Pastor's Page
I absolutely love Thanksgiving. While it's an extremely American holiday, my little immigrant heart absolutely loves the idea of a time set aside to just give thanks for the bounty that we experience in this life (I know it's more than that but stick with me!). And I love cooking and eating with my family. One of the responsibilities I have in my family is to deep fry one of the turkeys for our Thanksgiving dinner, so I’m so excited for next week.
In our world and in this country, there is lots to despair about. And in the midst of that there has to be things we get the opportunity to give thanks for! I experience glimmers of thanks as hope breaking through.
Don't forget on after worship we'll have a special potluck to kickoff our stewardship campaign. Bring something yummy to share and be thinking about how you and your family want to support our shared life together.
That feels like a lot, so I'll close this week with a prayer of thanksgiving from a book of liturgies compiled by one of my seminary professors;
For the Opportunity to Live with Poor People
Dear Lord,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to live with poor people, to eat with the, to sing to children, to listen to their stories, their struggles, and their pain. Also to experience their love and hospitality.
But at the same time, it makes me feel shameful and guilty. I used to compose prayers for the poor, for those who are in suffering, for justice and peace prevailing in this world. I have sung hymns about social concerns and human rights, but I have never stepped into their lives. I have always looked at these people and their oppressed situation from a distance.
I once heard, but now I have seen.
I once read, but now I have experienced.
I was senseless, but now I have sensed their grief and despair.
I once looked at them from a distance,
but now I am living with them and holding them in my heart.
May we all get to experience the opportunity to pray with one another, we sure need it.
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