Greetings to you all in this month of November as we transition from fall to winter and many of us gear up for the approaching Christmas and New Years holiday.

I’ve always kind of felt bad for November, it just seems to be one of those months that gets pushed aside to make room for December. However, I’ve always kind of liked this month that we’re now entering, and folks tend to forget that it has two major holidays just like its end of the year big brother.

The first one I speak of is All Saints’ Day which we’ll be commemorating here at Emanuel on the 3^rd of this month. In fact, a few centuries ago, this would have been considered by Christians to be “the big holiday” not Christmas. The reason why is because it is the day we remember all of our dearly loved ones in the faith, who have gone on before us, and who now reside with God in heaven awaiting the resurrection on the Last Day. And if that’s not worth celebrating, I don’t know what is!

So, we kick off our month commemorating the fact that those who have passed away trusting in Jesus as their Savior are now saints! And that God has wiped away every tear from their eye and that they abide in complete and utter joy forever! It’s also a good time to reflect upon our own futures and that someday we, too, will be joining those already in heaven!

Then at the end of month we will celebrate our second holiday, Thanksgiving, a national holiday rather than a religious one, but a day worth celebrating never-the-less. I believe it is meet, right, and salutary that we should set aside a day specifically to give thanks to God for all the benefits He has given to us, not least of which is the forgiveness of our sins imparted to us through faith in Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving is also that day that we typically spend with our closest family and friends…without all the distractions that so often accompany the Christmas holiday. Okay, okay, yeah, there is the distraction of all the football games on television that day I will admit, but still this holiday does have that cozy feel to it, doesn’t it?

Please note that our Thanksgiving worship service will take place the night before (27^th) at 7 pm, like we did last year and that a lot of you indicated that you prefer.

And with that I wish you all a wonderful month of November.

Until next month….

Pastor Roloff