Greetings!

Let us rejoice as we join with heaven’s heralds testifying:
Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him who sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever (Revelation 5:13b).

This Sunday, Advent Season begins. I love this time of year! It is filled with such joy and hope. Many of our congregations will display Advent Wreaths and each Sunday another candle will be lit. In this we are testifying to the Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love that is for all the race of man and that is found alone in our incarnate Savior God! The prophet Haggai declared this hope with these words: And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts (Haggai 2:7). The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is indeed the desire of all nations. The Scriptures declare that all creation is groaning and travailing in anticipation of the full redemption that only Jesus can provide (see Romans 8:21). May the Lord give us, His Church, abundant grace to declare the precious message of the Gospel. May we be graced to testify in word and deed that Heaven’s glory has indeed arrived; that all men can have everlasting hope in Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen (2 Cor. 13:14).

In Our Savior’s Service Together!
Rev. Dan Gilmore

Greetings!  Give thanks with a grateful heart.  Give thanks to the Holy One.  Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son. 
​(Don Moen)

​We are directed in many places in holy Scripture to live by the principle expressed in Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  Two key commands are given to the faithful here: (1) We are to be prayerful, not fretful!  (2) We are to lift thankful prayers, not complaining prayers!  This attitude of prayer is not one that denies the serious nature of the concerns being lifted, but is an attitude of complete confidence in the love and care and goodness of God. During this Thanksgiving Holiday, may each of you be faithful among family and friends to lift prayers of hope and thanksgiving!  May the joy of the Lord be your strength and song!

It is my special privilege to welcome Rev. Danny Griffin to our district.  Rev. Griffin has accepted the appointment of our Buckley congregation.  His first Sunday was yesterday.  Please take the opportunity to welcome him to the district.

Jackie and I worshiped with the Madison (WI) Cross Point Church of the Nazarene.  Our son, Isaac, is the pastor.  This was a blessed time to rejoice in the goodness and faithfulness of our Savior and Lord!

Dr. Stan Toler, general superintendent emeritus Church of the Nazarene, visionary church leader, prolific author, and beloved shepherd went home to be with Jesus last Saturday evening.  Dr. Toler had battled pancreatic cancer over the past few years but continued to work in Christ’s harvest field.  His gentle leadership will be greatly missed.  Please pray for his wife and family in these days of sorrow.
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Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen!  (Thomas Ken, 1674)

In Our Savior’s Service Together!
Rev. Dan Gilmore

Greetings in joy and thanksgiving! Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love (2 John 1:3). There is a precious Scripture hymn found in Psalms 107. The song begins with this call: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endures forever. The refrain of the hymn, recorded in verses 8, 15, 21, and 31, is: Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! I am very thankful for our national holiday of thanksgiving, but also want to remind us that thanksgiving is not a seasonal spiritual attitude. Thanksgiving is foundational to right relationship with our Lord. We are to pray and to serve and to give with thanksgiving. In short, our lives are to be lived as a continual offering of thanksgiving unto our God and Savior. There is a sense of pleading in the 107th Psalm. Though we are continually called to be thankful unto God, though the reasons for our thanksgiving are infinite and eternal, we, nevertheless, too often fall short in
thanksgiving. May our Lord grant to us eyes that see His goodness and His wonderful works. May He overwhelm us in thankfulness, in this season and all the year long!

Jackie and I worshiped together with our Traverse City First congregation this past Sunday. Pastor Rick preached a powerful message from the Letter to the Church at Philadelphia (Revelation 3). One theme he emphasized was, “The Lord is in charge of our security!” What a liberating and powerful truth! Truly, If God be for us, who can be against us (Rom. 8:31)! 

I will be traveling home today from a regional DS conference at ONU. This travel reminds me that we need to seek God’s mercies for many of our families who will be traveling over the Thanksgiving Holiday. 

The LORD bless you, and keep you: The LORD make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace (Deuteronomy 6:24-26).

In Our Savior’s Service Together!
Rev. Dan Gilmore