Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Hi, all!

Today is Thanksgiving Day, and our house has extra guests...our older son and his friend, our younger son and his girlfriend. As I sat in my chair saying my prayers this morning, I felt a sense of wholeness and warmth. We're all here together.

We'll have a big dinner this afternoon with all the trimmings, including non-gluten and vegetarian options, and afterwards we'll take a walk to work off some of those calories. I hope you and yours are also gathered to celebrate today, and I hope you'll take some time to reflect on the good things God has given you. Practice gratitude.

I'm especially thankful for those who labored to bring us our food, for those who stand by to protect us and keep our electricity on, for the good earth and the peaceful animals that gave us our food. God is generous.

As the General Thanksgiving says on p. 101 of the Prayer Book:
"We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ, for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory."

Even though there's a warm glow around the image of Thanksgiving Day, I'm aware this morning of all those who don't find this a happy day: those whose families are absent or broken by strife, those who are alone or grieving lost ones, those who have to work even on a holiday (especially the early Black Friday), those who don't have a warm, dry home to shelter them, and Native Americans who may find this day a painful historical memory. This awareness keeps my gratitude humble.

Keeping all this in mind,
May God bless you this day with deep gratitude of the soul.
May you savor the food in your mouth and taste the goodness of God.
And may you sense the profound presence of those around you.

Bill

For all the Saints

Hi, all! This week I'm visiting my family in Colorado. I've been going through old photo albums at my mother's house, scanning some of the photos into the computer so I can have access to them online. As I leaf through those old albums, memories from years ago come rushing back. There are fading color photos from my childhood and old black-and-white photos from generations past. I peer at the faces of my ancestors and imagine what life was like for them. The photos are like little time machines. I think of how all these lives influenced my life directly or indirectly. These are the saints of my life, the ones who have made me who I am. I especially think of my dad who died in 1973. Yesterday I visited his grave at Ft. Lyon National Cemetery near here, and memories came flooding back. This Sunday we celebrate All Saints' Day (transferred from November 1), and we'll name those who are the saints in our lives. I've added my dad's name to the list, and even though I won't be at church, it's good to know his name will be lifted up. Who are the saints in your life? On All Saints' Day, it's a good time to remember those who have influenced us - parents, aunts and uncles, coaches, teachers, mentors, friends, and role models. We are part of a long procession of the saints of God, and all of us together make a long, joyous parade as we wind our way to heaven. Bill

Listening to the children

Hi, all!
Tomorrow is the Children's Eucharist at the 10:00 service. I'm looking forward to seeing our young people serving as ushers, greeters, Eucharistic Minister (Chelsea Reeder), and even preacher (Bonnie Foley)!

We have such wonderful young people in our church, and they bring such energy, optimism, and joy to all of us. I feel truly blessed to have them in our parish.
Tomorrow they will serve as ministers in worship, and we'll invite them to gather around the altar for the consecration of the bread and wine. They love this because they're near the holy mysteries. This way they can see and hear what's going on at the altar.
Children instinctively understand about God. It's natural for young children to ask about God, and it's natural for them to want to receive Communion. They "get it" that this is food from God, and we're God's family gathered around God's table.

When we have Children's Eucharist, they learn about God, and we learn about God through them. They teach us. As Jesus said, "Unless you become like a little child, you cannot enter the kingdom of God."
I'm looking forward to learning from them. I hope you are, too!
Bill