Our Church Family Thanksgiving
This past Sunday I walked into the Fellowship Hall after worship to find a space filled with people, lots of good food, and so much wonderful conversation and laughing. As I walked Shane Claiborne, one of our special guests last Sunday, into the space to get lunch, I noticed peacemaker Chris Lahr enjoying lunch and conversation and Cliff Kindy, a Christian peacemaker and organic farmer enjoying the same. My first thought was that this is our Thanksgiving meal as a church family!
I am so thankful for the powerful worship service, beautiful music, and peacemaking guests. We welcomed so many people who wanted to learn from our new friend Shane. I met a family who drove up from Bloomington and joined us for the entire event. They shared, “Your congregation has been so welcoming and kind. Thank you for welcoming us.” There is so much to be thankful for.
Then I started thinking that not only was lunch this past Sunday our Thanksgiving meal, but we’ve been practicing the same all year. We have gathered for the Big Ask Dinner nearly every first Sunday of the month. I’m thankful for the meal together and the conversations we have had.
What Are You Thankful For?
During this week when our nation pauses to give thanks around a table together, I am reflecting on the question, “What are you thankful for?” It’s a good practice to give thanks to God. Scripture speaks often to the power of gratitude. Psalm 7:1 says “I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness.” and Psalm 95:1 says “Let us come before God’s presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to God with psalms.” There are so many other readings that encourage us to give thanks.
I have also realized that an act of gratitude is found in simply being together and breaking bread with those you love. That’s what I found on Sunday entering the Fellowship Hall and on all the Sunday evening dinners we’ve shared. It’s good to be together. It’s good to give thanks for that alone.
I pray that as we gather on Thursday with family and friends, that we will take time to give thanks, and that we will also take a moment to lift our gratitude to God for simply being together and enjoying a meal with one another.
Enjoy the meal! Love those you are with! And give thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving,
Pastor Matt