In all this I have
given you an example that by such work we must support the weak,
remembering
the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said,
“It is more blessed to give
than to receive.” (Acts 20:35 NRSV).
Thanksgiving is upon us! This week, as I prepare our house
and begin to put the shopping list together, I am reminded of the many things
which I am thankful for my life. Here at Christ Church, I am thankful for:
Task forces
Happy faces, the Hahns, and
Happeners
Angel Tree, Acolytes, Art
and Altar Guild
Nurtures of our young people
Kris Kindles
Sponsors and Seedleaf
Growth, gardeners, and
givers of time
Imaginations of children
Volunteers and Vestrys!
Introits and incense
New families and new births!
Guests of Room in the Inn!
As our study of stewardship continues and as Advent is on the horizon, I
am reminded that this is not only a season in which I give thanks, but also a
season of thankful-giving.
A few weeks ago, Dean Wade preached on 2 Corinthians 9:7: “For God
loves a cheerful giver.” She reminded us to give not only with thanks, but that
the Greek word for cheerful also mean hilarious. Her sermon reminded me of a
legendary story in our youth department.
Every year, during the third week in November, youth participate in a
Canned Food Scavenger Hunt benefiting God’s Pantry. This year marks the 5th
year of the event. During the evening, youth are paired with a team and an
adult driver. They drive to preassigned houses knocking on doors and asking
for food. In our second year, our youth visited the house of a police officer.
The officer answered his door and then escorted the students to his police car.
Upon opening the trunk of the car, the youth were met with hundreds of cans!
For weeks, the officer had been collecting from his fellow officers so that
this offering to God’s Pantry was abundant, plentiful and hilarious. As the
team returned to church, they were overcome with joy. “You’ll never guess what
we found on our hunt.” “We went to one house and it was more than we could fit
in our car.” “We won.” They were delighted to have received such a gift for
God’s Pantry.
During this week of thanksgiving may we givers of thanks,
thankful givers, and thankful receivers of all that God has given us. May we
work as a community to give to others out of our blessings, may we become
thankful, joyous and hilarious givers.
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