America's Day to Give Thanks

Matthew 6:25-33
Jesus said, "I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you-- you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, `What will we eat?' or `What will we drink?' or `What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

I think it is interesting that the Gospel appointed for Thanksgiving Day begins by telling us not to worry. Our Vestry studied this passage at its November meeting, even as it was considering pretty drastic cuts to Trinity's 2010 budget. Giving thanks does not mean that we will always everything and anything we could ever want -- it means that God will provide that which we need -- and worrying about it doesn't make one bit of difference, except to make us anxious.

Today is a day that our nation and our church both set aside to give thanks, corporately, for all that we have. God knows that we need to be giving thanks every day, at all times and in all places, but this is a day when we are called together as a nation to do so. Our scripture passages remind us that ultimately God is the source of all we are, all we have, and all we hope for. I hope you will join us for Holy Eucharist with hymns at 10 a.m. in the church, with Fr. Ron preaching. Following a short break, during which we will set up for lunch and enjoy fellowship and snacks, we will enjoy a full traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner with all the fixing's, thanks to our director of music ministries, Bert Landman, who organizes this event each year. A free will offering will be taken to help defray the costs of the dinner. We have also invited our friends at Engine Co. No. 5 and the police officers on duty out of the Asylum Hill Substation to join us as they are able.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving Day. Your brother in Christ, Don+