Worship Preview 11.15.24 "Giving Thanks: Grateful"

This Sunday: 10:30am – Giving Thanks: Grateful. Rev. Christopher Eshelman preaching. Scriptures:  Psalm 139 and James 1:1-18

Recently we’ve been talking about God’s ongoing act of creation – the earth and all that is in it – as well as humanity – being intentionally created by, sustained by, and loved by God who provides. Last week we talked about faith being a recognition and trust that there is “just enough.” Using the lectionary assigned story of Elijah and a widow from 1 Kings, I centered the service around the idea contained in this wonderful prayer by poet Karen Kaiser. "Give us this day, just enough strength. Give us this day, just enough peace. Give us this day, just enough hope. Give us this day, just enough grace. Give us this day, just enough trust. To believe that tomorrow will also be filled with... just enough."

This mindset leads to generosity. If we recognize and rely on God’s provision, we are less inclined to see scarcity and fall into the traps of hoarding and coveting. Instead, we are equipped and enabled to be generous – with our time, our talent, and our treasure!

This week we will build on that by talking about gratitude. Being grateful. Note this is not simply being happy nor does it mean everything has gone our way – but it is focusing on the good that remains present even in difficult circumstances. We started with this theme last week, as the 10th leper turned back to give thanks. Beyond being healed, the Samaritan was prepared to be grateful.

A few years ago, theologian and author Diana Butler Bass wrote a book entitled “Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks.” One of the things I most appreciated about the book is that she begins with a confession. Her prologue is entitled “No Thanks” and she talks about resenting being forced to write “thank you notes” as a child, her dilemma as an adult of receiving a thank you card for a thank you note she had sent (is she to thank them for the thank you?!), and her own struggle to understand and live out gratitude. She writes: “Gratitude is complicated. Feelings of dependence—and interdependence—can be both elusive and resisted, mostly because they are caught up with soul-crushing ideas of obligation and debt. But if gratitude is mutual reliance upon (instead of payback for) shared gifts, we awaken to a profound awareness of our interdependence. Dependence may enslave the soul, but interdependence frees us.” As her understanding grows, she realizes that “gratitude is not a transaction of debt and duty. Rather, gratitude is a spiritual awareness and a social structure of gift and response.” And ultimately, gratitude becomes grounded in the realization that all we have is an unmerited gift. “Gratitude is not about stuff. Gratitude is the emotional response to the surprise of our very existence, to sensing that inner light and realizing the astonishing sacred, social, and scientific events that brought each one of us into being. We cry out like the psalmist, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made!”

I’ve also talked quite a bit lately about grief and defined grief as love that has lost its focus. An “attitude of gratitude” helps us focus on the things we grieve most, being thankful for what we had and experienced – and enables us to make them a part of ourselves s0 that the light of the one we have lost continues to shine through us.

In our Psalm we find the beloved and comforting assurance “O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.” We are known. We are loved, even in our shortcomings.

Again, this helps us to understand that all we are and all we have is a gift from God – when we focus on that, we become increasingly capable of sharing our gifts and of living from a place of gratefulness. The author of the Epistle of James understands this. They write: “Do not be deceived, my beloved. Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfilment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

Bass also quotes Maya Angelou, who calls on us to: “Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” Gratefulness enables us to focus on the good that happens, the good that simply is, even when times are tough – and to intentionally build on it. Having just enough faith to take each day as it comes – prepared and predisposed to being thankful and expressing it, which in turn draws us and others closer to God.

If you do not already have a church home or it time for a change, we hope you will join us to rejoice and give thanks, 10:30am each Sunday here at First United Methodist, 301 S. National, as we seek to find our path and share our journey!

Upcoming Events: 

Tuesday, November 19th Pioneer Kiwanis Chili and Cinnamon Roll Fundraiser. First UMC is delighted to host this community group. Drive thru the portico to pick up their delicious chili and a cinnamon roll. $8 suggested Donation per serving. 11:00am – 1:30pm and 4-6pm.

Wednesday, November 20th 5:30–6:30pm: Feeding Families in His Name – this free meal is available to everyone without obligation. A “to-go” meal is distributed under the portico at 301 S. National. A reminder: Please do not block nearby driveways while waiting. Thank you. If you would like to support this ministry, you can make donations online at: www.firstumcfortscott.org/onlinegiving. 

(Note – to give our volunteers a break and time with their families, there will not be a meal served on November 27th, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving or on Christmas and New Years since fall on Wednesday this year.)

Christmas on the Bricks and our 2nd Annual Nativity Showcase are coming the first weekend in December. Come by the church at 301 S. National to pick up a registration form and enter your favorite nativity set in our display – or just marke your calendar to come by and see nativities from all over the world.