And Be Thankful
November 21, 2023
Dear CPC Family,
Thanksgiving permeates the Christian life.
When we see the greatness of our sin and misery and the grace of God’s deliverance in Christ from that sin and misery, the main question for a Christian is, as the Heidelberg Catechism puts it, “how I am to thank God for such deliverance.”
We also see this theme in the Bible. Notice how these verses from Colossians continually return to thankfulness as the essence of life as a Christian: “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:15-17)
Of course if thanksgiving is for life, then we shouldn’t relegate it to one Thursday each year … but we should celebrate that one Thursday later this week with enthusiasm! Whatever you do this Thanksgiving Day, in word or deed (whether spending time with family and friends, eating delicious food, watching football, or taking in a Thanksgiving Day hike), do everything in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God through him! [By the way, you might want to read last year’s thanksgiving letter for practical help if you might be asked to pray at a Thanksgiving Day gathering]
As the members and friends of Corona Presbyterian Church (near and far), I am thankful for each of you. With Paul I can say, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”
If you need any further help in reflection this Thanksgiving, let me leave you with my favorite thanksgiving hymn, Now Thank We All Our God [and check out this video for the classic organ accompaniment]:
Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers' arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us;
and keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
in this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son, and him who reigns
with them in highest heaven--
the one eternal God,
whom earth and heav'n adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
Happy Thanksgiving!
In the Father’s Love,
Pastor Andrew