Seasons of the Savior

"Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus” -- Acts 3:19,20

We all have our favorite seasons. Someone recently shared with me their love for the green of spring! I then shared that I happen to particularly love the season of fall. In New England we are blessed with distinct seasons, each with its own characteristics. The seasons come and go and as they do we welcome once more the familiar, receiving anew the blessings each season brings.

In the annual cycle of the Church Year, we commemorate the great redemptive events of our Lord. We do so as we share in various seasons of our Savior. We have now entered the Trinity season. This is a season of growth in our Church Year. It reminds us that God is concerned for the nurture of his people, that we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord together.

As I have shared in the past, there are two parts to this Church Year: The Time of our

Lord and The Time of the Church. The Time of our Lord begins with the celebration of Advent and the Nativity all the way through our Lord’s Ascension after Pentecost. The Time of the Church begins with the season of Trinity. In these weeks and months of Trinity our growth in faith is the emphasis that comes through in the appointed readings. So we share the blessings each season brings even as we welcome additional commemorations! We have recently shared in the Nativity of St. the Baptist, a commemoration shared since the earliest centuries of the church but new among us at St John!

As we join together for our weekend and Wednesday services we celebrate and commemorate the great events of our Savior, things that serve to inspire our faith! Jesus calls us to come and find our rest. Times of rest and refreshing come from the presence of the Lord as we share in his word and worship. So as the Large Catechism puts it, as God’s children we may, “go joyfully to the Sacrament and receive refreshment, comfort, and strength.” May God grant us those times of refreshing that come with repentance as we hear, believe and receive in the presence of our Lord alone. Let us share together these seasons of our Savior!

Pastor