Thanksgiving Leads Us to the Advent Journey

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, a time when we are invited to remember just how blessed we are as individuals, as a church and as a nation, giving thanks to God, the source of all blessings. It is a time set aside to be together, to remember, and to be grateful. And, as it happens nearly every year, it is the holiday that prepares us and our gratitude for the Holy Season of Advent.

Think about that. Thanksgiving, a secular holiday, serves to prepare the Christian community to enter into the holy-days of Advent with gratitude in our hearts, already focused on the goodness of God. Because of the holiday of Thanksgiving, we take our first step on a new Advent journey filled to overflowing with gratitude, eager to discover anew the joy of being citizens of the Kingdom. And, as we continue our Advent walk, fueled by thanks, we open ourselves to experience the Holy-day of Christmas in ways we have not known before. Thanksgiving leads to new discoveries of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace, which carries us to the Manger, where we find the One for whom we are most grateful.

Thanksgiving → Advent → Christmas. Holiday → Holy-day → Life-way. All given to us by the God who loves us for the sake of loving.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Pastor Steven