God’s Beloved & Members of St. John,
Blessings for this month of October. I look forward to kicking off the month with our Fall Chili Raffle & Living River Concert on Sunday, October 1!
October is an important month for our church and other Lutheran churches, as many will celebrate Reformation by commemorating Martin Luther’s posting of the Ninety-five Theses. We will commemorate Reformation on Sunday, October 29 (actual day of Reformation is October 31).
In addition to Martin Luther, October is also a month to commemorate St. Francis of Assisi (his day of commemoration is October 4).
St. Francis is known for his love for creation. He is especially known for his love of animals and blessing of the animals. He also spent much of his life caring for people in poverty and extended this work by forming the Order of Friars Minor (called Franciscans).
There is a beautiful prayer that is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, and I leave you with his words. Let us pray.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.