O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Dear Beloved in Christ,

As October draws to a close, we find ourselves at a sacred threshold. The calendar reminds us that it has been Clergy Appreciation Month, a time to honor those who bear the mantle of pastoral leadership – sojourners of The Way who preach, teach, listen, and labor in love. It is also Laity Sunday season, when we celebrate the calling of all God’s people, those whose witness in the world – through their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness - embodies the gospel in workplaces, social and philanthropic spaces, neighborhoods, and homes.

And now we stand on the edge of All Saints Eve, that thin place where time bends and eternity draws near. On October 31, the Church pauses between what has been and what is yet to come - between gratitude for those who have led us and remembrance of those who have gone before us. It is here that we glimpse the fullness of the Body of Christ: clergy and laity, saints and servants, the living and the dead…all bound together in grace.

All Saints Eve ushers in a new day, All Saints Day, when we name our beloved departed and light candles to proclaim that death does not have the final word…for “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” All Saints is a time to remember that the Church’s story is far larger than any one season, role, or generation. We are each part of a great communion, carrying the light of faith forward - sometimes boldly, sometimes barely - but always together.

So as we move from October into November, may we do so with hearts of deep gratitude. For every pastor who has spoken words of life, for every layperson who has embodied Christ’s love in faithful service, and for every saint who has shown us the way - thank you. You have made the gospel visible.

Even as we give thanks for the saints and servants among us, we lift our prayer for a world in need. We remember farmers and ranchers working long hours in the harvest fields – grateful for the land’s provision, yet burdened by rising costs, tariffs, and uncertainty. We hold in prayer those affected by the government shutdown, and the many whose livelihoods hang in the balance. We remember those in the path of Hurricane Melissa, and all who rush to offer relief and restore what has been lost. We pray, too, for those who raise their voices on behalf of the vulnerable – at home and across the world – seeking peace, justice, and mercy. I pray God teaches us to live as people of responsible grace: that we might receive and extend God’s grace and compassion with humility as we join in the holy work of renewing souls, communities, and creation.

May the light that has guided the saints of old illumine our paths still. And may we, in our own time, be faithful to the calling entrusted to us - living witnesses of God’s grace who love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be thou our guard while life shall last,
And our eternal home.

Yours in Christ,

Bishop Lanette Plambeck
Resident Bishop
Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area
The United Methodist Church