Rector’s Reflection - November 2025

Dear friends in Christ,

The grand opening of our labyrinth garden last Sunday was the perfect way to kick off November, a month associated with gratitude. We are grateful for all who made the dream of a labyrinth a reality. We are grateful for the opportunity to share it with our friends and neighbors. We are grateful to be part of this parish whose generosity is a sign of God’s love and care in our community. 

We are grateful for this reminder that God plants dreams in us that we can act on in the world, joining God’s creative mission. We are empowered to act for the world we want to see, not just react to the world as it is. It may seem like a difference without a distinction, but it’s an important thing to keep in mind. When we see events unfold around us, we react. When our hearts are moved, we act. Action draws from a richer realm of possibility than reaction; it is not limited to what is but creates what can be.

Jesus did not come to critique the powers of the world; Jesus came to show us how those powers limit the infinite possibilities God imagines. Jesus also showed us how to live in that larger space of possibility and abundance. A practice of gratitude can help us connect with that possibility and abundance. When we take time to give thanks, we remember that everything comes from God. It can transform our attitude and our actions. If you need help getting started, there are prayers of thanksgiving in our Book of Common Prayer (pages 836 – 841). Or you can begin simply by taking 5 minutes in the evening to reflect on the day and give thanks. Simplest of all, we can pray this prayer at meals:

Give us grateful hearts, O God, for all your mercies, and make us mindful of the needs of others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Peace,

Pastor Kristine