On the first Sunday in October, we celebrate Thanksgiving Day, and we want to reflect on how we can show our gratitude to God.
The following two Sunday services in October focus on the community of believers. The articles will address various aspects of our interconnected life of faith: the need for good works and trust in the fact that God is our refuge in times of danger.
Thanksgiving Day commemorates the creatorship of God. On the first Sunday of October, a divine service is held in which gratitude is expressed for God’s faithfulness to His creation. On this occasion, believers are called to bring a special offering of thanks to our heavenly Father.
On the second Sunday, the sermon emphasises that good works are an integral part of faith. Coming to our neighbour’s aid shows that faith is not something theoretical or unrealistic. The Christian community is characterised by the fact that it is not indifferent to the suffering and needs of others. Striving to do good is a core aspect of the Christian faith. Anyone who genuinely cares about others, even on the material level, manifests faith in practice and bears witness to the truth of the gospel and those who proclaim it.
The divine service on the third Sunday in October will focus on the opportunity for believers to find refuge in God when they are in need. At the same time, human beings are nourished through the word of God and the sacraments, which, with the help of the Holy Spirit, can affect people in a variety of ways. When accepted in faith, word and sacrament serve to help us to recognise sin, to sanctify ourselves, and to enable us to act in a way that corresponds to the example of Jesus.
The fourth Sunday service in October serves to prepare the congregations for the divine service for the departed. The sermon explores the account of the healing of the paralysed man in Mark 2 and emphasises that Jesus’ care and concern goes far beyond healing infirmities and bringing about physical well-being: Jesus forgives sins and brings salvation, which transcends time and space. The friends of the paralysed man exemplify Christian love. Their example is to compel us to likewise show love and concern for the departed, and to intercede for them, trusting in Jesus’ act of redemption.
