The Community Thanksgiving Dinner is a long time tradition of Brookhaven UMC. The congregation purchases, prepares and serves a full Thanksgiving dinner to men and women who do not have family close by with whom they can share the meal or a place to gather. The meal is important, but just as important is the fellowship. Often times our guests are members of the Recovery community, men and women who are moving on from the grip of alcohol or addictions and whose lives are in a place of transition. Approximately ninety persons came through the serving line on Thanksgiving Day in 2017. As the church’s pastor, I was present to assist as was needed and to greet each of the guests. It was a delight to act as a welcoming host and I had warm interactions with each of the men and women. One interchange stood out. As I was speaking to one gentleman, he held my hand a little longer and looked at me with thankful and tearful eyes. “Pastor, I can’t tell you what this means to me. I made some mistakes in my life. I just got out of prison two weeks ago and I’m trying to make a new start. Its hard. But I just can’t express to you what it’s like to have a place like this to come to for Thanksgiving. To have all this good food. To not be alone and by myself. I just want to tell you, thanks.” God is a God of extravagance who calls us to abundance. As we share a portion of what we have received, it comes back ten fold.
1 Comment
|
Author
Archives
March 2023
Categories |