In the United States, the fall months are a time when we are encouraged to give thanks. As you receive this newsletter, the United States will have just celebrated the harvest and the bounty of the land with a massive festival called Thanksgiving. Families and friends traditionally gather around a table to feast on the harvest bounty. In our 21st century world this holiday has turned into a giant consumer holiday. Advertisements for Christmas shopping are becoming common on our televisions in the days after Halloween. We are encouraged to watch huge spectacles including parades, football games and TV specials. Our five senses are totally filled with the smells, tastes, sights, sounds and textures of pumpkin spice, sweet potatoes and stuffing which will soon mingle with the scent and sappy stickiness of balsam trees and cinnamon.
It's a season that is at the same time exceptionally fun and yet very exhausting!
The Apostle Paul wrote letters to many ancient communities including the Corinthians, Galatians, and Philippians. You and I call these letters “books” and they are found in our New Testament titled 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians and Philippians (creative titles!). All of Paul’s letters begin with words of thanksgiving and of blessing. The letters I listed above begin with this typical thanksgiving: 1 Cor 1:4-9; 2 Cor 1:3-4; Galatians 1:3-5; Philippians 1:2-11.
As the season of Fall comes to an end this year and you are looking at displays of the earth’s abundance in store windows and even on your own table at home, I encourage you to look at Paul’s letters and read his words of thanks and blessing. Ask yourself: Why is Paul giving thanks? Who is Paul blessing? What are the themes in each of his blessings? For what can I give thanks? Who can I bless this year? Who is the God we give thanks to?
I hope that taking a moment to engage with Paul’s words of thanks and blessing can help slow you down as we move into the season of Advent. A season of waiting through beautiful, calming darkness of winter for the birth of the Light of the World: Jesus Christ, the new born child of God for whom we give all our thanks and praise.
I pray that Paul’s words of thanks and blessing can balance the constant pull of the ads that will tell you to buy more, eat more, and be more as the holiday season ramps into full swing. Yes, you can buy lovely gifts for your loved ones, and you should eat of the delicious bountiful harvest the earth provides. You can do all those things rooted in thanks to God’s abundance! Enjoying the holiday season rooted in thanks to God will help the traditions, sights, smells and tastes shimmer in a new light this year.
Have fun and give thanks and praise to God for the abundance of our world and the ways we get to celebrate.
Rev. Ryan Heckman, Associate Pastor
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