St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Baldwin, New York

St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church is a Scripture-based faith community welcoming all to share the good news of God's salvation.

PASTOR’S MESSAGE - November

“Rejoice always, pray without easing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

These three short verses read like the spiritual version of a to-do list: Rejoice, pray, give thanks. And on a busy Tuesday, that can sound like a tall order. But Paul is not giving us homework. He is pointing us toward a way of life that is only possible because of God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ.

Jesus is where we see that love in action. He rejoiced with friends at weddings, prayed through lonely nights, and gave thanks even at the Last Supper, knowing what was coming next. His life shows us that God’s love is not fragile or fleeting- it is steady, persistent, and always present, even when the soundtrack of our lives hits a few sour notes.

Paul does not say, “Be happy about everything,” He says, “Rejoice always.” Which means we can find joy not because life is easy, but because God’s love does not quit. Jesus shows us that love most clearly: forgiving the guilty, healing the broken, welcoming the outsider, and facing the cross with compassion instead of hate. That kind of love changes the way we see the world.

To “pray without ceasing” is not about folding our hands every minute - it is about living with a constant awareness that God is near. In Jesus, the distance between heaven and earth collapses. God is not far off in the clouds. God walks with us through every ordinary moment, whispering, “You are loved.”

And “give thanks in all circumstances” does not mean pretending everything is fine. It means trusting that God’s love is still working - even when life feels like it’s falling apart. Gratitude becomes our quiet rebellion against despair.

The heart of this passage is not about forcing joy, but about recognizing love - God’s love - found fully in Jesus, steady and unbreakable.

So, rejoice. Keep praying. Keep giving thanks. Because no matter where you find yourself this week and month, God’s love is already there, waiting to meet you.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Rev. Perucy N. Butiku - Coverage Pastor