Hello Redeemer,
It is another Tuesday and another weekly installment of my Pastor Email. I am sending it a different way this week, in hopes that everyone receives it. I usually send it through MailChimp, but have found that not everyone has gotten it. If this is your first time receiving this email, would you let me know?
We are coming to the end of my fourth month with you all. And let me say that I have truly loved my time with you all. I love seeing your smiling faces on Sunday morning over Zoom Church, receiving emails from you throughout the week and getting a chance to talk to you in person if you stop up at church. As the days get colder and the daylight gets shorter I am aware that things may get more difficult for you, please reach out if you need anything or simply want to have a chat. In the next few weeks we will start up ‘Moments with Pastor Megan’ again. I loved talking with those that signed up early in the fall and look forward to more conversations in the future.
This coming Sunday we will be celebrating All Saints Sunday and recognizing those in our church family that have gone onto the Church Triumphant. At the end of the email I will include a link to a Google Form for you to fill out with names of those that you would like read on Sunday. If you need more spaces than those included, please feel free to email or call the church office (216-932-2065).
Sunday November 8th is Stewardship Sunday. Please have your pledge cards in by Wednesday November 4th, if you cannot get them in by that date, please return them as soon as you can. If you have not received a Stewardship Letter or Pledge Card, please let me know and we will get one out to you.
Thursday November 12th at 7pm we will be having our Church Charge Conference. Leadership Board, please look out for an email from me about specifics on how this is going to be working.
Sunday November 29th starts the season of Advent. While we will still not be meeting in person. We will be doing many of the same traditions that you all are familiar with. If you or your family would like to light the Advent Wreath, please email or call the church office and we put you on the list.
December 2nd starts our Advent Bible Study. We will be meeting at 10am over Zoom. The study that we will be doing is called “Almost Christmas: A Wesleyan Advent Experience” if you would like to join us on Wednesday mornings please let me know by November 10th, we want to make sure books get to you in time to start with us in December.
I also have included at the end of the email, the link to the Children’s Story Bible I read from this past Sunday.
Scriptures for this week are: Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, and Matthew 5:1-12
Our prayer for the week is coming to us this week from Christine Jerrett, who shared it on one of the many worship resources I have found during my time as your pastor. She offers this prayer for the week of All Saints.
All Saints’ Day Prayer: Set in the Company of Saints
You are our God and we are Your people,
and we are grateful that You have claimed us as your own.
You have set us in the company of saints past and present,
among those who have made bold witness
to Your goodness and Your truth.
Your Word opens up new futures
where we see no way forward.
You know the places in our hearts
where we are afraid
— afraid of a future we cannot control;
— afraid of losing health and independence
— afraid for the well-being of our children
— afraid that past mistakes will ruin our future
Write the stories of your people deep into our hearts
so that we may learn to trust you beyond our fears.
Give us hearts and minds and spirits
ready to trust and follow wherever your Spirit leads,
confident that you will not lead us
beyond your loving embrace.
We ask in Jesus’ name
whose outstretched arms welcome us
and hold us securely in your grace
I pray that this week lands gently on you all and that you are able to find time for rest.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Megan