Deus Misereatur

  (The following is from my letter to my congregation today, 25 November 2025) Thursday is our national day of thanksgiving. The Westminster Confession of Faith reminds us that legitimate worship of God includes things such as, “ thanksgivings upon special occassions, which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in an holy and religious manner ” (21.5). Therefore, as our nation has opened itself up to establishing a countrywide holiday (old English for holy day ) to give thanks, we should heartily jump in and help others engage the day “ in an holy and religious manner .”   So, at the least, we all ought to be praying for our country over this four-day weekend. Pray that God would use this season to rouse the hearts of the citizens and inhabitants of this country to actually realize that we owe thanks to our Creator, who has bestowed on us certain unalienable Rights, among which are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness ( The Declaration of Independence...

“ The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works. The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down .” Thank you that on you we can rely; on you we can lean; and to you we can give ourselves away! We join together with those around us who have fallen or been pressed down under desperation, darkness, dreariness, or disquiet, and pray (…). Hold their heads up, turn their faces to look up into yours and radiate your care and compassion through and through, that their hearts may rise in cheer, and their bodies stand straight and sturdy. “ The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. ” Thank you for supplying us with wealth and welfare, for being there and bringing unlooked for help when we were in want and woe. There are many, some who live just down the block from us, or a street over from us, who work in the office next to ours, who have stood in line wi...