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Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Paul’s,
Thanksgiving is not just a holiday at the end of November. It is a way of life for Christians.
Our central act of worship is thanksgiving. We use the Greek word “Eucharist” every week to describe our worship together, and “Eucharist” means “thanksgiving.
Living thankfully, every day. That is what we do as Christians.
We give thanks for God’s blessings, for all of God’s creation, for life itself.
We give thanks for the presence of the risen Christ in our lives, thanks for the direction, comfort and power of the Holy Spirit.
The holiday at the end of November simply helps us focus on this attitude of thanksgiving which we live out all year. We give….
…thanks for the saints, on November 1, All Saints’ Day, remembering those models of Christian life, known and unknown, who have gone before us and inspired us; they are like a cheering section at an athletic event, encouraging us with their presence and faith.
…thanks on Commitment Sunday when we bring our pledges to church, giving God thanks for the material and financial resources we have and giving them to the church to support our ministry and to be shared with those in need.
…thanks on “Turkey Day,” both on the day of St. Paul’s legendary Turkey dinner, and on the national holiday itself, when we all pause to remember in our own ways blessings we are thankful for.
… and finally, at the end of the month, as Advent begins and we prepare for the new cycle of celebrating the story of Jesus, we give thanks for God’s sending Jesus into the world to live among us.
So “Happy Thanksgiving” in all these ways and more, throughout the year. Happy and blessed giving of thanks, the way of life for us all, the way of Christ, living thankfully for all God’s blessings.
Faithfully,
Fr. Sam