Dear Siblings in Christ,
Mighty God of mercy we thank you for the resurrection dawn, bringing the glory of our risen Lord who makes every day new.
Especially we thank you—
For the sustaining goodness of your creation,
For the new creation in Christ and all gifts of healing and forgiveness,
For the gifts of relationship with others,
For the communion of faith in your church,
For what else do the people of God give thanks?
(ELW Morning Prayer, p. 304)
In our hymnal’s liturgy for daily morning prayer, we are invited to consider and pray for those things that we’re thankful for. Additionally, for those who participate in the St. Paul’s Prayer Community Facebook group, you are invited to give thanks each morning for God’s many blessings. And giving thanks is important.
When we give thanks, we remind ourselves of the good things in our lives, of things we might otherwise take for granted—a roof over our head, food on the table, clean water to drink, friends and family, and so much more. In a world where there is so much bad news, we need to be reminded that there is good in the world too.
Even more, these good things in our lives are gifts from God. I regularly find myself referencing Martin Luther’s Small Catechism in Bible studies and other teaching conversations. I especially appreciate his explanation to the first article of the Apostles’ Creed, where Luther explains that, “God daily and abundantly provides shoes and clothing, food and drink, house and farm, spouse and children, fields, livestock, and all property—along with all the necessities and nourishment for this body and life.” God who created us and redeems us also promises to provide for us, and all that we have is a gift from God.
In response to all that God has provided for us, we are called to give thanks. Here at St. Paul’s, I am regularly grateful for your generous giving of your time, talents, and possessions. Your giving supports the mission of the church. It allows us to do ministry together. By giving generously, you have made it possible for St. Paul’s:
· to share the love of God in word and deed,
· to worship every weekend,
· to gather for Bible studies, music, exercise, prayer, and other events,
· to open our buildings to support AA and NA groups and blood drives,
· to supply food for Extended Hand Ministries and Mt. Nebo,
· to feed hungry families at Easter and Thanksgiving,
· to share school supplies with Mt. Holly children,
· to donate socks and underwear for children in need,
· to provide Christmas gifts to brighten the holiday for local families,
· to provide aid for hunger and relief efforts through Lutheran Disaster Response,
· and much, much, more.
When we give generously, it’s not just about keeping the lights on at church. When we give, we are engaging in the ministries of the church, and sharing the good news of God’s love for us. As our mission statement reminds us, at St. Paul’s, everything we do is about celebrating God’s love through service. Your act of giving is a celebration of God’s love, and it is a thankful response to all the gifts that God has provided for us.
Especially in the midst of a difficult economy, all kinds of charitable giving have decreased greatly. Many people are struggling to simply meet their own daily needs, and are no longer able to contribute to the church or other causes that are important to them. We are thankful for your continued participation, even when you are unable to give. On the other hand, if you find yourself in a comfortable financial position, this would be an excellent time to make a special contribution to St. Paul’s to help us sustain our current ministries. I am so thankful for everyone’s generosity, not only financially, but in all the ways that our St. Paul’s family is generous.
As we prepare for Thanksgiving, I pray that you take time to give thanks. Whether big or small, we can give thanks for all kinds of things in our lives: a beautiful morning, a good day at work, a good meal, a friendly pet, a new grandchild, new beginnings, recovery, love, or comfort and peace from God. And remember this Thanksgiving that your St. Paul’s community is grateful for you!
Peace,
Rev. Jessica Hahn