Thanksgiving and Thanks-living
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this
is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NRSV)
Thanksgiving observance has been a
government tradition in the U.S.A. since 1789. As Christians, we celebrate
thanksgiving everyday to remind us of the grace that our Creator extends
through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. As we pause to reflect
on our thankfulness during this holiday season, let us be reminded of the wars
in Gaza and the Sudan; the homeless, jobless and financially strained persons
in our society; persons living with disabilities; and others who are living
with HIV/AIDS, cancer or grieving the loss of loved ones due to gun violence.
It is more difficult for these individuals to give thanks in some instances.
They may be encountering anger, fear, frustration or disappointment. Or, they
may still be numb from the shock of devastating news.
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Office of Public Witness (OPW) remains prayerful during these times for the
many personal and global circumstances that impact our lives daily. Our
thanksgiving is possible, because we know that your prayers are at work for us
as we serve the gospel of Jesus Christ through our advocacy work. Despite
moments of disappointment with our leaders in this nation, we are not deterred
from believing that God is still sovereign in all things. Therefore our faith
in God through Jesus Christ allows us to proclaim as did the writer of 1
Thessalonians “Rejoice always, pray without
ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Our call is to remain faithful while advocating for a new
reality in our midst. We know that new realities are possible, because our
celebration of Advent in a few weeks reminds us of the redemptive love and
power found in Jesus Christ our Lord.
We need your help in
this coming session of Congress. Our work on issues such as Immigration Reform,
Federal Budget, Middle East Peace, the Sudan, Trade Issues, Gun Violence, Environmental
Issues, Mass Incarceration, Violence Against Women, and a host of other issues
that are before this global world, is often daunting. However, we are not discouraged. God’s truth
is still marching on! We thank you for your prayers, financial support, and
active participation in a public witness on behalf of our denomination.
Remember, it is not
too late to make a tax deductible financial
contribution to the work of advocacy in our
office. Nor, is it too late for you to extend your commitment to become
involved in making a difference.
In the faith we share,
J. Herbert
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1
Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NRSV)
