Life Together - Nov 28

 

“Thanksgiving Must Go On.”

How was your Thanksgiving Day?
I hope it was good and truly meaningful.

On Thursday morning, my family and I sat around our table. We read Psalm 100 slowly twice and shared what we were thankful for.

Hannah thanked God for our family.
Esther thanked God for our church.
Grace said she was grateful for “here and now.”
Abe gave thanks for school.
Lydia gave thanks for our family time together.

As we shared, I was reminded of my family back home. On holidays like New Year’s Day or Thanksgiving Day, three generations gathered around the table, and my grandfather led a time of family devotion. After he passed, my father continued the tradition. And now I find myself doing the same.

Psalm 100:5 ends with these beautiful words:

“For the Lord is good; His loyal love endures forever, and His faithfulness continues from generation to generation.”

God’s love is faithful, steady, and unshakable. When I look back, I remember seasons when our family could not see the road ahead – especially when the grandparents we were close to passed away, when our home church went through deep and painful conflict, and when my close cousin was walking through a divorce. Yet God was faithful. He sustained us and carried us through to this day.

This Thanksgiving, I was asked to pray for some of our church family and their loved ones: those who fell and struggled again, those who lost someone suddenly, those who relapsed and returned to rehab, and those carrying heavy mental and emotional burdens.

Maybe today it is hard for you to find something to be thankful for. Even when our hearts feel empty, the truth remains: God loves us, and God is for us, because he made us. May gratitude become the strength we need for today. We will get through this.

This Sunday (Nov 30 at 10 AM), all four sister churches will gather at Hodgdon UMC to praise and give thanks together. During the service, our all-generation band will lead us, our pick-up choir will sing, our children will play a handbell piece, and our worship dance team will offer praise. We will also celebrate the ministries of each church from this past year.

Come and join us!

 

In Christ's love,
Pastor Victor