From our SAM’s Desk ~ The Key Truths of Harvest Season

Dear Friends in Christ,

As autumn begins to settle across our community, the changing leaves & crisp morning air (hopefully, by the time you read this), remind us of the natural rhythm of the seasons—and the spiritual rhythms that guide our lives together. Harvest is a time when we pause to witness the tangible fruits of patient tending, prayer, & labor. Scripture speaks often of the harvest, not merely as an agricultural milestone, but as a deep reflection of  God’s movement in our world. In Galatians 6:9, we’re reminded: “Let us not 

become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Harvest season invites us to reflect on 3 key truths:

Gratitude for Creation’s Bounty: Everything we bring to the table—from our daily bread to the gifts of community and care—begins with the Creator’s generosity. Recognizing God’s provision transforms our everyday lives into acts of thanksgiving.

The Calling to Labor Together: A harvest is never the work of one person alone. It requires shared effort, mutual support, and faithful attention to the soil of our shared life. When we care for one another and reach out to our neighbors, we participate directly in God’s work.

Sharing the Abundance: Biblical harvests were never meant to be hoarded. God commands that the edges of the field be left for the neighbor and the stranger. True abundance isn't measured by what we gather into barns, but by how generously we extend God’s love and hospitality to others.

As your Synod Authorized Minister, I see the seeds of faith, resilience, and love that this congregation continues to plant every day. Whether through your acts of service, your prayers, or your presence, you are helping nurture a community where God’s grace takes root and flourishes.

In this season of gathering, let us give thanks for all that has grown among us, and let us commit ourselves anew to sowing seeds of kindness, hope, and peace wherever we go.

With gratitude and peace,

Kathy Gosnel