Pastor’s Message

Happy Thanksliving! No, that is not a typo, I really do mean Thanksliving. Coming up on November 27 we will be celebrating Thanksgiving which is our national holiday set aside to Give Thanks. With roots back to the 1621 harvest celebration, this is a day we set aside to be thankful along with other traditions and activities like eating turkey and cranberries, football watching and naps, or 5K runs and uncomfortable political conversations. Thanksliving expands beyond just one day and seeks to live every day with gratitude.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Paul exhorts us, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Thanksliving is how we daily practice our faith and align with God. This is not to say the circumstances of our life are all apple pie with whipped cream. It is easy to be thankful for the good things happening in your life. Paul says give thanks in all circumstances – which includes bad things, good things, and neutral things. Gratitude is a choice, and the more we choose it the more gratitude will grow and infuse into us.
The practice of Thanksliving starts with our heart and mind by pausing to appreciate a simple pleasure – like feeling the warmth of the sun, tasty food, or a calm moment. It may be that there is a lot of negative swirling around us and in our minds, and the first step is to connect with something good and acknowledge it.
Second, we can start making a list of things we are grateful for. The list might start simple and obvious, but once we get through the quick and easy things we are grateful for, then we encourage ourselves to look deeper and notice more. Perhaps you could take the 1000 Things I am Thankful for Challenge and attempt to write down one thousand things!
Third, we can take action to act on our gratitude. This could be doing an act of service or a random act of kindness. In this way we let our gratitude take action – not to get something back in return or gain anything – simply giving. The action can also come from your mouth to express your gratitude when you notice it – by saying thank you and expressing your appreciation.
Thanksliving is the spiritual practice of our faith to live with gratitude. It helps connect us deeper with God, with others, and ourselves. Join us each Sunday in November to grow in gratitude. -Submitted by Rev. Tim Grade