From Your Pastor

November 18, 2009

Hello Crew,
I’m writing a day early because I need your help. We’re observing November 22nd as Thanksgiving Sunday. We will have a Celebration of Thanksgiving in the service following a reading of Psalm 100 which says: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.” At that point I would like to share several expressions of thanksgiving from the congregation. It could be a word, a phrase, or a sentence that expresses your heart felt gratitude to our generous God. It could be something like: I am thankful to God for__________.

Here’s the way you can help – take a minute to email your thanksgiving expression to me at: dbrownlee@christunitedjxn.org and I will do my best to include it in our Litany of Thanksgiving this Sunday in worship.

I think it is absolutely appropriate that November 22nd is also Commitment Sunday for us here at Christ Church. In view of God’s great generosity toward us, we will have an opportunity to fill out a pledge card and lay it on the altar as a tangible expression of our gratitude and generosity to God, and our commitment to His work through the church. Together we will take the Next Step to become a tithing congregation. Can you imagine the spiritual growth that will flow from our decisions to trust God and give the “first fruits” as our gift to Him?

I hope you and your family can stay for lunch following worship– we’re having catfish and I understand it will be great. Call in your reservations, or get your tickets in the Great Hall on Sunday.

If, for some excellent reason you are unable to be with us Sunday, a pledge card will be mailed to your home sometime after Thanksgiving.

I trust you and your family are praying the table grace for this fourth week of our Generosity emphasis, and reading the daily devotionals from the Website and then praying diligently for what you will trust God to pledge to his work in 2010. In the meantime, you are encouraged to be generous in your yearend giving to enable our church to have a strong missional response for the cause of Christ.

Grace and Gratitude!
David

Scripture Readings
Wednesday, November 18 - Isaiah 58:6-11  
Thursday, November 19 - Deuteronomy 14:28-29
Friday, November 20 - Luke 9:23-25
Saturday, November 21 - Philippians 4:10-19

Monday, November 23 - Jeremiah 29:11-14
Tuesday, November 24 - Lamentations 3:21-26
Wednesday, November 25 - Romans 5:1-5  
Thursday, November 26 - Romans 8:24-28
Friday, November 27 - I Thessalonians 1:2-3
Saturday, November 28 - Hebrews 6:17-20

Key Scripture
And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. 1John 3:3

Centering Prayer
God of hope, anchor my life…