Thanksgiving as a Church

What does it mean to celebrate Thanksgiving as a church? It’s more than a holiday when you follow Jesus. Thanksgiving should be a way of life for us as a church community, and for that to happen, it needs to be a way of life for each of us individually.

As Christ’s followers, thanksgiving should look different than it does in the world.  So much of what we give thanks for are the things we have, the wealth we hold, the property we own, and the luxuries we enjoy. When sickness or tragedy strikes, our understanding of thanksgiving often shifts to help us recognize other things that are more important than we still have or, unfortunately, that we have lost.  It can be a catalyst for living a life of thanksgiving. 

 Christ’s followers, first and foremost, should be giving thanks, not just at Thanksgiving, but every day.  What should they give thanks for?  First and foremost, the love of God made known in Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection and  God’s grace and forgiveness.  I hope after celebrating Easter, we don’t wait until the middle of October to give thanks for that.  Thanksgiving as a church continues in all circumstances, as it should for us in our individual lives.

Thanksgiving Celebrations

In a few weeks, we will all be feeling rather ‘full’ after celebrating another Thanksgiving here in the comfort of our homes in Regina, SK. Many of us will spend countless hours preparing mashed potatoes, turkey, and, of course, all the fixings. We will eat copious amounts of food, often with family and friends. 

Somehow, how thankful we are feel is shown in how big our celebration is.  Yet some of the most grateful people I know celebrate with thanksgiving every day. They are people who do not mind a big meal, but giving thanks has no connection with the food they eat.

What does thanksgiving look like?

Giving thanks to God

What do we give thanks for?  Everything. Health, food, shelter, God’s sustaining, hope, forgiveness, the list can go on. The challenge is keeping an attitude of thanksgiving beyond a holiday celebration.  Ideally, we thank God daily for who He is, what He has done, and His provisions in our lives.

Living out faith

It’s one thing to say you’re thankful and another thing to live it out.  Do we approach each day with thanksgiving and show it in value for those around us and the blessings we have?  Do we always desire something else or live with a sense of contentment?

Praying for others

Our thanksgiving should not end with self-reflection; we should continue forward in prayer for others and their needs. What we are thankful for that others do not experience should move us forward in prayer that others may experience the same blessings we have experienced.

Worship

One key way we show thanksgiving is by worshipping God. Worship can be music-based, but it can also be expressed through art, writing, and many other practices. I know for some, a silent walk in God’s creation is an act of worship and thanksgiving.

Living out faith in all circumstances

While things are going well, thanksgiving is easy/ How about when things are difficult? When unemployed? When we have health struggles?  When we are grieving?  Can we be thankful, then?  The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18:

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Paul had experienced great hardship and difficulties.  He knew how hard this world could be, yet he was thankful.  He calls us to be thankful… In all things.   This is where we can reframe what we are thankful for, from ‘things’ to the work of God in our world and our lives and God’s faithfulness and promises for us.   We can be thankful God is still at work in our lives and world. 

Thanksgiving as Community

We are also called to give thanks together. Worshipping God is an act of thanksgiving.  Serving one another, giving of our finances, and loving others are all acts of thanksgiving—we offer back what we can in thanksgiving for who God is and what He is doing in our lives.

So, we invite you to join us on Thanksgiving Sunday and to join us in thanksgiving. As a church, you can join us at 10:45 a.m. each Sunday, either online or in person. Come and join alongside others who are struggling and hurting, who are wondering and questioning, or even who are just thankful—but join us all together in setting our focus on God—in thanksgiving.

Links to help you connect with us this Thanksgiving:

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