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White Bear Lake United Methodist Church

Pastor's Message

March 2010 | E-Mail Brooke Heerwald Steiner

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

There’s the familiar Christmas song from 1963, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, that we all know and can sing from memory. I recently saw an old commercial from Staples where this song provides the backdrop for a father shopping with his children for school  supplies. The dad is dancing in the aisles and skipping around with the cart, while his two children are mournfully sulking behind him.

It is, of course, humor aimed at parents who are eager for their rambunctious children to head back to school, and regain that steady routine. But after giving it more thought, I think there’s more to this time of year that we can all relish and  appreciate: that is, perhaps the most wonderful time of the year is always that which lies in front of us. For now, that time  is September, the beginning of autumn.  For all of us, whether or not the school calendar   impacts our lives, the change of season adds flavor to our daily lives. Fall brings with it not only back to school sales, but sweatshirt weather, and colorful foliage. Fall gives us days of apple-picking, the season of football, the return of Grey’s Anatomy, and Law and Order. As we board up the cabin and pull in the dock, we look forward to weekends at home, chatting with our neighbors, taking a breath and watching God’s creation change before our eyes.  From yellow school buses to brown pigskin leather balls to orange pumpkins, fall is indeed  a beautiful time of the year.

Change, whether it be of seasons, or activities, or events in our lives, always brings about energy and reinvigoration. Along with the season of fall and its pleasures, there are also many delightful changes and events happening in our own church community.  We hope you will find in these few pages something new to dabble in, some sort of activity, or event, or group to spark your interest. So, get out your calendars and make way for this season,  for it promises to be one filled with the best our church has to offer: old and new friendships, connection with God and our neighbors, growth and challenge, and deep lasting faith.

“Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me want  to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly-sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.”  ~Tom Hanks in You’ve Got Mail     

Blessings,
Brooke