Thanksgiving…
A time when we are invited into different groups of family, friends and community to give thanks for all of the people and places that surround us and support us in life.
We know that this isn’t easy for many people. We know people who have lost good friends & family members, whose communities have been destroyed by fire or floods, or hurricanes or war. We know people who are struggling with mental or physical health that holds them back from living well. We know people who don’t have food or shelter and who are aware that the Fall cold weather is inching closer and they don’t know what to do. Thankfulness in such circumstances can be very hard to find.
I want to invite us to not only give thanks for what we have in our lives, but also to appreciate and acknowledge and offer the skills, resources and times that we have to share with others – so that we can share something that can offer hope to be thankful for in times of turmoil.
Be grateful for love and care and support – and share it.
Be grateful for the gifts of music, of food, of shelter – and share them.
Be grateful for the things each of us can do to be a part – small or large – of a community that needs so many pieces to be whole, helpful, healing, hopeful.
Michael Blair, General Secretary of the United Church of Canada, came to the 40th Anniversary of the Diakonia of the United Church of Canada (DUCC). One of the pieces that he highlighted for us was to take time to celebrate, acknowledge and empower the many ministries that are part of the church and the world. We are all ministering to the church and God’s world together.
So, today, I am thanking leaders and asking them to continue to do their thing: those who can facilitate; those who show us how to support; those who jump into the breech; those who help us see where we are needed next and guide, pull or push us there.
I am thanking followers and asking them to continue to do their thing: to be part of a team that learns together; to be part of a team that puts into action something that lifts someone up; to hear the challenges and to share their best to meet them; to be willing to be guided in new directions and embrace the pulling and pushing that gets us there.
I am thanking the story-tellers, the listeners, the huggers, the tea-makers, the justice seekers, the pick-upperers, the cleaners, the kitchen crews, the healers, the Elders for making space and embracing so many changes, the Children for teaching us to question. I am asking them, and many more, to continue to do their thing so that everyone has healing and hope to be grateful for.
I invite you live thankfulness with me, to add your piece to life so that we all may taste abundance.
Blessings:
Helen
Rev. Helen Reed, Chairperson
