Turning Over a New Leaf

9-1-21 Glenda Simpkins Hoffman

On this first day of September, the idiom “turning over a new leaf” came to mind as we turn the page of the calendar (if anyone has those any more) and begin the season of fall.  

In the coming weeks, we will watch nature in all its glory burst into an array of colors before trees turn over their leaves in anticipation of the coming of winter. I’m looking forward to the cooler temperatures and the beauty that fall brings. 

I know autumn doesn’t technically begin until the equinox on September 22, but now that school has started, fall community breakfasts are happening at church, and pumpkin spiced lattes are readily available, we really have turned the page of the calendar and a the new season of fall has begun! 

The expression “turning over a new leaf” isn’t actually referring to trees or a calendar but to the leaf of a book. The term dates back to the sixteenth century. It means to “make a new start; to improve one’s conduct or outlook” or “to make changes in your life in positive ways.” 

Only our great Triune God can really bring about the changes we want through the love of God, the grace of Christ, and the power of the Spirit. But he is always calling us to make a turn to go in a new direction to live more deeply in our interactive relationship with him.   

What does it look like for you to turn over a new leaf? What does it mean for you to go in a new direction as you follow Jesus? The past 18 months have been unusual and challenging, and we won’t ever be going back to the way things were. Each of us needs to consider how Jesus is inviting us anew to grow, learn, and live into our mission of becoming like Christ together for the world. 

We as a church will be turning over a new leaf in just one month as our new lead pastor Hope Lee arrives. This will be a new start for all of us as the Lord uses her to help lead us into a new future. But each one of us has to consider what it means for us. No one can do that for us. As Dallas Willard says, “You must arrange your life to find joy and contentment in your everyday life with God.”   

Fall is a wonderful season to do this as we renew our commitment to Christ, the body of Christ, and the work of Christ in the world. It’s an opportunity to reset. I want to share some resources and opportunities that might help you to do that.  

One way we can turn a new leaf is to arrange our lives to cultivate our interactive relationship with Jesus. I spoke about this in Sunday’s sermon. But I wanted to let you know our VPC devotions on The Gospel of Mark resume Labor Day. You can print the daily devotions schedule or sign up to receive them in your inbox.  

Another idea is to become a part of a learning community or Bible study. While our Sunday morning learning communities won’t resume until October, there are midweek opportunities that begin the week of September 13. I invite women to join me Monday evenings or Tuesday mornings as we study Philippians: Finding Joy in the Journey. Men are welcome to participate in the Monday Night Men’s Group with Phil Kratovil and Pastor Charles Geschiere. And both men and women can join Pastor Connie who will be leading a coed community through a six-week study on Ephesians: Keys to Triumphant Living.  Go to adult ministries to learn more about these and other upcoming learning opportunities and small groups. 

Finally, we can turn over a new leaf as we participate in Christ’s work in the world. God has designed each of us with a unique SHAPE (an acronym for spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experience), and he is eager to use us in accomplishing his work in the world. 

Opportunities abound for loving and leading others. Our greatest volunteer needs right now include Children’s Ministry, Sunday Morning Volunteers, Hospitality Team, Audio Visual Tech Ministry, and ESOL Volunteers for 2021/22 School Year. 

But we also participate in Christ’s work in the world as we meet real needs. This church has been helping meeting needs of our community for over a year as we have distributed Bags of Love, and we’re not finished yet. This effort will continue through June 2022. Yesterday was an exciting day as much-needed supplies were collected to give to Afghan refugees. The needs sometimes seem unending and overwhelming, but God has given us the joy and privilege of being his agents of love and mercy of serving others. I invite you to discover your SHAPE and to learn more about opportunities to serve and volunteer.   

This fall is an exciting time in our church to turn over a new leaf as we engage in positive changes individually and as a part of our VPC community. Take time to prayerfully consider how the Lord is I inviting you to participate in what he wants to do in, among, and through us!