Thanksgiving Sunday worship

Sunday was a great day. We celebrated Thanksgiving in Church and also finished up our three week stewardship emphasis. During the service I invited everyone to come forward and share their gifts with God in the symbolic act of placing a leaf on the communion table. After listening to Patricia Ohlund sing a song titled, "Blessings" people filed forward with their leaves, offerings and pledge cards. It was a moving moment.

We also heard Mark Kane's testimony on how he was blessed by going on the Mission trip to Mexico last spring. He talked about growing up in a religious home, drifting away from church and then coming back when he and Pam were married. Then he spoke a bit about his faith and how it was tested in the loss of his daughter. But God carried him through and made his faith stronger. Mark talked about wanting to give back to God and saw the mission trip as an opportunity do that. He even got a bonus because he got to spend time with his son as a result.

Curt Brockway, Stewardship Committee Chair, noted that we had received $50,000 in pledges during the past two weeks. He noted the fact that this was the last official week of the campaign but that we would be receiving pledges and gifts through the end of the year as we make plans for 2009.

My message was introduced with a video clip featuring the music of Jars of Clay that challenged us to reach out with Christ's love to those around us. Preaching on the text from Matthew 25:31-40 which lifts up Jesus words "If you have done it to the least of these, you have done it for me..." I suggested that the best way to say "Thank you" to God was to share his love with our neighbors.

It was a great morning.

Cal