A Time for Everything

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:   a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.   Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

As time moves on the seasons change.  As we shift into the autumn weather, we have to face that the
seasons of the church change as well.  I have been here nearly two months and I have enjoyed every moment serving here as your Vicar.  In such a short time I have been witness to Bible Studies and Divine Services, and participated in visitations.  I have seen plans for a renovation and plans for repairs of a 50 year old problem.  I have seen 2 baptisms, a wedding, and 4 funerals.  Two months is the grand scheme of things is but a blip in the course of history, yet many things change swiftly.  It means that as much as we attempt to prevent change, we only fight in vain against the currents of time.  Even the folk singer and songwriter, Pete Seeger recognized the wisdom of the words of Ecclesiastes 3 in his song "Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There Is a Season)".  Everything continues to change and move forward.
We are turning to a season for the church in which the church is no longer held in respect.  The church
that was once blooming, is now aging.  In this church the funerals outnumber the incoming members and the
baptisms.  The influence of the church is being replaced by science and ―acceptance‖.  In the public square the symbols of the one true faith are being replaced with the coexist symbol.
The thing to remember though, even with the influence of the church waning, is the love of God never wanes.  As war and recession impact people of all walks of life, there is a peace that can only come from the church.  If a neighbor is suffering, the best words that he or she can hear is the power of the gospel which promises the love of the one true God.  There is a time for everything, and for God’s love it is always time.