September 2013 – A Seminarian’s Letters Home

To the membership of Circle of Faith Parish:

Greetings to you all from Evanston, IL! By the time you read this, I will be entangled in the glorious mess of books and papers and classes and presentations and meetings of which PhD study is made up. Thank you again to all of you for a fantastic summer, for great ministry, and for the chance to see amazing new things coming into being at Circle of Faith. I will be holding our parish in my prayers as we begin our first official school year as a new parish.

On September 15, we will celebrate our annual Harvest Homecoming Festival out at Waverly. I look forward to returning home and participating in that with you. It’s always a great thing to see our partners and buddies from Gloria Dei come down for a day of feasting and fun. Last year, though, I remember an even greater joy, as I had the privilege of distributing Holy Communion on that morning to many of our extended church family members who may not be able to get home that often and worship with us. Yet, even if they had been away for a very long time, there was plenty of space, and food and drink, for them all at Christ’s table. Likewise, by the grace of God, we had plenty of pork chops on a stick, salad, bread and bars for everyone, lots of animals to meet and play with, and more than enough to learn. There was room for everybody that day, as there always is in the Kingdom of God. It will be so again on that September morning, and it will always be so whenever we gather together. After all, the Body of Christ is big enough to find a home for every last one of us.

As we move forward into the new school year, and toward Harvest Homecoming, let us pray for God’s blessing, using these words:

Most gracious God, according to your wisdom the deep waters are opened up and clouds drop gentle moisture. We praise you for the return of planting and harvest seasons, for the fertility of the soil, for the harvesting of crops, and for all other blessings that you in your generosity pour out on all people. Give us a full understanding of your mercy, that our lives may show respect and care for your creation, through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen. [ELW, Thanks for the Harvest]

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Your fellow member and pilgrim,
Carl P. Rabbe, M.Div.

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To All Members of Circle of Faith Parish:

For a wonderful summer of visits, worship, welcome and learning, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Special thanks are extended to all who came to my farewell reception, and who gave me such lovely gifts and cards.

You all took a real chance on me, welcoming me to your churches and to your homes this summer. But even more so, long before that, you took a chance on a beautiful new dream that God gave you in forming our area parish. It has been great to watch this all unfold behind the scenes for so many years, and now to see it finally come into being. I look forward to journeying on with you, as a member of Waverly and of Circle of Faith, into the future.

May the God who calls stars by name and hairs by number, who bears our joys and sorrows as one of us, and who calls us onward into new light and life be with you all in this autumn season, and always.

Grace and Peace,
Carl Rabbe