From The Rector’s Desk

I am not exactly sure why it is true but the older I get, the more I am aware of the importance of expressing gratitude. The opportunity to say thank you comes up in most conversations and yet some of us were taught that it was not necessary “to say thank you all the time.” My experience is that it is both appropriate and necessary to express our gratitude for both God’s blessings, in our lives and to the people who make those blessings a reality in our everyday experience. Thanksgiving is a reminder of the blessing of creation, freedom, food, family, and friends. We are so blessed to live in Canada where we have the opportunity to enjoy each of these blessings.

Several years ago, our extended family gathered together for a huge thanksgiving feast. The table was filled with an assortment of turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and pie. The conversation was enjoyable and I recall there being a lot of laughter. Somehow, on my way out the door from my parents’ home that night, I had the strangest feeling that that was the last thanksgiving meal where the entire family would gather. Suffice it to say that my parents’ poor health came quickly during the following year. My father’s cancer diagnosis and my mother’s early onset Alzheimer’s changed the dynamic in our family very quickly. We never know when family experiences will result in the redefinition of what it means to gather around the thanksgiving table.

The scheduling of thanksgiving celebrations can feel like a significant task. But I try to remind myself that at least one of the people sitting at the table this year may not be there next year. Every celebration is precious and every memory is a gift.

The preparation of the thanksgiving meal is one of my favourite experiences.

I often think of the farmers who have worked so hard to ensure that we have both the quality and quantity of the food we enjoy in this country. I am so grateful for them. May God continue to bless their efforts.

We have all read our bibles and are aware of the many examples where we are reminded to give thanks to God for the many blessings of creation. We also remember the passages that talk about Jesus’ gift of love, grace and mercy shown in his life and on the cross. Christians have many reasons to give thanks for the hope, love, grace, and mercy that we experience through our faith.

Prayer connects us with God often in our good times and bad. We prayerfully remind ourselves of what is going well in our lives. It is so easy to get caught up in the negative self-talk, leaving us feeling discouraged, angry, or frightened. Prayer helps re-centre us as chosen, loved and blessed children of God.

My prayer for you this thanksgiving is that you can find some time to go for a walk outside and enjoy the brilliant colors of the fall season. May you also have an opportunity to spend time with people that you love, celebrating the gift of each other. It is my hope that you will put some time aside to attend a worship service that will renew your hope, joy, peace, and love, concluding the worship

service with words of praise and thanksgiving.

This Sunday we will gather together at Grace Church to pray words of gratitude and celebrate the Eucharist with appreciation for all the blessings of the last year. The worship space will be decorated to remind us of God’s bounty. We will come together to sing, praising God for all of his generosity that has blessed our families over the last twelve months. We will make our way to the altar to receive the body and blood of Christ in acknowledgement of Christ’s sacrifice, receiving the bread and wine in gratitude to our Lord and Saviour. It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will be present so that we may know and feel our Lord’s presence in this celebration.

I invite you, with me, to reset our minds to welcome each new day. Although there is a tendency to have a cautious and sometimes critical approach with others, all that can change with the discipline of constant prayers of gratitude.

To thank God for food, family and friends is a healthy start. The key to the discipline of prayer is to deliberately take five minutes at least five times a day to express gratitude to God for the gift of each new day, and for the faith that is within to endure every challenge that comes our way.

Yours in Christ,

The Rev. Canon Dr. Stephen Hendry