More Than Turkey
16 November 2022
Packed? Some of you are. Even with eight days to go, you’ve begun packing to head out of “Dodge” soon for a Thanksgiving celebration with family. Or you are the host this year and you’ve already started your shopping.
In your busy-ness with shopping, travel, or finishing works tasks, let me equip you now with a few pieces of encouragement. First, I thank God for YOU and how God uses you to make Christ Our Shepherd and the world a better place. YOU are appreciated by God, your church, and so many others. Next Wednesday evening, we’ll enjoy together our COS Chili Supper and Hymn Sing. But in case you’re on the run, allow me, secondly, to share a few other “menu items” to help you embrace a few moments of centering gratitude to your Lord for all your gifts. Enjoy a few moments with your family or even by yourself in the days ahead with these hymn lyrics, Scripture, a discussion question, a video or two and even a few games.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Pastor Fritz
Bonus #1: What do King Tut and Cinderella have to teach us about Christ the King Sunday? Come to worship (in person or streamed) this Sunday and find out!
Bonus #2: For those of you who have given God thanks and trust by turning in your Feed My Sheep Giving Faith Intent (online or with card), thanks! For those of you who plan to do so by this Sunday, thanks!
A GUIDE FOR OFFERING THANKS THIS THANKSGIVING
Christ Our Shepherd Families
2022
Sing or say these verses from “Come Ye Thankful People Come” Tune: St. George’s Windsor
Come, ye thankful people, come; raise the song of harvest home.
All be safely gathered in ere the winter storms begin.
God, our maker, doth provide for our wants to be supplied.
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.
All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto his praise to yield;
wheat and tares together sown, unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade, and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear.
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.
Determine who and how this passage is read aloud, from 1 Chronicles 16:8-13, 29-36
WOMEN: Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually.
MEN: Make known his deeds among the peoples;
tell of all his wonderful works.
ALL: O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
WOMEN: Sing praises to him! let those who seek the LORD rejoice.
MEN: Remember the wonderful works he has done,
his miracles, and the words he has spoken.
ALL: O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his unwavering love endures forever.
WOMEN: Worship the LORD in holy splendor;
honor him, all the earth.
MEN: Blessed be the LORD, from everlasting to everlasting.
ALL: Then all the people said “Amen!” and praised the LORD.
Share this story stressing the importance of remembering to give thanks to Jesus, from Luke 17
11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
DISCUSSION OF THANKS
Some Thanksgiving meals begin with only seven kernels of corn on each plate. Why? Because legend holds that circumstances deteriorated so badly for the pilgrims at one point they each were given only seven kernels of corn each meal. Remembering our modern bounty, modern day pilgrims—you—are encouraged to share seven reasons why you are thankful to God.
Sing or say these verses from “Praise and Thanksgiving” Tune: Bunessan
Praise and thanksgiving, God, we would offer for all things living, you have made good:
harvest of sown fields, fruits of the orchard, hay from the mown fields, blossom and wood.
Then will your blessing reach ev’ry people, freely confessing your gracious hand.
Where you are reigning, no one will hunger; your love sustaining showers the land.
Click this link to view a beautiful “Thanksgiving Song” by Mary Chapin Carpenter, which has been sung at COS Thanksgiving Eve services.
Enjoy these Thanksgiving GAMES & PUZZLES
https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:f8788dda-24ff-4cf5-8bf4-c18168386013
And now, here are the answers to the puzzles and games.
https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:29565a9d-5335-4c01-aa3d-576ae906aaf1
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
