The Beauty of Transition

Dear Beloved Church Family,

As we step into fall, God’s creation speaks to us in a language all its own. The crisp air, the falling leaves, the fields settling into rest—all of it tells a story of transition. At first glance, it might seem like an ending. The flowers fade, the leaves fall, the trees grow bare. And yet, in God’s wisdom, this is not the end. It is preparation. What appears to be a loss is actually making room for renewal, for unseen growth, and for what is yet to come.

The colors of fall remind us of this truth. The yellows, oranges, and reds paint our world with beauty, signaling that while one season of life has come to a close, there is still something to celebrate. The leaves may no longer be thriving at their peak. However, they still glorify God in their brilliance before returning to the earth to nourish new beginnings. Even in transition, beauty remains.

Our life as a church is much the same. On October 3rd, we commemorate 133 years since this congregation first began its ministry in Des Plaines. That is a remarkable witness—133 years of worship, prayer, service, fellowship, and countless stories of God’s grace woven through the generations. Since I began serving as your pastor four and a half years ago, I have been blessed to hear many of those stories and to witness the living faith that continues among us.

Yes, we are not as large a congregation as in decades past. Yet this does not mean the beauty of our life together has diminished. Instead, it means we are in a season of transition. Like autumn itself, our community is being reshaped for what is to come. The Spirit is preparing us, even now, for a future that we may not yet see, but for which we can trust God’s promise.

The prophet reminds us: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19).

May we open our eyes to the beauty of this season, remembering that God is present in every change, and that from every transition, new life will surely emerge.

Originally written for our October Edition of The Beacon, our newsletter.