Monthly Message | November
“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” — Psalm 9:1 (NRSVUE)
November, of course, is the month of Thanksgiving, which is a time to reflect on what we are thankful for in our lives. Giving thanks, of course, isn’t meant just for one day, or even one month, but also for each and every day — acknowledging that Yes, there are days when it is difficult to be thankful and feel a sense of gratitude. Yet, no matter if we feel a sense of thanks or not, God is with us wherever we are and however we are.
As I look at the month of November, there is so much to be thankful for that is part of this month. It is definitely a wonderful time of year to give thanks to God and to the people we love. Here are just a few reasons I find to be thankful just in this month:
November 1: All Saints Day is a day with grief and sadness because we remember people who are no longer with us. It also is a day to give thanks because of Jesus’s triumphant over sin and death for us that gives us the promise of life eternal with God, and to give thanks for the lives of our loved ones whom we remember and the impact they had on our lives.
November 3: Election Day can bring about thoughts of how divided we may be as a country. But we can give thanks that we can exercise our right to vote, and we have a voice in who we want as our leaders in government. We also can pray to God to give those leaders guidance in governing, whether at a local, state, or national level, and that they can help bring people together for the common good.
November 11: We give thanks to the men and women who have served this country, with a special thanks to any of you who have served! We also thank the families of those who have served, and the sacrifices they have made.
November 22/November 29: Christ the King, or Reign of Christ, Sunday, held November 22 this year, marks the end of the church year, while November 29 is the First Sunday of Advent, marking the start of a new church year. I give thanks for the rhythms of the church year, where one week we celebrate Jesus’s being our one true king, who reigns over all creation, and the next we enter into hearing of his time on Earth again from the beginning, celebrating his birth. Through it all, we can give thanks that we are part of this incredible story that continues, part of the Body of Christ, for Jesus has claimed you and each of us as beloved children of God.
Finally, my family and I just want to say Thank You to each of you for being part of this community and the love you show to the community and to our neighbors near and far as we continue to walk together in our faith in Jesus. Happy Thanksgiving!
Yours in Christ,
Pastor David