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Dear friends,
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
I hope you will read through the newsletter and take note of all the great things coming up - Tree Lighting and Nativity this Friday, our Advent ArtReach Day for all ages this Sunday, and our Bishop's visit on December 3rd to name a few.
Thanksgiving week, I always take stock of the past year and set aside time to thank God for all the challenges and the joys from the year. I am especially thankful for the last two weeks. Jeremy's crazy idea (which really was someone else's crazy idea - you know who you are! ha ha ha ha!!!) of adopting trees has been so fun. It has given us a chance to chat with one another, laugh, and help each other. We have had neighbors help us set up lights and spend time with us too. What an unexpected blessing.
In addition to time together, the President of the Bulverde/Spring Branch Chamber expressed her gratitude for our church caring so much about the Tree Lighting. She shared that she was encouraged by our joy, love, and energy. Isn't that great! Our neighbors being encouraged by our joy, love, and energy!!!
I hope you enjoy some of the pictures of the trees here in the newsletter and I hope you will come out to soak in some of the joy and light they give off. Every time I look out in our church yard, I can't help but give thanks for our life together.
As you spend time with family and friends, I pray you have a blessed thanksgiving day. I also want to share The General Thanksgiving with your from our Book of Common Prayer. It a favorite and full prayer of thanks for the Thanksgiving holiday and, well... everyday.
A General Thanksgiving (2007 Version)
Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have
done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole
creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life,
and for the mystery of love.
We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for
the loving care which surrounds us on every side.
We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best
efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy
and delight us.
We thank you also for those disappointments and failures
that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.
Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the
truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast
obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying,
through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life
again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.
Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know Christ and
make him known; and through him, at all times and in all
places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.
God’s Peace, Love, and Blessings,
Beth+
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