Dear Friends,
October is my favorite month, without question! I love the crispness in the air, the end of oppressive heat, the smell of the woods as it prepares for a winter’s sleep, occasional whiff of burning leaves or fragrant wood. October’s colors are spectacular in these foothills and nearby mountains.
World Communion Sunday (Oct 7) is a very special time for me, as we share the bread and cup – the body and blood of Christ – with Christians around the world. Halloween’s fun and scary times (Oct 31) help us remember an important church message of Christ’s victory over death, celebrated as All Saints Day (Nov 1). This month we also celebrate Children’s Sabbath (Oct 14) and Laity Sunday (Oct 21) and Reformation Sunday (Oct 28).
A more recent tradition called Disability Awareness Sunday began in the United Methodist Church in 1996 and shares Reformation Sunday’s Oct 28 date this year.
The United Methodist Church’s Board of Global Ministries tells us:
Disability Awareness Sunday is both a celebration and a challenge. We celebrate the lives and witness of those with disabilities who contribute so much to our faith community. We also open ourselves, our churches, and the Church to the call to full inclusion and full accessibility for those with any disability – physical or mental. This is an opportunity to raise awareness and to find solutions to the physical, architectural, communication and attitude barriers to those with disabilities.
I am excited to be able to welcome the Rev. Dr. Al Herzog, Jr. to our church and pulpit on Sunday, October 28, when he will bring us a message of great importance, reminding us of the difficulties and triumphs that physically-challenged folks endure on a daily basis. You will be challenged in ways you haven’t imagined. You will become aware of how what most of us do without thought can be great obstacles to those who have lost some part of their body function.
Dr. Al Herzog, began his ministry in 1970 and is now a retired member of the East Ohio Conference He has been a pastor and has served as chaplain at the Columbus State Institute. His ministry includes service as a research associate with the National Division, General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, as well as executive director of the Center for Persons with Disabilities in the Life of the Church. He has served on our Conference Board of Missions, as chair of the Committee on Disability Concerns, and chair of the Disabilities Task Group. Al retired in 2000, but has remained a very active representative of persons with disabilities, speaking and teaching throughout the conference in a whole host of ways.
I am extremely pleased that Dr. Herzog has agreed to share this occasion with us, and I’m proud to call Al my friend.
Please make every effort to be in worship Sunday, October 28, 9:30 AM, as we welcome the Rev. Dr. Al Herzog to our faith community.
Grace and Peace always,
Pastor Ron |
Howland United Methodist Church