Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! I thank my God in all remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel thus about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:3-11
These words God inspired Paul to write to the church at Philippi say what we recall in this season of Thanksgiving during the month of November and every day!
Praise and thanksgiving to God for his goodness and love; thanks to you for the faithful witness and service you give to God and others. Nancy and I bless the Lord and thank you for the many gifts of love and kindness expressed on the occasions of our Birthdays, Pastor Appreciation and for including our ministry staff, retired Pastor’s/spouses in your appreciation – thank you!
We offer thanks and praise for saints who have gone before us. We give thanks in the abundance of the goodness of life which God creates, and we remember God called creation good!
God in Jesus Christ invites us to partner with him, sharing with each other, the wondrous new life of the gospel. Harvest reminds us that Jesus who began a good work is bringing it toward completion.
We are privileged to invest in others around us. New life, those who have left this world, health and healing, growth and learning, harvest and faithful living – thank God for his faithfulness and love!
The hymn, “Now Thank We All our God,” written in 1636 by Martin Rinkart sings out:
Now thank we all our god, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in whom this 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 still in 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 heaven adore;
For thus it was is now, and shall be evermore.
We covet and greatly appreciate your faithfulness in prayer for us. Prayer for our leaders seeking after God’s will and purpose for his people. God’s Word says we are blessed to be a way of blessing for others, especially, widows, orphans, and the poor. Pray for those in leadership; school boards, local, county, state government, Farm Bureau, Congress, and leadership of all nations of the world, especially Ukraine and Russia. Seek the power of God’s Holy Spirit in ministry! Adore God, ask for God’s saving mercy, offer thanksgiving, and make supplication – for God’s kingdom, others and our own needs in ministry. Our Heavenly Father knows what is necessary to seek and serve the least, lost, and lonely; offering them Jesus Christ! Pray and practice the love and mercy of God! Blessing, honor, and praise, be to God over all! Thank you!
In Jesus, Pastor Paul