From The Workshop

FROM THE WORKSHOP

Here we are in November, the month in between Halloween and December. All the pumpkin patches are gone. Lights are already up on the streets and homes. Stores have candy cane decor and our mailboxes are full of holiday catalogues. While the marketers are cranking up for the final economic rush of the year, I’m standing up for the season of Thanksgiving and its message of abundance and sharing. 
 
The multitude of today’s school plays and hall artwork depict the 1621 Pilgrims with their Wampanoag Indian neighbors sitting down at tables of turkey, dressing, and pumpkin pie. The Pilgrims have buckled hats and shoes; the Indians wear headdresses and beads. These are our images from grade school continued by our children and grandchildren. Historically there’s no evidence of tables, turkeys, cranberries, pumpkin pies, or the Indian and Pilgrim “traditional” clothing seen in the school plays. According to Gov. Edward Winslow’s diary, the colonists met with Chief Massasoit and 90 of his people for a four day feast. These are the bare bones which build our Thanksgiving traditions. 
 
Putting the details aside, what is important is that two different cultures, two very different sets of people met together and in some fashion spent time together sharing food. Not just for a couple of hours, but for four days! That’s a long time. Who knows what was said, who knows what they did when they weren’t eating? But there’s more to wonder about. It was the fall, it was harvest time. It’s the time to be storing  and preparing for the long winter. Here our ancestors were sharing what they had freely and for several days. 
 
Think about the abundance appearing in our congregation:

  • Notice the growing piles of new clothing collected by our Outreach Team for the homeless
  • The Youth are collecting batteries, blankets, and sheets for a veterans center
  • Sherri Peters and her Inking for Others card team donated three carts full of peanut butter and canned items for the Moore Regional Food Bank
  • Hats and Mats (another Outreach group) are busy manufacturing these items for those on the streets

And then there was the Thanksgiving meal initiated by our Fellowship Team this past Sunday. Again members brought prepared turkey and hams, vegetables, potatoes and gravy, assorted salads and veggies, and desserts (pies, cakes, and cobblers!). The fellowship hall had every table up and every table occupied. When we we were done, everyone was served abundantly and there were still pans in the warmer. We made sure nothing was wasted and more will enjoy it later. 
 
What we saw Sunday is a glimpse of the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus proclaimed. Food, clothing, and a little shelter are shared with others. We are abundantly blessed and so we can abundantly share. 
 
See you Sunday as we celebrate veterans. 
 
Pastor Tom