From the Pastor’s Desk – November 2024

As we enter into the holiday months of November and December we are reminded of the many gifts that we have, by the grace of God, to prepare us for the holidays, allow me to share some of Jesus’ words with you. – Matthew 6:25-34

‘Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore, do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed, your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

This is the Word of the Lord! Thanks be to God!

It’s a very nice thing to be full of thanks. When you’re full, thanks is easy to say. But what if you hadn’t a turkey to eat on this Thanksgiving Day? What if there were no yams or potatoes, no fixings, cranberries and such. What if there were just barely a little, instead of so all-fired much? Would you then speak your words of thanks to the Father who provided this bountiful earth, and gave us so great a share of it by accident only of birth? There are those in the African deserts and in Asia with little to eat. And in India, where there are millions to whom not being hungry is a welcome treat.

When it comes down to real thanksgiving, remember that part of the word is that very important word, “giving,” not just being full of turkey. There are multitudes here on this planet who today will have nothing to eat, who have only a shack for their shelter, and nothing to wear on their feet. These poor ones of earth are our sisters and brothers, all loved by the Lord. And when we feed them, we feed Jesus. For that we have Jesus’ own word. So, let’s have a real thanks giving and give out of thanks to the One who gave for our use his creation and for our salvation, his Son.

Amen?