"So, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?" That seemed to be the big question these last few days. And the answer just about always involved being with special people...family, friends, at church for our Thanksgiving dinner, etc. There's something about Thanksgiving that draws us together. The same goes for Christmas.
What is it that draws us together like this?Especially this time of the year.
When it comes to Thanksgiving, if you can wade through all the Black Friday sales nonsense , it's about the important things in life that we are thankful for. And that is often about family, friends, community. For when all is said and done, those are who are most important in our lives, and who we're most thankful to God for.
But with families scattered all around as they are today, we can't always be with those we'd like to be with. So we call, we Skype, and we get together as we can. If you are in a situation like that, and can't get together with family or friends who might be a long way away, and where you might otherwise be home alone, that's what Thanksgiving at Our Savior is all about.
We understand that it's hard to get together, so we have a Thanksgiving service at 11am followed by our "Home Alone" Thanksgiving Dinner at noon. This is our gift to the community, and always a wonderful celebration of Thanks and being in community together. And it doesn't just start on Thanksgiving Day. For anyone who'd like to help, it starts on Wednesday at 1pm with peeling potatoes (bring a potato peeler and join the fun) followed by setting up the hall, putting placements on the tables, setting silverware, decorating, etc. All a wonderful community experience.
So, whether you are traveling, having someone to your home, going out to eat, or joining us at Our Savior, I hope your Thanksgiving is safe and filled with gratitude to God for all the blessings we experience every day, in small and large ways.
Then, as the Thanksgiving weekend concludes, we come to the first Sunday in Advent! Again, here is a place to experience and celebrate being in community. Since this is Thanksgiving weekend, there is no Sunday School, but at 10 am our occasional "Anyone Family Choir" will meet in the church, learn some music, and sing at the 11am service! This choir is especially for those who would like to sing in the choir but who can't make regular choir rehearsals, or for even for those visiting for the weekend and would like to be a part of something special like this. In the past, the ages of the choir members has ranged from 7 to 97! (No kidding!) Think about joining us for that.
Or, if you don't sing, just join us for our First Sunday in Advent worship (Saturday at 6pm, Sunday 8:30 and 11am). Can't think of a better way to end the Thanksgiving Weekend and begin that wonderful season of Advent, leading up to the Christmas celebration.
For a schedule of all of the upcoming services and events at Our Savior at this time of the year, please visit our website at: www.oursaviorelca.com.
See you in church! Most Gratefully, Pastor Jack Diehl +
