On this Thursday many people across America will gather as family, friends and neighbors around the dinner table.  What struck me about this annual occurrence is that in many instances what will be more important than things on the table are those around the table.   This is true in that given the economic climate, menus will be shortened, choices limited but community and love expanded. 

 It is unfortunate that it takes famine and disaster for the best of humanity to surface.  However, during this season we must remember that the Word of God calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves, to feed the hungry, house the homeless, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, and care for the widow and the orphan.  All of these commands speak to building community.  The question for us is, “In times like these are we following God’s commands which will cause us to strengthen our communities, or are we allowing situations and circumstances to erode the core of our existence? “

As we gather together on Thanksgiving Day, each of us should be mindful of the fact that through it all, God has kept us and because of the God in us, someone else has been inspired to keep on keeping on.  So we thank God for who He is, for what He has done, and for what He shall continue to do according to His promise to never leave us nor forsake us.

Pastor M