Midweek Message

THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS

Carolyn Matthews

November 17, 2022

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving

    and extol him with music and song. (Psalm 95:1-2, NIV)

 

“Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving/ To God our Creator triumphantly raise;…” (from the hymn by Katherine K. Davis)

 

Next Thursday is the day we take time to say “thank you.” Of course we are called to give thanks each day we are alive and cognizant of our surroundings. This though is a good time to look back over the day, week, month, or year and recognize God’s blessings in our lives. It is even more significant when this takes place in the company of family and friends – maybe this is what makes it even more special.  This day I give thanks for music, because as the O’Jays sang: “I love music, any kind of music.” Tonight is the concert presentation of the Dominican Chorale in which I share singing and time with other soprano friends.  And along with books, I have been able to share all kinds of music with my grands.

 

Last Sunday the benediction I shared was written by Joe Sherer, pastor of a Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania. Here is another good word of thanksgiving as we move into the week ahead. This one from Katy Shevel, associate pastor of a Presbyterian church in the Philadelphia area.

 

May the Lord bless you and hold you close,

May the Lord fill your heart with an overwhelming sense of peace and an abundance of gratitude.

May you rest in the assurance that God loves you completely, uniquely, and beyond measure.

 

May you step into the fullness of God’s love for you,

May God’s love kindle within you a yearning to reach out to those who need you, whose beloved faces you can picture in your mind’s eye, as well as the strangers whom you haven’t yet met.

May you work for justice, cling to kindness, and walk humbly with Christ in your midst.

 

May you live for one another and for God like never before,

With open hands, minds, and hearts,

Not just during the short days of this thanksgiving season,

But for each and every day to come.

 

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

 

Thanksgiving blessings to all,
Pastor Carolyn

 

Dates to Note in your calendar

 

Sunday, November 20

  • After Church Business Meeting – Packing of Thanksgiving bags for distribution on Tuesday. Please stay after and help!!
  • Sponsor a Family Tree goes up – gift tags.  Gail and Lari will be at the Christmas table in the family room where you can sign up for gifts.  Also, there is still time to sponsor your own family.   Please contact  Sheila Sims for more information.

 

Tuesday, November 22

9:30 am – 11:30 am Help is needed with bringing in turkeys into the church and transporting Thanksgiving bags and turkeys to the recipient’s cars. If you can help, please let Sheila know.

 

Saturday, December 10

1:00 PM Forever Young

 

Sunday, December 11

8:30 AM Department members leadership breakfast

 

Sunday, December 18

11:45 Blue Christmas Service

 

December 22 or 23

We will be delivering gifts for the first time in two years to our sponsored families.  If you are interested in driving or riding along with us, please contact Sheila Sims or  email HTF at LABCHungerTaskForce@gmail.com.

 

Saturday, December 24

7:00 PM Christmas Eve Service

 

Sunday, December 25 (Christmas Day)

10:00 AM Worship Service

 

Weekly Events (Note some changes due to the Thanksgiving holiday)

 

Weekly Meetings

Saturday, November 19

10:00 AM Time for Prayer (Psalm 137)

 

Sunday, November 20 (Pledge Sunday – remember your pledge cards, time and talent survey)

10:00 AM Worship

11:15 AM Congregational Business Meeting (includes election of officers and presentation of 2023 budget)

Packing of Thanksgiving bags (after congregational meeting)

Adult Bible Study will NOT meet this Sunday

 

Tuesday, November 22

6:00 PM – Bible Study

 

Wednesday, November 23

10:30 AM – Prayer and Bible Study

 

Thursday, November 24

Together in Spirit will NOT be meeting – we hope you will be enjoying family, friends, participating in a ministry assignment, helping others or just taking the time to “be still” and appreciate and meditate on the grace and love of God

 

Lakeshore ZOOM Information

Online: https://zoom.us/j/8599095914
Dial-in: 1 669 900 9128

Meeting ID: 859 909 5914
Password: 192833

One tap mobile: +16699009128

 

Contribute
Your ongoing support of the ministry of our church is greatly appreciated. We are checking the mail so feel free to mail your check or to contribute online.

 

Finally

Tonight is the first of two concerts of the Dominican Chorale

Tonight, Friday at 7:30 pm, Angelico Hall on the Dominican Campus
Sunday, 5:00 pm, First Presbyterian Church, San Anselmo

Tickets are only available online: https://dominican.universitytickets.com/