Thanksgiving 2025

It’s really hard for me to believe that we are only weeks away from the end of 2025. This year seems to have flown by for me. Of course, we have had some significant events in our family’s life this year. I know that many of you have experienced changes this year as well. The loss of loved ones. Changes in our health. As we approach Thanksgiving this week, I want to focus on those things for which I am thankful. How have we seen God’s goodness in the year past?

Josanne and I have been blessed to be able to be at the International Conference on Missions in Atlanta, GA over the past week. We have been able to see people we haven’t seen in some time. We’ve been inspired and challenged by the worship services and the preaching. We’ve been able to hear about what God is doing in various parts of the world. We’ve also received updates about places that have been on our hearts and in our prayers—like Nigeria and Haiti. Our Christian brothers and sisters are experiencing unimaginable difficulties there. We’ve been able to share meals with long-time friends and we have met new people as well. I’m thankful to Mike Claver for stepping into the pulpit yesterday while we’ve been gone.

A reminder that the office will be closed Thursday, so if you need anything to go into the bulletin, we need to have it by Wednesday morning.

I hope you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I’m looking forward to our celebration of Advent beginning next Sunday!

God bless, Brian

Scripture readings for next Sunday

Luke 1:26-56—Why do you think Mary responds in the way that she does?

Psalm 98—Mary alludes to this psalm in her song what other references do you see?

1 Samuel 2:1-10—What similarities do you notice between Hannah’s song and Mary’s?

Romans 15:5-13—How are Christians called to continue to make Mary’s words true?