There’s always been for me something about autumn, with its glorious foliage and crisp, cool air, that has summoned me to feelings of deep gratitude, to an intense and abiding appreciation for the gift of simply being alive.
A feeling made all the more urgent, when everywhere about us, the leaves, who’ve done their good work, drift exhausted to the ground. Scattered about my feet, they remind me that nothing lasts forever and point to a paradox I’ve long struggled to understand: that in the dying season of the year, I find, without fail, new vitality and purpose. Over the years, I’ve decided the only meaningful explanation is traced to a gratitude born of knowing in my bones how very precious something is because it will not last forever.
Living now through my second gorgeous autumn in Vancouver, and after almost two decades of living in Canada, I’ve come to see Thanksgiving not so much as a special, single day, but as an extended season. Bracketed by the Canadian holiday on one end and, for me, the American one on the other, I’ve found these several weeks in between marked by a call to be mindful of everything for which I’m grateful.
Yet, it must be said, this isn’t always easy, especially in this season when anxiety seems to be hanging in the air for so many. And for good reason, what with the upcoming provincial and US elections, gut-wrenching wars raging around the globe, and the pace of environmental devastation accelerating to confirm some of our worst fears. The world is being reshaped around us, causing many of us to reevaluate our vision for the future in light of forces seemingly beyond our control. This autumn, more than most in recent memory, is reminding us that life is precarious. But, hopefully, it will remind us that it is precious, too.
To focus on gratitude when so much is under threat may seem a luxury we cannot afford. I would, however, argue the exact opposite. The ability to give thanks is what strengthens our resolve to honour and protect what matters most—those precious things that command our deepest gratitude. Let not the lessons of this autumn, then, be lost on us. May they, instead, open us to a season of heartfelt thanksgiving.
In faith, love, and gratitude,
Shawn
October 2024 Sunday Services
October 6th – The Antiracist Heart: A Conversation between Dr. Roxy Manning and Rev. Shawn Gauthier
This Sunday, we are joined by Dr. Roxy Manning, a clinical psychologist, a leader in the field of Nonviolent Communication, and the author of The Antiracist Heart and How to Have Antiracist Conversations. Dr. Manning offers a meaningful framework for engaging across our differences with compassion and deep mutual regard. In the service, Rev. Shawn will invite Dr. Manning into a conversation about her work. In the afternoon, all are welcome to attend the workshop being offered by Dr. Manning. You can find more information and register here.
October 13th – “Oh, We Give Thanks”: Thanksgiving Sunday & Harvest Communion
This Thanksgiving weekend, we pause to consider the many gifts of this life. Rev. Shawn will reflect on the deeper meaning of gratitude and then lead us in this year’s Harvest Communion ritual, as we taste with intention a slice of the earth’s abundance.
October 20th – United Nations Sunday
This Sunday we honour United Nations Sunday by welcoming our friends from the UN Association of Canada, as they present this year’s John Gibbard Memorial Award to a young person in Vancouver working to build a better world. This year’s winner will be announced on Sunday and will offer a reflection during the service.
October 27th – “We Remember Them”: Samhain and All Souls Sunday
In this service, we honour the memory and ongoing connection we feel with those we have loved and lost, drawing on the traditions of Samhain and All Souls, as practised in Unitarian and UU congregations. All are invited to bring forward moments or photos of their beloveds who have died to place on our Altar of Remembrance. Rev. Shawn’s sermon will reflect on the ways our dead continue to shape our lives.