adults, and to visit new places. Activities like a children’s game day, an art workshop, a Student Day celebration, and our 10-year fellowship anniversary helped us get to know each other better. We also sought out new ways to continue our journey of learning together. During the trip, the delegation and the three pastors from Ascension also had the honor of standing with Pastor Blanca during her first baptism as a diakonal pastor. It was a special moment for me personally, to see Ascension be part of such a significant milestone in her ministry.

Every time I return to El Salvador, I’m amazed by the hidden beauty of my homeland, and what a gift it is to experience it with others. For example, during all the years I lived there, I never had the opportunity to hike the Chaparrastique Volcano or visit the monkey sanctuary. I am so grateful to continue discovering new things with our partnership, El Milagro de Dios in San Jorge, and with the people of Ascension.

Brothers and sisters, embracing the new is a skill that allows us to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world. It’s a mindset of openness and flexibility, a readiness to accept the unknown. When we resist change, we feel stuck and overwhelmed. But when we learn to navigate it with ease, we discover new opportunities for growth. As we journey through this new season in our schools, jobs, churches, families, and communities, let the light of Christ guide us. He will help us rediscover and find the new things God has waiting for each of us.

Pastor Edwin

Reprinted from the September 2025 newsletter.

A Season of Change

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. – Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)

September is upon us once again and for many it signifies a time of change. For children, teens, and young adults it means an end to summer vacation, a return to school, or perhaps entering the world of full time work. For older adults it might involve sending a child off to college or needing to adjust their own routines because kids, grandkids, or friends schedules and needs have changed. Regardless of what adjustments are taking place, for many people September can be a month of both anticipation and anxiety.

Whenever change takes place, whether it’s a shift in what was into something new or different, or just returning to something that was previously familiar, the anticipation of doing something new or different can bring a mix of emotions – excitement and apprehension, and this can also be an uncomfortable, sad, and even scary time for some.

These life, schedule, or other changes can undoubtedly produce anxious feelings, but they also offer us new opportunities to engage our faith, develop and strengthen relationships, find new meaning and perspective, and experience something new and unexpected.

For instance, this fall as we continue to reimagine children’s ministry at Ascension and better serve the needs of our students and families, we’ve redeveloped BLAST (now K-3rd) and created two new ministries that will offer more age-appropriate faith formation. JAM, for families with birth to 4K kids, and JUMP, for 4th and 5th graders. In addition this has also created new opportunities to raise up faithful leaders – Kelly Schoon (JAM) and Amy Koenig (JUMP).

For more than a year now your pastors have been sensing that something incredible is happening at Ascension – we can’t put our finger on exactly what it is, but there’s an energy that’s building, an excitement that’s growing – God is up to something, and we don’t want to miss it!

But sometimes we get so comfortable in our routines and the way things are that we forget God is always on the move, always doing a new thing. Often that new thing is taking place all around us and we simply miss God’s invitation to take part in and experience whatever it is God is up to.

In the Book of Isaiah the prophet reminds us that not only is God up to something new, but also that God will make a path forward. And this should bring us reassurance and hope, especially in the moments when our anxiety gets the best of us. God never leaves us, nor does God leave us unprepared. Because God not only makes a path, but God also provides all that’s needed for the journey ahead. Sometimes we just need to take a deep breath, open our eyes and trust.

The gift of new ideas, new volunteers, new members, new excitement and energy, along with new opportunities to grow, live, and share our faith are beautiful and powerful reminders of God’s immeasurable love for us and the world. So as we enter into yet another September, I hope we might all feel less anxious about whatever lies ahead, even if it remains unclear, because it’s already begun and God is making a path and creating everything we need along the way.

Pastor Tony

Reprinted from the September 2025 newsletter.

Welcome to September

I confess – September is a welcome respite from August.

August began with the mission trip to El Salvador. It was spectacular. Pastor Edwin and Sarah were amazing in their planning and tending as we walked alongside our sister church, El Milagro de Dios (Miracle of God) Lutheran Church in San Jorge. It was pure joy to finally meet Pastora Blanca and the members of the congregation. We were fed more than we could possibly eat. There were stories to tell and time for prayer through the expert translation of Pastor Edwin and laughter and games alongside the children of the church and the entire community of San Jorge. Bumpy roads and deep water-traced ruts reminded us that we are blessed to complain about potholes in Wisconsin. The heat was, well, hot! But the air conditioning and cool water offered us respite at the end of the day. We visited historical sites and were often overwhelmed by the beauty of the country and her people. We spent time with Pastor Edwin’s family who hosted all 24 of us for dinner – no easy task in any country! We were graciously welcomed by the newly elected Bishop of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church – Bishop Guadalupe Cortez. She and her staff shared greetings, reflections on the church in El Salvador, and a meal with the most amazing plantains cooked with a pudding in the center. We prepared a lengthy beach for sea turtle nesting and somewhere along the way my wife and daughter became stuck in an elevator. It was a very good trip to build relationships with sisters and brothers in the body of Christ.

We returned to Wisconsin for a brief six days before my family traveled to California to say goodbye to my larger-than-life father-in-law. He was indeed one of a kind. The funeral was full of loud Easter hymns, and big feelings, and well lengthy preaching (guess who preached) and all those things reflected my father-in-law perfectly. Two days after the funeral, we returned home, where we packed up my oldest child and returned him to the University of Wisconsin – Madison for his sophomore year. One daughter is neck deep in volleyball tryouts and the other is tackling volleyball and soccer practice simultaneously. And my mother-in-law was here for the rest of the month – so if you see her in early September, please say hello. All that to say that August was full – completely full – and somewhere in those days were also several meetings preparing us for the fall here at Ascension. Deep breath!

September at Ascension is pure joy and all life to the glory of God. Worship returns to our program year schedule on September 7th, with worship in English at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. and worship in Spanish at 10:45 a.m. JAM, BLAST, JUMP, JOLT, and CRASH all return the week of September 7th. And if you are unsure of one or more of the acronyms for ministry among our children and junior and senior high school students – keep reading – all is explained later on in this newsletter. We are preparing to launch a young adult ministry as well this fall – for those in the 18-30 year age range because they have asked and the Holy Spirit is moving – but an acronym is still in the dreaming phase – have any ideas?

We return to Monday morning and evening Adult Study gatherings with season 4 of the CHOSEN. I am so excited to see how this next season unfolds as we gather to reflect on the stories already deep in our bones. By the time you read this article, our music ministries will already have begun rehearsals to bring glory to God in our worship life – have you thought about joining the choir or ringing a bell – there is still room for you. I promise Vicki will find a place for you.

In late September and/or early October there will be listening sessions available to help the pastors and church council reflect and dream about our future. Ascension Arise 2035 will be available for review and comment in the weeks ahead. Your input, about your church, is important and welcome as we look to all that God has in store for the days ahead. And there are ministries waiting for your “yes.” Healing Hearts of Waukesha County, the Hope Center, and the Food Pantry of Waukesha County are all supported by our congregation and in need of our hands-on ministry as well as our financial support. If you are considering joining our community of faith, we will host conversations in-between services later this month and early in October as we prepare to welcome new members on Sunday, October 19th. I am ready for all of it and more. I hope you are too!

See you in church.

Pastor Chris

Reprinted from the September 2025 newsletter.

Children’s Ministries

We are so excited that Children’s Ministry at Ascension is growing and being re-imagined in many new ways and we cannot wait to launch into our fall programming! September is going to bring two new ministries that will help meet the changing needs of our children and their families. And we look forward to connecting and growing in exciting ways together this year! 

Join us on Sunday, Sept. 7, for our Rally Day! Bring your backpack for a blessing during services and receive a keychain for the year. Immediately following worship, we will gather for some exciting kick-off activities between services. Also, check out the board by the toddler area with up-to-date information for upcoming events and pictures of recent activities. 

A reminder that we are restructuring our schedule and will not be meeting weekly; however, we have added some big events that will occur throughout the year that we think you will find very exciting and fun.

Registrations for JAM (birth – 4k), BLAST (5k – 3rd gr.) & JUMP (4th & 5th grade) are still available. BLAST & JUMP registration can be found  at https://tinyurl.com/BLASTJUMP and JAM registration is here https://tinyurl.com/JAM25-26.

Interested in how you can get involved and volunteer? Check out the sign-ups in the narthex or if you have questions or would like to help, please reach out to Pastor Tony or Ms. Sheri for BLAST, JUMP, or JAM, Amy Koenig for JUMP, and Kelly Schoon for JAM.

Important Dates

  • Sunday, Sept. 7: Backpack Blessings. Bring your backpack, diaper bag, tote bag, string bag, or whatever you use!
    JAM, BLAST & JUMP kick-off (between services)
  • Sunday, Sept. 14: BLAST & JUMP meet between services
  • Sunday, Sept. 21: JAM meets between services
  • Sunday, Sept. 28: BLAST & JUMP meet between services

JAM (Birth – 4K)

We are thrilled to announce our new ministry JAM (Jesus And Me). This is our new ministry for families and children ages birth-4k. Kelly Schoon is leading this ministry that will meet monthly. This is an opportunity for our youngest children to jump, shout, and sing our way through the Bible. This time will be filled with interactive activities for our energetic preschoolers and their families as we bring bible stories to life.

JAM will meet about once a month in the sanctuary. Following Jam, we invite you to take time to fellowship with each other alongside your children in the play area located in the narthex. JAM will meet on Sept. 7 in the sanctuary to kick off this ministry! JAM will also meet on Sept. 21 between services. Questions or interested in helping out feel free to contact Kelly Schoon. 

BLAST (5K – 3rd Grade)

BLAST stands for Believing, Learning, And Sharing Together. This ministry is for children ages 5k to 3rd grade. We meet in small and large group formats in the sanctuary two or three times a month between services. See our important dates above. Reach out to Sheri Greger or Pastor Tony tony@ascensionelca.org for more information. 

JUMP (4th & 5th Grade)

We are thrilled to announce our new ministry, JUMP (Jesus Understands Me Perfectly). This is for our 4th & 5th grade students who are ready to start taking new leaps in their faith journey. Amy Koenig has joined in to help us shape and launch this new opportunity for our students and their families. JUMP will be held at the same time as BLAST on Sundays between services. Questions or interested in helping out feel free to contact Amy Koening.

Living the Good Samaritan’s Call

We recently heard the familiar Gospel story of “The Good Samaritan” during a Sunday reading. Jesus recounted:

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’” Jesus then asked, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

This powerful parable serves as a timeless reminder of God’s constant call to us: to be merciful to one another. This call continues to resonate deeply within our Christian community today.

We’ve seen this call answered in inspiring ways recently. In April, our CRASH students held a community service event at Hope Center. They rose early to prepare and serve breakfast to over 40 people. After their service, during a 10-minute reflection, the students eagerly asked about the possibility of another summer community service. Their enthusiasm led to our first summer service event, where Grandpa Art even joined us, preparing his delicious cookies with the students! Together, the students fed over 60 people, embodying the very spirit of the Good Samaritan.

Another deeply moving experience came last month when I received a call from a man in our Spanish ministry. It was news that filled me with joy, making me exclaim, “Thanks be to God!” As you might imagine, I try to stay on top of all calls from our Latino ministry families. When my phone rings with one of those numbers, I often close my eyes and pray that the call isn’t related to ICE. But this call was different. The man simply wanted to make plans to take lunch to someone sleeping under a bridge. He had just left church on a Sunday and was eager to put compassion into practice.

Jesus consistently calls us to practice compassion, regardless of who the person in need might be. Their appearance, beliefs, background, social status, or even their past should never be barriers. We are called to extend compassion to everyone whose humanity is in distress.

Like the priest and the Levite in the parable, it’s easy to let our own busyness, anxieties, prejudices, or even our established religious routines prevent us from seeing and responding to human suffering. Jesus urges us to break down these internal barriers. He calls us to actively seek opportunities to serve with love, rather than looking the other way. The Good Samaritan didn’t just feel pity; he acted, getting directly involved. This is the very essence of Christian love. It’s not passive empathy; it’s active and practical compassion. It means being willing to be uncomfortable, to step outside our comfort zones, and sometimes even to sacrifice our own resources and time for the sake of others.

Brothers and sisters, we live in a world where wars, natural disasters, poverty, injustice, and loneliness can feel overwhelming. Yet, the parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us that our calling often begins with the individual right in front of us, or with a need within our own communities that we can directly address. It could be a homeless person on the street, a struggling family down the street, an elderly neighbor in need, a friend battling a hidden illness, or communities facing persecution.

How can you “go and do likewise” in your own life today?

Pastor Edwin

To the Glory of God

“So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”  1 Corinthians 10:31

With August upon us, I’m shocked by the simple reality that summer is just about over. Some of us are still trying to squeeze in one last vacation or get outside for just a little bit longer. But for the most part, we’ve started the annual transition back into the swing of our fall routines.

How did this happen? It feels like just yesterday that kids were getting out of school, gardens were being planted, graduations were being celebrated, and we were just getting used to the longer days when the sun decided to show its beautiful face.

I once read an article by a psychologist who said that time seems to pass more quickly as we get older because we’re experiencing fewer “firsts.” When we’re continually experiencing new things, time tends to stand still while we’re living them. After we’ve repeated those events numerous times, they don’t faze us much anymore – and before we know it, months have passed, seasons have changed, and it’s time to start the annual cycle again.

Yet, we shouldn’t allow our time to be something that simply evades our grasp, trickling through our fingers. After all, time itself – every moment on this earth is a gift from God. We each have 24 hours today and seven days this week to use however we please. Not one of us gets more time than another.

Perhaps at the end of this summer, each of us would take time to look back and see how we chose to use our time these last few months. Did we set aside time to pray? Did we dedicate any time to serving others? Did we devote time each day to serve God? Have we been kind, helpful, generous, creative, or curious? When we assess the use of our time, we should be asking ourselves, “Have I been a good steward of the time given to me?”

Maybe now is a good time to make some changes in our lives and get more involved or do a new thing. Afterall, there’s no better time than right now to seek out ways to serve God and those around us or improve something in our life or the life of the world. This is what it means to be a good steward!

As the lazy days of summer give way to all the routines and activities of fall, remember to keep God in your hearts, in your minds, and on your lips as we continue our journey as people and a community of faith.

Pastor Tony