Following our morning worship service this Sunday, we will have our annual Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, bread and beverages will be provided. We are each asked to bring our favorite salad, vegetable side dish or dessert to complete the meal. Bring your family and invite your friends for a fabulous time of fellowship, fun and fulfillment.
Let us give thanks unto the Lord for all your support for the ministries and outreach programs of First Christian Church.
Because of your faithful dedication, generosity and involvement with church-sponsored events, we are now seeing healthy signs of a growing, moving and prospering congregation that is reaching out in love and adoration toward those in our community. None of these ministries could have happened without God’s blessing. You have been that blessing. You are the angels who touch this church so that we can touch others for Christ. Your gifts, your contributions and your charity are touching others today.
As Disciples of Christ, we are called to always give thanks in everything. We should be grateful to God in all things and for all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18). And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God our Father (Colossians 3:17).
We should be especially thankful for God’s work of salvation and sanctification. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 7:25). We should thank God without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 2:13). God watches over us, God cares for us, and God works on our behalf.
So that means in all our pains, in all our troubles, in all our sorrows, in all our burdens, in all our stress and in all the requirements and responsibilities in life that we must endure, in everything, we should, in all things, give thanks to God.
Praise is a term that is closely aligned with thankfulness. When we praise someone, we are acknowledging their virtues and deeds. Our praise toward God is the means by which we express our joy to the Lord. We are to praise God for who He is and what He does for us. Praise God for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness (Psalm 150:2).
Praising God for who God is, is called adoration; praising God for what He does is called thanksgiving.
Pastor Mark