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The Lord has done great things for us.  Amen and Amen!  Indeed, God has been and continues to be active in the world accomplishing great things.   God creates and loves us to the extent that God’s own Son entered into the world full of grace and truth.  Jesus suffered and died on the cross for our sake.  His atoning work expresses how deeply God loves and forgives us.  Christ’s resurrection extends that love throughout this life and into the next.  In the aftermath of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit came to abide with and accompany us throughout this life.  The Spirit grants gifts to each of us that we might use them in service to God and others.  God abiding presence is a refuge and strength to us in the midst of hardship, loneliness, illness, grief and despair.  God’s restorative, renewing, and refreshing activity is at work in and through us.  indeed the Lord has done great things for us!

                 How do we say thank you to God for all these wonderful things?  The psalmist speaks of those who go out planting seeds and returning shouldering sheaves.  The harvest is a time of joy and thanksgiving because the growth of the planted seeds is not guaranteed.  It takes the care of the planter and the appropriate sunshine, warmth, and rain to bring the crop to fruition.   The absence of extreme weather that can destroy a harvest is also a necessity.  When this all comes to together and the sheaves are fully grown and ready to be harvested it is a time for thanksgiving, appreciation, and rejoicing. This psalm always reminds me of the old Gospel hymn Bringing in the Sheaves.  Normally this hymn is not found in Lutheran hymnals but I often sang it at my grandparents’ United Brethren Church.

                Bringing in the sheaves,

                Bringing in the sheaves,

                We shall come rejoicing,

                Bringing in the sheaves.

Bringing in the Sheaves is the theme of this year’s stewardship commitment drive.  When we contemplate the great things God has done for us and for all humanity, how might we respond faithfully?   This annual congregational initiative invites us to prayerfully consider the ways we will respond to God’s grace, love, blessings and mercy.   I like to think of the sheaves as our offering of thanksgiving to God.  As the psalm and hymn state we do so with gladness and joy.  The sheaves represent the harvest God has planted in our lives including the gifts of the Spirit and the grace and love of Christ.  Our offerings of time, talent and treasures are one of the ways we say thank you to God.  These offerings in turn help do God’s work in our community and beyond.

                Our congregational ministry is having an impact in our congregation, the Gettysburg community and across the world.  Our online Christian education classes are attracting participants including visitors from Arkansas and York.  Our new audio/visual equipment is connecting those unable to be present with us in worship.  In times of grief and mourning we are offering support, care, and assistance.  Through school kits and quilts to Lutheran World Relief we make an impact on the needy around the world.  Our worship refreshes and renews us with God’s Word and sacraments. 

                There is a lot of exciting ministry happening at Christ Lutheran and we need your involvement, participation, and commitment.   We miss you at worship and invite you to recommit to joining us as we come together to give praise and thanks to God, support and care for each other, and serve our community.  Your presence is an offering.  Your participation is an offering. Your prayers are an offering.  Your time and talent are offerings. And your financial gifts are offerings.  These offerings are essential for Christ Lutheran to fulfill the ministry God entrusts to us in this place and at this time.  Let’s come together to support each other and serve those in need!

I invite you to join me in prayerfully completing a Bringing in the Sheaves commitment form for 2022.  Use this November and season of thanksgiving as a time to reflect on God’s harvest in your life and how you want to respond in joy.  You can find the forms in this newsletter and on our webpage.  Thank you for all the ways you contribute to Christ Lutheran’s ministry and mission.  Have a blessed Thanksgiving and may it be filled with gladness and rejoicing.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Stephen Herr

Please fill out the commitment card attached to this document, pray about your family’s ability to increase your support to Christ Lutheran in this extraordinary time.

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Dear Christ Lutheran members,

We join the stewardship committee and the congregation council to encourage you to prayerfully complete a 2022 commitment form.  Your financial gifts support, sustain, and enhance the ministry we do together to share God’s refreshing and renewing love with our community and the world.  Thank you!

Pastor Stephen Herr and Pastor Jay Eckman