As we step into October, as autumn opportunities to connect with community wait for us, we should take a moment to consider recent thoughts shared by our Bishop and our Pastor.

In a September letter written to her “siblings in Christ” at the launch of a new worship season, Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi of the UMC Western PA Conference presented us with the following charge:

“We are experiencing lingering health and economic realities of COVID, ongoing struggles with drug addiction in our region, deteriorating mental health conditions of many in our communities, endemic violence in our nation, and countless other global issues.

In times like these, we need to be anchored in Christ and laser-focused on being the presence of Christ in the world. We need to be anchored and laser-focused on sharing the love of God with our neighbors.”

In her message on September 18, Pastor Hannah said, “The world needs our witness, if we can just understand that we all have something to offer.”

As the Pumpkin Patch, the Haunted House, and a fall dinner provide opportunities to serve and share, it can be difficult to be “laser-focused” and know that we have something to offer.

Pastor Hannah, as she concluded her September 18 message, provided an answer. She prayed. “Holy Spirit, speak to us, use us like you did the early church…”

A rich period of silence, of listening, of trusting the Holy Spirit followed her invitation.

Let’s re-create the hopeful, trusting invitation here.

“Holy Spirit, speak to us…“

On October 2, as the sun sets around 7 pm, from wherever you are, with whomever wishes to join you, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to speak to us, individually and as a church family.

How can we be an impactful presence in the Pumpkin Patch?

How can we be an impactful presence in the Haunted House?

How can we be an impactful presence at the fall dinner?

How can we be, as Bishop Moore-Koikoi charged us, “the presence of Christ in the world?”

How can we share “the love of God with our neighbors?”

How can we be an impactful witness at home, at work, at school, in the neighborhood?

And in her message, Pastor Hannah also encouraged us to lift each other in our church family, so let’s add another thought to our prayer.

Holy Spirit, who needs my encouragement? Who needs my invitation? Who needs to know I see that they have something to offer.

And when our prayers are complete, let’s listen patiently, hopefully, for a response.

(Bishop Moore-Koikoi’s letter can be read in its entirety on the conference website under the heading “Jesus Christ is Our Anchor.”)