Tag: Giving Thanks

Nothing lasts forever

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Gratitude4 Comments

 I grew up on top of a hill in Wallingford CT in what we called “the little house with the big view.”  The house was really just a winterized summer cottage built by my great-grandfather. It had tiny rooms, a galley kitchen, and a leaky roof. But the view – that was priceless. Looking west on a clear evening provided us spectacular sunsets that lit up the sky. On cloudy days we could see storms approaching as we watched rain and lightning advance ever closer.

Not too long ago, I drove by that special spot.  The house is gone. The trees that we used to climb have been cut down.  The fields where the horses grazed are empty.

Nothing lasts forever.

That fact – nothing lasts forever – could either be a cause for rejoicing (think – sitting in a dentist’s chair) or a reason to reflect, perhaps even mourn (think – a person/circumstance/place that you miss).

What if we lived with a greater awareness that nothing lasts forever?  Would that cause us to appreciate the blessings big and small that exist in our lives?  Would we notice the beauty that surrounds us as we hurry from one place to the next?  Would we listen – really listen – to the next conversation we hold with a friend or family member?  Would we make time to visit or call someone who has been on our mind?

As we approach Thanksgiving, perhaps the statement “nothing lasts forever” will be an invitation to gratitude and thankfulness.

The Bible tells us, “There is a time for every season.”  And we all know that seasons change, ebb, flow, and finally end. We cannot alter the passage of time but we can be intentional about noticing and appreciating the moments and the people who fill our lives.

Before my parents moved out of that tiny house on the hill, our whole family gathered there to say a final good-bye.  Everyone – adults, children, and grandchildren – were invited to name a spot on the property that held a special memory.  We would go to that place, listen to the memory, and give thanks.  We stood around the special climbing tree, we walked to the barn and remembered caring for the horses, we squeezed into the microscopic kitchen and reminisced about delicious meals, we sat in the living room and visualized stockings hanging from the mantel and joy being shared.

Through this month of Thanksgiving and beyond, may we be especially aware of the precious gifts that God offers us every day.

Photo credit: Herbert Goetsch, Unsplash

Even in chaos, gratitude

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Gratitude3 Comments

I am thankful for shower chairs. Now, mind you, I didn’t actually know that such a thing existed until I suddenly needed one post-surgery.  And let me tell you – it’s a game changer!  Allows me to safely take a shower which is good for body and spirit.

That gratitude for an unlikely blessing made me wonder – what else are we grateful for?  How does God surprise us by providing gifts that we were not even aware we needed?  What blessings might I be overlooking?

I think of the people in southern California who are discovering the blessings of safe shelter, warm meals, and charging stations following devastating rainfall.  They are not thankful for the storms but are grateful for the compassion.

I wonder about the people in Ukraine who experience the ministries of a group like World Kitchen which sets up shop in the midst of war to provide nourishing meals and opportunities for fellowship. No one is thankful for war but experiencing kindness in the midst of overwhelming loss must feel miraculous.

Sometimes we may not like our circumstances or we may find ourselves confronting situations that we never desired. That does not mean that blessings are absent. It could mean that even in those times and those places, we might discover a reason to give thanks.

I have a friend whose daughter was riding her bike in city traffic and was hit by a car.  The driver raced away and was never found.  It was a terrifying and also heartbreaking situation – the careless disregard for this beloved child was enough to cast doubt on people in general. But it happened that another person witnessed the accident. That person did stop, called 911, stayed with her until help arrived, let her use his phone to call her parents, and then volunteered to keep her damaged bike until she could claim it again.  And there it was – in the midst of chaos, hurt, and loss, a reason to give thanks.

Before we write off an overwhelming situation as a lost cause, can we wonder – where is God in this?  Because surely the God who promises to never leave us or forsake us is right there with us. Sometimes hidden, sometimes surprising.  But with us.  Always.

May we be aware of God’s presence today.

May we share God’s love with others today.

Yours in Christ,

Corona and Gratitude

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Gratitude2 Comments

This week I enjoyed a coloring page (not something I ordinarily do but I find it quiets my spirit in these troubled times) that reads, “This the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118).

            It is not easy to rejoice these days. Every newscast is grim and images of overfilled hospitals are horrifying. Across the globe, people are sick and dying. There is great suffering everywhere. How does one rejoice on a day filled with sadness?  

            These days I am discovering that very familiar Scripture passages suddenly sound brand new. Or at least they are offering me a new insight. In the midst of a pandemic the refrain “Rejoice and be glad,” has a different ring to it. It has nothing to do with happy feelings, calm meditations or even joyous events. Instead, I hear an invitation to look for signs of God who created this day. If God created this day, where can I discover God? Where can I find reasons to give thanks and – perhaps – even rejoice?  

            I’ve decided to intentionally count my blessings. Today I am filled with gratitude for the many ways our congregation is stepping up to meet the challenge of the coronavirus and the very human need that illness brings with it. I give thanks for our outstanding staff who are learning new skills in order to minister to our congregation. Our office manager Heidi Tucker has transformed the church’s online presence by updating and improving our website and creating a YouTube channel with recordings of worship, Bible study, reflections, and music.

I give thanks for Anne Sorensen and Tom Converse who now meet with our youth group online. The kids love the opportunity to see one another and then respond to questions like “How has this week been for you? Where have you experienced God this week? What was hard about these last few days? What did you enjoy?” I give thanks for Louise Labbe-Fahy who sends notes and coloring pages to our Sunday School children and is discovering ways to offer Bible stories and activities for them online.

            My heart is filled with gratitude for the many people who are enriching the lives of our congregation – let us rejoice in musicians like Nancy Ducharme, Ben Gould, Jeff Wong, and Sarah Jo Burke who lift our spirits with their musical talents. There are many volunteers who are sending cards and making phone calls while we are physically apart from one another. Clever crafters are creating much-needed facemasks and isolation gowns for local hospitals and nursing homes. Food that you donated to our church pantry is being given to “Caitlyn’s Cupboard” at Day Kimball Hospital to help oncology patients during a time when the need is high but donations are low.

 Your compassion and caring fill my heart with hope. That enables me to rejoice in this day because I see signs of God’s love and new life in and around us.

            Today – look for signs of God’s hope.  Let us rejoice because God is in this day.

            Today – be a sign of God’s hope for someone else. Help someone else have a reason to rejoice.

Thirty years of blessings

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Church10 Comments

In November 1987 I arrived at the East Woodstock Congregational Church, young and inexperienced, to begin my ministry. The congregation welcomed me with gracious patience as I made (many) mistakes. They offered encouragement as I grew into my role and discovered what it means to be a pastor.

They taught me about thoughtfulness and caring:

  1. Debbie Sherman filled the parsonage refrigerator with milk, butter and eggs. There was bread and cereal on the counter, along with directions to the (distant) grocery store. I knew I had landed among considerate, caring people.
  2. A “Pastor’s welcome basket” was set up during my first month. Every Sunday I discovered practical gifts like a flashlight, light bulbs, dish towels, cookies, and homemade muffins.
  3. Larry Grennan realized my 2-room seminary apartment wouldn’t provide enough furnishings for the rambling parsonage. He scouted furniture that helped turn that big old house into a home.
  4. George Brown fulfilled his promise to paint my office (upstairs in the brick schoolhouse, at the time) any color I chose – a cheerful yellow. George would swing by the church every afternoon “just to check” if anything needed to be adjusted, fixed, or tidied.
  5. John Davis looked at the spindly wooden chair behind my desk and invited me on an office-decorating expedition to Worcester that included reminisces about his family, work and school.
  6. Barbara Brown spent hours teaching me about relations and family connections in our village. Her gentle suggestions (“Susan, you might want to call this person”) as she reminded me about birthdays and anniversaries of happy and sad occasions helped me establish personal connections with my congregation.
  7. Kenny Marvin walked through the church every morning on the way to work to check on fickle furnaces and quirky water pumps. David Cain did endless chores – emptying trash cans, folding bulletins, raking leaves – to serve the church he loved.
  8. Evelyn Eddy dedicated her life to the missions committee, always finding new ways to help others. Barbara Klare held up autumn leaves each fall as a reminder of God’s creative presence in our lives.
  9. Barbara Barrett taught me about organization and attention to detail with her yellow legal pads and endless energy.
  10. Glen Lessig suggested the revolutionary idea of a computer to replace my typewriter and had the foresight to exchange our ancient mimeograph machine with a speedy Risograph.

They know the value of a good celebration:

  1. The noisy exuberance of children at Rally Day, Children’s Day, Christmas Pageant, children’s choir, and Vacation Bible School.
  2. Quiet beauty of our candlelight Christmas Eve service
  3. Joy and creativity of the Holly Fair
  4. Toe-tapping music of Jazz Sunday
  5. Making a joyful noise on Music Appreciation Sunday
  6. The Fourth of July Jamboree. An amazing, enduring effort that welcomes 1000+ people to enjoy old-fashioned, small-town fun.

They know how to share God’s love. These are the people I depend on in times of joy or tragedy. They live their faith by

  1. Creating beautiful Thanksgiving baskets
  2. Keeping a well-stocked food pantry for times of emergency
  3. Hosting beautiful funeral receptions, surrounding families with love
  4. Providing rides, cooking at the Community Kitchen, visiting the homebound
  5. Holding vigils in times of loss and mourning
  6. Walking with one another on life’s journey
  7. Choosing to become an Open and Affirming congregation, welcoming all of God’s people

They have made East Woodstock my home. I am grateful for

  1. Celebrating my marriage with a contra dance
  2. Creating a safe and nurturing place for our children while allowing them space to learn and grow without expecting them to be perfect
  3. Supporting my continuing education with sabbatical leave – 3 times
  4. Reading and discussing my research during my Doctor of Ministry studies
  5. Making it possible for my family to travel to Bolivia, birthplace of our oldest son

There are words and experiences that I will always associate with East Woodstock:

  1. Molasses cookies. Cake walk. Basket social. Chicken barbeque. Men’s chorus.

When I step into our sanctuary, I know I am on holy ground.  This is a place where births and baptism are celebrated, couples unite, teenagers are confirmed, and memories are shared to mark a life completed and a soul gone home. There is a cloud of witnesses offering strength and love to the vibrant, active congregation that gathers to worship and serve.

  1. These are not-perfect people led by a not-perfect pastor, but somehow through the grace of God, together we are the church. And I am so grateful.

Thanks be to God.

Even in this circumstance, give thanks

On By fosteringyourfaithIn Thanksgiving, Uncategorized2 Comments

Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving, and God’s courts with praise. Give thanks to God, bless God’s name.   Psalm 100

“Come you thankful people come,” we sing annually on Thanksgiving Sunday as we gaze at the cornucopia lovingly crafted by our favorite 90-something year old member. Overflowing with fruits and vegetables native to New England, she reminds us this horn-shaped symbol of plenty is “A living symbol of God’ abundant blessings.”

“Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving,” the Psalmist directs us. Admittedly, it is easier to approach those heavenly courts with praise when the sun is shining and all is right in our world.  But what about the other times?

Paul can sound like a grating nag when he urges, “Give thanks in all circumstances,” (1 Thessalonians 5:13). How would you like us to do that, Paul, when our spirits are nearly broken by circumstances that weigh down our souls?

Corrie ten Boon’s memory of leading forbidden worship in a World War II concentration camp might shed some light for us. Almost crushed by the effort of offering praise amidst wretched, flea-infested, frigid surroundings, they worshiped God.  Always fearful of discovery and punishment, they lifted whispered prayers of thanksgiving not only for the beloved community in that unholy place but also for the hardships they helped each other bear.  Months passed as their cherished worship continued uninterrupted by the usually brutal guards, offering encouragement to their battered spirits. Decades later, Corrie encountered a former prison guard who admitted he had never ventured into her barrack because he feared the overwhelming flea infestation. God was indeed in that place, utilizing every means to bless those worshipers.

We give thanks in all circumstances, not for them. Giving thanks for every good thing is easy. Giving thanks while staring down hatred, injustice, poverty or sadness may strain our faithfulness. Discerning God’s love while receiving cancer treatments, caring for a critically ill loved one or agonizing over a wayward child may challenge our belief.

Giving thanks is the beginning of trust. When we dare to pray, “Thank you God for being with me in this circumstance,” we may discover God’s strength and blessing when we need it most.

And may we pray, “Faithful God, may we remember the words of Meister Eckhart: If the only prayer I pray is ‘thank you,’ it will be enough. Thank you. Amen.”