Thanksgiving Message from Pastor Dan!
Last week, I attended a pastor’s conference at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Arizona. This provided an opportunity to fast, pray, and reflect upon our shared ministry. This Thanksgiving weekend, I offer my deep gratitude to the members and friends of Stowe Community Church.
Your faithfulness, generosity, Christ-like witness, and intentional fellowship have been inspiring and sources of hope.
Our Scriptures remind us to reflect on God’s goodness with gratitude.
"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." (Psalm 100:4)
When we practice gratitude, we can focus on the Lord and cultivate deeper faith. This is helpful, especially during difficult and uncertain times.
"We are to be grateful not just in the good times, but also in the bad times; to be grateful not just in plenty, but also in need; to maintain thankfulness not just in laughter, but also through tears and sorrow." —Brian McLaren
"Grace begets gratitude, which, in turn, widens our hearts toward greater goodness and love." —Diana Butler Bass
I invite you to read a post from Father Richard Rohr on gratefulness entitled “Take, Thanks, Break, Give”
https://cac.org/daily-meditations/take-thank-break-give-2022-11-24/
On Thursday we gathered with family and friends to feast and offer thanks around a table.
On Sunday we will also gather with family and friends as we come to the Lord’s Table to take, thanks, break, and give. Through Communion, we remember the sacrifice of Christ and the great lengths of God’s love.
As the Church calendar begins anew with Advent, we gather to worship and prepare our hearts and minds to receive Jesus.
This Sunday we light the Candle of Hope and will be reminded of the hope we have in Christ and what we experience together in our community.
May your hearts be filled with thanksgiving to God and may the hope, peace, joy, and love of Christ be with you in this season ahead.
"I thank my God for every remembrance of you, always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."- Philippians 1: 3-6
Pastor Dan
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