Who made the world?

Who made the world?

Who made the swan, and the black bear?

Who made the grasshopper?

This grasshopper, I mean—

the one who has flung herself out of the grass,

the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,

who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down—

who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.

Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.

Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.

I don't know exactly what a prayer is.

I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down

into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,

how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day.

Tell me, what else should I have done?

Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?

--"The Summer Day" by Mary Oliver

Summer's gone. The days are shorter, the air will soon have a bite. Back to school, back to reality. But for a pastor, every season is a chance to renew, to start fresh. Like that grasshopper in Mary Oliver's poem, we gotta keep moving, keep flying. Even when life throws us curveballs, we gotta find the

sweetness in it all.

Mary Oliver's poem "The Summer Day" offers a poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of paying attention. In her words, we are invited to contemplate the beauty and mystery of the natural world, and to consider how we might live our lives with intention and purpose. As we transition from the days of summer to the structured routines of autumn, we are reminded of the need for balance and renewal in our lives.

Our church, like the natural world, is constantly undergoing a cycle of change and growth. As we welcome new members and say goodbye to others, as we grapple with the challenges of our time and seek to live into our values, we are reminded of the enduring nature of our faith. Just as the grasshopper, having enjoyed the sweetness of summer, eventually takes flight, so too must we find the courage to embrace the unknown and to continue on our journey

of faith.

As we embark on this new season, let us be inspired by the words of Mary Oliver to live our lives with intention and purpose. Let us pay attention to the beauty and wonder of the world around us, and let us strive to be a community that is rooted in faith, guided by love, and committed to making a difference in the lives of others.

See y'all Sunday,

Pastor Chris