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Dear Friends,
 

Thanksgiving is a time when many of us feel God’s abundance—perhaps so much that we need to loosen our belts a notch. Oftentimes food pantries are overwhelmed with the generosity of donors around thanksgiving. Yet, somehow this awareness of God’s abundance wears off after a while. We forget that the same God who supplied that generous thanksgiving table also supplies our daily bread. We fret and toil trying to get all we can while the getting is good.

And if we are honest, more than a little fretting goes into the thanksgiving preparations themselves—who to invite, what to have, how to get everything ready and on the table at the same time. All of a sudden a time to celebrate God’s abundance is overcome with striving and worry.

In our Gospel (Matthew 6:25-33) Jesus tells us not to worry about what we will eat or what we will wear. Of course, telling someone what not to do does not necessarily produce the desired result. Fortunately, Jesus also points us in the right direction. If we are going to strive for something, Jesus says to strive for God’s kingdom and God’s ways.

But striving for God’s kingdom isn’t like the striving we normally do—as though everything depends on us. Striving for God’s kingdom is more like yielding to the one who is greater than us. This One who created the universe and everything in it is providing abundantly for us.

God proved trustworthy through coming as Jesus—to be one of us, among us, demonstrating a provision of love without limit through his death on the cross. And then through Jesus’ resurrection, God demonstrated victory over all that worries us—even death itself! We can trust in God’s abundance and give thanks for what God has done for us through Jesus Christ.

Our other readings for Sunday reflect two of the strains that go into the celebration of thanksgiving: gratitude for abundant harvest (Joel 2:21-27)) and civic prayer for a peaceable common life (1 Timothy 2:1-7). The core meaning of Thanksgiving for many of us—a home feast for extended family and friends—is not reflected in the readings; but it is reflected weekly in the church’s meal of thanksgiving (the eucharist). 
What we wish for both these thanksgiving meals is that they will go deeper than celebration of one another and our own blessings, to recognize in our true Host one who wants everyone brought to the table.
 
It is wonderful to welcome in to the body of Christ one who will work along side us as a brother in sharing God's message of abundant love.  May Hudson know the love of God through each of us as he grows up.  You will have a chance to greet Hudson and his family and share in their joy during coffee time after service.  I have heard there will be cake!  
 
John Van de Laar from South Africa has composed this lovely prayer titled May We Be.  
 

We thank You, generous God,

for the grace is represented in all we possess.

You have filled our lives with abundance and we thank You;

May we be Your channels of blessing to those in need.

You have given us friends and families,

colleagues & companions,

and we thank You;

May we be friends of the friendless

and companions to the lonely.

You have given us this community

to strengthen our faith

and help us to serve You well;

May we be faithful followers and co-workers,

building Your Kingdom in this world.

 Receive our thanks and receive our prayers,

and let Your grace flow through them & through us

into the lives of others.

For Jesus' sake.

Amen.

 
Grateful: A love song to the world
 
 
In Christ,
Pastor Jenn
 
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