October invites us to reflect on two significant occasions in the life of the Church: Thanksgiving and Reformation. Though their origins are quite different, both point us toward the same truth – that God is the source of every blessing, both earthly and eternal.

Thanksgiving has deep roots in our history. Early settlers, together with Indigenous peoples, marked the harvest season with feasts of gratitude to God for His provision. Today, we continue that tradition by gathering with family and friends, pausing to give thanks for the blessings we enjoy. Scripture reminds us: ‘Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18). True thanksgiving is not only about abundance, but about a heart that trusts God’s goodness in every season.

Reformation, observed on the last Sunday of October, calls us to remember October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses in Wittenberg. This act sparked the Protestant Reformation, a movement that brought the Church back to the central truth of Scripture: we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The Reformers reminded us that the greatest gift to be thankful for is the gospel itself—the unshakable promise of salvation in Jesus Christ.

When we hold these two October celebrations side by side, a beautiful picture emerges. Thanksgiving teaches us to count our daily blessings, while Reformation teaches us to treasure the eternal blessing of God’s grace. Gratitude and renewal walk hand in hand: the more we reflect on what God has done, the more our hearts are moved to worship, to give thanks and praise and faithful living.

This October, may our homes and our church be filled with thanksgiving, not just for the harvest we see, but for the harvest of

grace we have received in Christ. And may our lives echo the reformer’s cry: Soli Deo Gloria – to God alone be the glory.

Wishing you a blessed Thanksgiving and a joyous Reformation!

Pastor Dorothy