Sunday at SPUMC - Nov. 29, 2009

"No man is an iceberg drifting on the ocean of history. Each one of us belongs to a great family, in which he has his own place and his own role to play."

--Pope John Paul II

Usually on Sundays, I give an update of what happened at church today... But I wasn't there! I hope any of you who read this can fill in the blanks for me... I feel adrift when I'm not able to be at the weekly family party!

Here's what I do know:

During the Education Hour

**The children began talking about the season of Advent and God's promise to send a Savior. They were also given an Advent "Take-out Box" Devotional - a set of devotionals, a journal, and a candle to encourage the families to take time together this season and share scripture, prayer, and blessings.

**There was no Confirmation due to Thanksgiving Break.

**The Wired Word, our current events class, talked about rules and how they pertain to our walk with Jesus - which rules are timeless and which are time-limited.

**And our new Bible/Book Study for Advent began a discussion of "The Advent Conspiracy." There are still books available in the Narthex if you'd like to get in on the discussion!

The worship service was focused on Simplicity and "The Overlooked" Christmas Relatives. We've begun the lighting of the Advent wreath, singing the traditional Christmas tunes, and even singing the Doxology to the tune of "O Christmas Tree!" This Sunday the story of "The Pause" was shared - and all were invited to take home a pretty little package to remind them of being still, taking a rest, and appreciating this holy season. Oops! Carol reminded me to tell you that the little box was empty! It represents a "pause" - taking a break from the busy-ness of the season and enjoying the moment, opening your heart, and letting God in. Thanks Carol! After church, the Hanging of the Greens took place. All the decorations went up and a festive (and I heard, delicious) meal was served! Many thanks to the organizers and the cooks!

I've heard a lot of good things about today! I wish I could have been with you! (Did I leave anything out?)

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Hands down, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It highlights the home and family. It is synonymous with stuff that can be found only at home - early morning fussing around in the kitchen, kids and grandkids, long distance phone calls, holding hands and praying before that special meal."

--Charles Swindoll

Today, as I awoke at 6:30am I grumbled a bit at the early hour... and then remembered WHY I was getting up so early! Today, Mike and I are walking at the Mall of America in the Walk to End Hunger! We're turning in over $900 that YOU helped us raise to serve those in our neighborhood who are without jobs, homes, food, and warm clothing. I love starting my Thanksgiving Day in this way - a way to count my blessings, give back, burn calories and spend time with friends. So much generosity and joy!

Then, we came back to the house, watched the Macy's parade, and continued a family tradition of making the centerpiece for the table while Mom cooks. My sister, dad, husband and I laughed, played, created, and laughed some more at this silly, but fun tradition, started many years ago (I'm pretty sure Mom started it as a way to keep us out of the kitchen while she prepared dinner!).

When the meal was prepared, we sat around the table with the feast and centerpiece before us. Dad shared his prayer that he had written just for today and we began to share what we were thankful for this year. Family, a warm home, food to eat, jobs, loved ones, laughter, joy - so much to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving - and may the many blessings in your life be a reminder of the One who provides them this Holiday Season!

What are the Thanksgiving traditions in your home?

Wednesday Thanks

This is the last update on our "Month of Generosity and Thanks" thankfulness chain! Be sure to check it out on Sunday - it's amazing how long the chain got by simply thinking of one or two things each week that we are thankful for!

These are the things our congregation was thankful for this week:

Family
Parents
School
Thanksgiving
Mashed potatoes
The Macy's parade
The Walk to End Hunger
Stuffing
Christmas decorations
Oatmeal
Donut holes
Warm mornings
Babies
Laughter
Friends
Chocolate
Clean pants
Hugs and kisses
Good health
God
A great hike
Angels
A new house
My kitty
Losing weight
A great year
Fun-packed weekend
Grandchildren
Love
Stars
Happiness
Hearts
Smiles
Understanding
Siblings

What are you thankful for today?

Thanksgiving

"Thanksgiving puts power in living, because it opens the generators of the heart to respond gratefully, to receive joyfully, and to react creatively."

--AnonymousLooking for a way to respond in thanksgiving?

The Walk to End Hunger is only two days away! You can still donate to support Megan and Mike Adams, Beth Johnson and family, Melissa Early and family, and Beth Hewitt and Jason! Just go to http://www.walktoendhunger.kintera.org/, on the left side of the page, click "Sponsor Participant." You can then type in one of our names and donate!

As of this writing, Megan and Mike are listed in the top five fundraisers for the event with $800 raised! THANK YOU to all who have donated! Neighbor's Inc will be so excited to receive these donations!

Sermon Notes - Nov. 22nd, 2009

"The scriptures invite us to be 'overflowing' with gratitude. How splashy is that? How much thanks - and where?

"If our thanksgiving is beginning to look like Niagara Falls perhaps we are getting the hang of it. "Maybe it looks like a bubbling fountain - overflowing with lushness and full of refreshing 'thank yous.' "I think about all the times when I don't overflow with thanks and wonder how much I think it costs to say words of appreciation, gratitude, or love. Words are free. And they are powerful - the 'I love you!' carries power far beyond the eight little letters needed to shape the sounds.

"This is the perfect week to take a small amount of time to send a note, email, card, flower, hug, whatever-it-takes to offer someone the blessing of being showered with abundant grace!"
--Pastor Penny Zettler

Sunday at SPUMC - Nov. 22, 2009

We celebrated another week of living thankfully - through our generosity - at church today!

Our Education hour was hopping with all kinds of wonderful discussions:

* The children talked about how God gives us courage to do what is right! (And they continued practicing for the Christmas Program! Mark your calendars for Dec. 20th!)

* The Confirmation class talked about those who share their faith with us by being role models of faithfulness.

* Beth led the last class on Philippians this Sunday - Thank you so much for your leadership!

* Beda led The Wired Word, discussing the latest news about mammogram guidelines.

Worship celebrated Thanksgiving a little early - talking about OVERFLOWING gratitude! Jill even did a spectacular stunt with the children's chat to illustrate what "overflowing" really looks like! (Here's a hint - what happens when you mix soda with Mentos candies?) In the end, the focus was that we have SO MANY blessings in our lives that we should be sharing with all those we meet - whether it's sharing words, kind gestures, money, gifts, our presence... There are so many ways to be generous in our daily lives and its up to us to figure how. It's up to us to figure out how to be "overflowing" with God's love.

How are you overflowing this week?

Praise and Thanks

"Gratitude... takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God."
--Thomas Merton

I don't know about you, but I take things for granted all the time... My warm home, food on the table, nice clothes, a loving family... all kinds of things, everyday. I take them for granted and I forget to say "thank you."

Part of being generous is being generous with our words - our thank yous, our praises of others, our acknowledgement of the blessings in our lives! That's why we've been making a paper chain of thankfulness at church - a reminder of ALL the things we have to be thankful for! That's why we've been starting meetings and small groups asking people to say something they are thankful for - an "out loud" reminder. That's why we keep talking about - and writing about - the blessings in our lives... it's so easy to take them for granted and to never say "thank you."

And when we take notice, when we appreciate, when we say "thank you" - we are being generous with our gratitude. We all like to be thanked and appreciated for the things we do - let's remember to thank those around us, too!

Who will you thank today?