A couple of weeks ago, as we were wrapping up our studies in the book of Philippians, we spent some time on verse 4 in the last chapter where Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!” We even learned a song, along with the children, despite the fact that we still haven’t succeeded in singing it as a round. You win some, you lose some!
Rejoicing and giving thanks had become part of the fabric of Paul’s life by the time he wrote to the Philippians from prison. And it is clear that it was Paul’s expectation that, by the grace of God, this spirit would become a beautiful tapestry in our lives, as well. Easier said than done!
In this month that is synonymous in our culture with thanksgiving, we still struggle to genuinely live thankful lives. Doubt, resentment, disappointment, fear and hopelessness come to us much more easily. Even when we institutionalize
the idea of thankfulness with a presidential proclamation, special worship services, and a national holiday celebrated as a feast day, we still struggle to rejoice and give thanks.
The first Thanksgivings in Plymouth and Jamestown took place in the midst of frightening circumstances. In today’s economic climate, many have a taste of dire circumstances of their own, but godly people always find a way to give
thanks even as they make their needs known to God. I’ve only been with you all for a short while, but you may have noticed that I often make mention of my mother. When I was a young boy, my mother gave her life to Christ (she often
claimed that my brother and I drove her right into the arms of Christ!) and this decision dramatically changed the way our family was challenged to view our lives. Mom was always encouraging us to “give thanks to God in all things” whether we wanted to listen to her or not….and, usually, we didn’t!
But, she persisted and what was most convincing to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was that she didn’t just talk about being thankful, she lived it. When I was in my twenties, we experienced a financial period similar to what our nation is going through at the present time. Money was tight, work was scarce and businesses were failing. One of those was my father’s paint business. He and my mother lost everything; the business, the home in which they
had raised their family and, in his mid-sixties without even a high school diploma, my father had to go out looking for some kind of employment. Despite all the uncertainty, the shame, the disappointment and the fear, I can still remember my mother quoting Job 13:15 and saying, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” and continuing to give thanks in all circumstances. She was by no means perfect, but we all had a sense when we were around her that every day was Thanksgiving Day.
If you are anything like me, there is a great challenge for all of us to grow in thanksgiving in every way in our walk
with Christ, not just on Thanksgiving Day, but throughout the year. “Don’t worry about anything; instead pray
about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers” (Philippians 4:6, Living Bible).
Thankful for all of you,
John King
Cookie Workshop – Nov 2
Legacy Coffeehouse – Nov 8
Book Discussion– Nov 15
PrimeTime Plus – Nov 17
Thanksgiving Service – Nov 27
Turkey Bowl – Nov 30
Advent Workshop – Nov 30
MCW Advent Communion Breakfast– Dec 6
Cookie Walk – Dec 13
Children’s Christmas Party – Dec 13
Dinner and Caroling – Dec 17
Children’s Christmas Pageant – Dec 21
Christmas Eve Services – Dec 24
6:00 & 8:30 PM (No 11:00 PM service)
Opportunities to Serve
KIT program for college students
Operation Christmas Child
Upward Basketball & Cheerleading
Turkeys and food by Nov 21
Visit Fair Acres – Nov 19
Deliver CityTeam food baskets – Nov 22
Penncrest Craft Fair – Nov 22
Serve dinner at CityTeam – Nov 27
Adopt-A-Family for Christmas
Christmas Toy Offering
Pancake Breakfast — 9:15 AM
Congregational Meeting— 10:15 AM
Thanksgiving Day — November 27
Join us to Give Thanks to God 9:30 am
and then come and share our blessings
by serving dinner at CityTeam
November Sermons and Scripture
11/2 - "Leaders Manual, Part Two," I Thess. 2:9-13
11/9 - "Words of Hope," I Thessalonians 4:13-18
11/16 - "A Thief in the Night," I Thessalonians 5:1-11
11/23 - "O Worship the King!" Psalm 100
Advent
11/30 - "The Gift of the Grace of God,"
I Corinthians 1:3-9:1 - 8
The Session met on Tuesday, October 21. Items of
business included:
• A congregational meeting on November 23 to
elect officers for the coming new year.
• Christmas Eve services will be at 6:00 PM and
8:30 PM with no 11:00 PM service.
• We brought 13 tickets for the Women of Faith
program September 11through 13, 2009. Nine
have been sold, four are left to sell.
• Volunteers are need for the Penncrest Craft
Fair and to clean up after Sunday’s coffeehour.
• Bulletin announcements to be put out by enews
or bi-weekly on a separate sheet.
• Parkside Sacred Dance Team will perform at
7:00PM in our sanctuary on December 14.
• The building team has been reinstated and will
meet October 28.
• The endowment fund pulled all the funds and
put it into cash or guaranteed funds for the
next three to four months as it was down
considerably.
November provides many opportunities to express thankfulness through service. Again this year Ken Schreffler is organizing the annual Turkey Trot for City Team Ministries. On Saturday, November 22, bring your frozen turkey donation to the church by 9:00 AM. Ken and other volunteers will transport the turkeys to City Team to be shared with needy families in the community. Watch for more details on participating in the food delivery and on serving dinner at City Team on Thanksgiving Day. Most of us remember the first Sunday of each month is Communion Sunday, but sometimes we forget that Communion Sunday is also the day to support Chester Eastside Ministries and the Media Food Bank with non-perishable food donations. Regular size cans of tuna, meats, beef stew,
soup, fruits, vegetables, and tomato sauce; jars of peanut butter and baby food; boxes of macaroni and cheese, cereal, and pasta are always needed. Please bring a few of these items each Communion Sunday and place them in the corner of the narthex. As we anticipate the spiritual nourishment that we receive each month by sharing in the Lord’s Supper, let’s plan to share with our neighbors who depend on us for their physical nourishment.
A great time was had by all who attended the Fall
Celebration on Saturday, October 25. Members had more to tell about the good times shared at Middletown than John King has stories!
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