Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9

Beloved of God,

We were on the edge of our seats Wednesday night—with many of you, I’m sure—watching the final innings of the 7th game of the World Series unfold.  Though we can’t claim to be Cubs fans, we found ourselves swept up in the drama that has marked this longest-suffering-franchise’s journey toward ending its 108 year old championship drought.  And it happened!  A game for the ages.  And while we have sympathy for the Cleveland fans, whose wait for a championship can also be counted in decades, there was considerable relief in knowing that even after a century of denial, the long arc of history (in baseball terms anyway) finally touched down in the Cub’s favor.

The texts and themes that we hear during November also invite us to take that longer view; to not become so swept up in the perils and predictions of the moment that we allow them to infect us with anxiety.  In the words of the great civil rights folk song, we are to “keep our eyes on the prize and hold on.”

St. Paul, writing from prison (an anxiety-producing context if there ever was one!) invites the Christians of Philippi to put the opposition and associated anxiety they face in a larger frame, and to focus each day on “whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise.” “Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me,” Paul says, “and the God of peace will be with you.”

As we countdown to the most contentious presidential election cycle in modern history on November 8, we do well to take Paul’s dose of wisdom and make it our own. Whatever context we wake up to on the morning of November 9th, God will be there with his promises, and our mission will still be before us: TO CULTIVATE FAITH AND TRUST IN OUR LIFE TOGETHER, TO DISCERN GOD’S CHALLENGE INTO UNFAMILIAR PLACED, AND TO VENTURE BEYOND OURSELVES SO ALL PEOPLE WILL EXPERIENCE GOD’S LOVE. [PLC Mission statement] “Keep on keeping on” says Paul, and that is indeed what you and I, together, are to be about.

As we prepare to celebrate the Rite of Welcome on November 20th, and to incorporate a new group of folk into our flock, I’m reminded that Peace has been the recipient and beneficiary of several waves of people from sister congregations over the past 25 years.  First, a large contingent of people from 1st Lutheran; then, when St. James closed, a group from that congregation; and now, friends from Calvary will join us, following the completion of its ministry in June.  Peace has benefitted greatly from the DNA these sisters and brothers brought with them, and I have faith that this will be the case with our former Calvary contingent as well.  How the Spirit is blessing us!

One reason this has worked for us is that Peace has cultivated a culture that says “there’s room for you.”  Alongside former Calvary folk, there are other friends who are choosing to throw in their lot with us on November 20th, including my in-laws, Jay and Nancy.  I can’t wait to see how the gifts of all these people, when combined with the gifts already present at Peace, will strengthen and shape our mission together in the coming years.  We have much for which to be Thankful.  Let’s keep our eyes on that prize as we hold on to God’s promises in Christ!

Pastor Erik