Sermonette: Nov. 29, 2021

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father. Amen.

It seems like everybody says this at least once every day. Where has the time gone? I know I do. It seems to me we were just complaining about how hot it was outside and now, here we are making plans for Thanksgiving, and Christmas is right around the corner. This week’s message is a prayer. We all know what the holiday of Thanksgiving is for. It is pretty much self-explanatory. We are to be thankful for the many blessings we receive; both physical and spiritual. So, rather than go through a big list of what we should be thankful for that we have, I offer you this prayer instead. I hope you use it this Thanksgiving Day, or anytime for that matter when you sit down with a gathering of friends and family for a meal.

Gracious and loving Father, we welcome you and thank you for being with us today. As friends, family, and loved ones we have gathered here today, not only for a meal, but for fellowship, to laugh, to play and in all ways enjoy each other's presence. We have a veritable feast before us. Far more than we truly need. In fact, some of us will probably eat far more than we should; to the point of being uncomfortable. We ask you, dear Father, to bless those whose hands have provided this bountiful feast, and to bless the hands that have prepared it and so lovingly shared it. Dear Father, we ask that you help us remember that while we have this feast before us, there are those today who will be hungry. There will be no leftovers, no overeating. They will scarcely have enough to get them through the day. We ask your blessings upon them as they struggle with minimal sustenance. We also ask, O Lord, that while we are surrounded today by our family and friends, help us to remember that there are those who will be lonely this day. They will not be sharing laughter and playing games, and enjoying the company of others like we are today. They may be estranged or outcast from their families. Bitterness or ill feelings towards each other may have been ongoing for a long time and they don't know how to reconcile. They may have loved ones serving our country in lands far away. They may have lost children or spouses to death. For whatever the reasons, dear Lord, we ask your blessings upon them today, and every day. Most important of all, Heavenly Father, there are those today who do not know the comfort and the peace we have knowing you love us, knowing that the death and resurrection of your son will allow us to join you in heaven for all eternity. Touch their hearts, we pray, that they may get to know you as we do. All these things, dear Father, we pray in the name of your precious son, our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving and for God to watch over those of you who will be traveling.

Yours in Christ. Jeff.