Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, November 24

Our Thanksgiving Service will be held on November 26, at the Wednesday Evening Worship (6:30 p.m.). Our message will be “An Attitude of Gratitude” as we focus on the one in ten lepers that Jesus Christ healed (Luke 17:11-18) who returned to thank Him.

Join with us to lift up thanksgiving to the LORD God Almighty. Invite your family and friends, especially those who have travelled to visit with you this Thanksgiving season.

Thanksgiving

Article below from “Amazing Grace,” by Kenneth W. Osbeck

The hymn below first appeared in Germany in 1782 and was known as “The Peasants’ Song.” It was part of a dramatic sketch portraying a harvest festival in a farm home in northern Germany. It first appeared in England in 1861. A new, upbeat tune was given this song by Stephen Schwartz as part of the Godspell theater production in 1971.

The Scriptures have many important lessons to teach us about harvests. One of these lessons is that there is always a waiting time between the planting of the seed and the gathering of the fruit or grain. This is true in spiritual matters as well. God often has to give us a waiting period for the full bloom of the Spirit’s fruit to be produced in our lives. The lesson of patience must be learned when sharing God’s love with others.

We can also learn from the harvest that a planted seed must first die before it can spring forth in new life. The way to personal spiritual fruitfulness is first death to self-centeredness (Romans 6:6ff).

Another truth is that a bountiful harvest is directly proportionate to the amount of sowing that has been done. “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6).

And finally, harvesting is a cooperative affair. We may spread the seeds of the gospel and cultivate and water the spiritual soil in an individual’s life, but ultimately it is God who gives the harvest (1 Corinthians 3:6, 9).

We Plow the Fields, and Scatter

By Matthias Claudius, 1740-1815

Translated by Jane M. Campbell, 1817-1878

We plow the fields and scatter the good seed on the land.

But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand.

He sends us snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain.

The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.

[CHORUS]

All good gifts around us Are sent from Heaven above

Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all his love.

We thank thee then, O Father, for all things bright and good,

The seedtime and the harvest, our life, our health, our food,

No gifts have we to offer for all thy love imparts

But that which thou desirest, our humble thankful hearts!

[CHORUS]

So let us gather together with our church family on Wednesday evening, November 26, and with our families on Thursday, November 27, to give thanks to the Lord God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – for all the good gifts He has given us.

Blessings in, thru and for our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ;

Pastor Darrell Weber