A Message from the Pastor

Giving Thanks …More Than Just Words

This month is highlighted by the celebration of Thanksgiving Day. It is a great day to share in a feast with family and friends. It is a great day to remember the story of the Pilgrims and Plymouth Rock, and all the sacrifices made long ago to establish a new society in this country. It is also a great time to recount our own personal thanksgivings in the year gone by.

The scriptures use the term ‘thanks’ or ‘thanksgiving’ more than 100 times. In fact in I Thessalonians 5:18 Paul encourages believers to, “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The conclusion can be drawn that for the Christian every moment of our lives is worthy of thanksgiving, both the joys and the sorrows. Paul also reminds us that a life of thanksgiving is a life of generosity. In 2 Corinthians 9:11 Paul states that, “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”

Here at Christ the King Church, November will not only be a month for Thanksgiving, but a time to weigh our faithful response to the richness of Grace that God has lavished on each one of us. Beginning on November 8 through November 22, I will focus our worship and proclamation in God’s desire for us to live thankful lives. Throughout the month I will challenge you to prayerfully consider your response to God’s grace in your life measured by your generosity. We will once again ask that you make a financial pledge to the ministries of Christ the King Church. But there will be some new variations on your pledge that I hope might make it more comfortable for those who may be hesitant.

As we prepare for this month of Thanksgiving I ask that you pray for the ministries of Christ the King Church. I also ask that you make the following verses a part of your daily reading and devotions for the month of November: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15:

Sowing Generously
6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written:

"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." 10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

In Christ’s Peace,

Pastor Kerry

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