Give Thanks

Shoeboxes filled with gifts for children abroad.

Pastor Terry White welcomed us and as it is Thanksgiving week today's theme is about gratitude.

Announcements
Tuesday, Men's Prayer Group, 7:00 a.m.
Thursday, Free Thanksgiving Dinner at 2:00 p.m. (Please call RSVP so we know how much food to prepare.)
Saturday, Noon to 3:00 p.m., Easy Peasy Painting ckass fir 12-16 year olds. No experience necessary. $20 fee includes supplies.
There was a brief reminder that we are collecting things for the needy at the Salvation Army. Long underwear and warm socks are always welcome.

Pastor Terry opened by reading from Psalm 100, prayed and led us in a time of song.

Susan Jessico led the Children's Challenge, which had as its theme Thankfulness. The kids each shared something they were thankful for. It's certainly heartwarming to hear all these things that were so special to our little ones. There are more than 30 verses in Scripture about giving thanks beginning with "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever."

An offering was taken as Grace Heine played Nearer My God To Thee on the violin. We spent time in prayer before Pastor Terry stood to present the message.

Give Thanks

Terry had us turn to Psalm 100 again. He noted that the feather we have been given are for us to write something we are thankful for. These will be collected and shared. The message revolved around the idea of thanksgiving as a mindset.

He began by sharing an observation from coaching girls basketball. Sometimes we hear so many good ideas that we are overwhelmed and can hardly take in any more.

When the pressure is on it's even worse. We screen out everything, and have difficulty focusing on what matters.

This applies to more than just sports. It's the way things are in all of life. How does our faith hold up when we encounter injustice and when we're mistreated, misunderstood and experiencing unfairness.

Though Scripture calls us to be thankful at all times, it is not always easy.
Terry asked "What are some moments when it is difficult to be grateful?" Many items were shared, including the loss of a loved one.

Terry again read Psalm 100, and shared how grateful he is for the evidences of God's work here. We were reminded of recent sermons about the life of Joseph and its many lessons. One lesson is that even when sold into slavery by his brothers he did not abandon his trust in God.

How has God's faithfulness been a blessing in your life? God is faithful, his mercies are new every morning.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, it is a good time to be mindful of the the things we can be thankful for. What are you thankful for?

Healing, Part IV

Warm winds were blowing in from the South this morning. With a blue sky and sunshine accompaniment, there's a strong sense that spring is indeed in the air.

Pastor Brad strapped on a guitar and greeted us, noting that Darlene was home sick today. He quoted a passage about worship, that it is something ongoing throughout the week but celebrated in a special way corporately on Sunday.

After a time of worship, an offering was taken. Brad shared that our capital campaign will finish up in June, but that the exciting work initiated with the building project is but a beginning. We then spent a time in prayer for the various needs of our church family and the community.

Healing IV: Envy

Envy is a much bigger deal than we're aware of. So we will first turn to James 3:14-16. Envy is not earthly and unspiritual, it is of the devil. Wherever you find envy and selfish ambition you find disorder and every evil practice.

Envy is, in essence, resenting God's goodness in other people's lives while ignoring His blessings for us.

We see it in the office when people go on vacation and we envy the amount of time they had off. Sometimes it might be envy when a friend gets a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Sometimes we envy stages in life, people who are older than us or younger us. We envy things we don't have. Sometimes it's talent or money or whatever it is.

In Genesis 4 Cain's envy led to murder. In Genesis 31 Rachel envied Leah because Rachel couldn't have a baby. Later Joseph's brothers envied Joseph for his dreams and visions, and father's favor.

David was envied by Saul. Many other passages show the destruction of envy. In the New Testament the chief priests handed Jesus over to be crucified because they envied Him.

Envy rots the bones. It's a sickness. Who or what do you envy? How do we beat this?

1. Don't compare yourself to other people. Galatians 6:4

2. Celebrate when good things happen to other people. Romans 12:15
Story of Jonathan and David had insights along this line. Jonathan rejoiced with his friend who would be king.

3. Instead of ignoring God's goodness in our lives, start to embrace it. Ecclesiastes 6:9
Better to appreciate what God has given you than looking over at someone's greener grass. Keep in mind that if you think someone else's grass is greener, there's a lot you don't see. No one has an easy life.

Always be thankful, for this is God's will for those of you who belong to Jesus Christ.

Brad closed with a story about his dad's battle with cancer the last six months of his life, and the gratitude he exemplified because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was in his heart.

The Five Ws of Gratitude

Operation Shoebox gifts help needy all over the world.

Pastor Brad opened with this thought: Gratitude is something more than our circumstances. Gratefulness is a bi-product of walking with and being aware of God's presence.

Announcements
The Christmas program will be 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 13.
This coming Saturday we will be decorating the Christmas tree here. Join us at 9 for coffee and at ten we will decorate.together.
There will be a Thanksgiving dinner here at the church for if you have no where to go and Chef Leonard will look forward to service you. Call to give us a head count if you think you will join us.

Darlene played "Give Thanks" to usher us into worship, which was led by our youth today.

After the offering was taken, Bard invited members of the congregation to share things for which they are grateful. Many shared from the heart a whole range of matters, then we prayed.

The Five Ws of Gratitude

Instead of the who, what, when, where and why of story telling, Brad shared the Five Ws that make up that important attitude called Gratitude.

Who
Governor Bradford made the first Thanksgiving Proclamation. And every president since has issued this proclamation. But it's not just presidents proclaiming, rather many New Testament writers have instructed us to give thanks. This is God's idea.

What
What happened to Gratitude?  Romans 1:21 indicates that fallen man ceased being thankful.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

In a world where there is such brokenness as we've seen in Paris, it is difficult. But Psalm 42 shows that this is nothing new. The Psalmist writes, "My tears have been my food day and night." But when he did not feel like giving thanks, he chose to remember God's goodness  Remember who God is. Remember how He has showered us with goodness in various ways.

When we remember, we gain hope and strength.

Brad then shared that one of the things that has occurred in our day is a sense of entitlement. Somehow, people feel they deserve more. We've become spoiled. This attitude corrupts our gratitude.

Every good a perfect gift comes from our Father. What we need to do is turn our blessings into praise, for all we have is a gift from God.

Where
In Luke 11:11-18 Jesus showed mercy to ten lepers and healed them. But only one came back to say thank you.

Brad then asked, "Will you be that one who daily gives thanks to the one who gave you life? Will you be the one who gives thanks to the One who when you were a sinner sought and found you and saved you? Will you say thank you to those who have helped you in your life journey?"

When
When did it happen?  We take so much for granted. How could we allow this to happen?

Brad cited the Prodigal son who demanded his inheritance while he was still young. "I want it now," is a pervasive attitude in our culture today.

Waiting means that I don't get it now. We used to save money and buy things we wanted after we saved up for them. Today we don't want to defer gratification for anything.

Brad then noted the other brother in the story who also had a self-righteous attitude. "Hey, I was good, I deserve more."

Why
Brad ended by stating why gratitude is so important. Jesus touched, healed, shared, gave... and when we were lost, He found us and said, "I love you." And when you are in desperate need of grace, He says, "I love you." In a hundred ways Jesus says, "I love you."

In closing we sang together the song that began our service, "Give Thanks" after which we moved the chairs and set up the volley ball net for the first time in our new sanctuary.

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Hey, the new gym floor is installed... and there's volley ball!