Fall is such a season of transition, where the world slowly shifts from the vibrant green of summer into the fiery hues of autumn. It’s a time when we feel the need to pause and reflect—on the changes within ourselves and the world around us.
I have an apple tree in my front yard that we planted when my youngest daughter was born. This tree, its branches now heavy with fruit, offers a picture of abundance—yet it is also in the letting go of its fruit that new life can emerge.
I invite you to take a moment as the crispness of Fall settles in—grab your favorite kind of apple—and reflect with me on the beauty of this season of change. Bite into that apple, feel its sweetness, its earthiness, and its fullness. Notice the way the fruit satisfies yet reminds you that it didn’t grow in isolation; it’s the result of months of careful nurturing, the sun, the rain, the earth—each element coming together to create something life-giving.
In the midst of the harvest season, the importance of community becomes clear. We need each other, just like the apples need the branches to bear their fruit, and the branches need the roots to stay grounded. As the leaves fall, we lean on our siblings in Christ—each person holding another up, offering strength and encouragement when the wind feels too strong. There is power in shared faith and mutual support, where we can help each other navigate life’s inevitable changes, knowing that together, we are being shaped for something greater.
In this same way, our lives are intertwined with others. Just like the apple tree relies on the seasons, the soil, and the community of nature around it, we too rely on the people around us to help us grow, to help us bear fruit. Fall can be a time of shedding—of letting go of what no longer serves us. But it can also be a time of abundant harvest—of reflecting on the relationships that sustain us, the faith that strengthens us, and the trust that even in seasons of change, we are held by something greater.
So, as you enjoy that apple, consider how faith and community play a role in your own life. Where have you seen growth in the last season? How have you experienced God’s presence through others? And as you think about the transitions ahead, know that even as the trees shed their leaves, we are called to stand firm in our roots, just as our communities and our faith can provide stability during change.
Let the sweetness of the apple remind you of the richness that comes when we open ourselves to the nourishment of others, to the strength of community, and to the quiet trust that the changing seasons always hold something good and holy.
In Christ,
Rev. Beth
