The Colors of Gratitude

The cool autumn nights this week have encouraged the leaves on my street to begin to change. Bursts of red, orange, and yellow are appearing in the trees, giving me another reason to pause and enjoy my favorite season.

Here at Grace, another tree has been filling with color. Our Gratitude Tree, on the bulletin board in the hallway by the sanctuary, has become a beautiful collection of green, yellow, orange, and red paper leaves. Throughout our stewardship season, you have added leaves naming the things for which you are grateful: family, health, music, creative worship, friends, answered prayers, and the service we do together. Each leaf offers a glimpse of God’s grace at work in our lives.

Last Sunday, we were encouraged to add more leaves, this time naming how we might respond to that gratitude. Your responses included helping our preschool families, sharing gifts through the church’s music ministry, giving our time, being less judgmental, practicing patience, growing in the Spirit, and supporting our mission partners. Together, these leaves tell a story of gratitude taking root and generosity growing. Our tree has become a colorful picture of what God is doing in our midst and how we hope to join that work.

We set an ambitious goal this stewardship season: 100 pledges, up from the 83 we received last year. So far, we have received 70. I am grateful for every pledge and for all who have committed to sharing their spiritual gifts alongside their financial contributions. These commitments help us plan for the year ahead and sustain the worship, care, learning, and service we share at Grace.

If you are still discerning how God is calling you to contribute, I encourage you to begin with gratitude. What gifts have sustained you? Where have you experienced love, belonging, or hope? Then prayerfully consider how you might respond. Perhaps there is a ministry where your gifts could flourish, a neighbor who could use your care, or a financial commitment you are ready to make. Our ability to continue the ministries and missions of the church depends on the commitments each of us brings through our time, talents, and treasure.

The leaves on my street will eventually fall, but the generosity growing at Grace can continue to bear fruit throughout the year. May we keep noticing God’s gifts, giving thanks, and sharing what we have received.

See you in church!

Peace, Grace, and Love,
Pastor Kevin