Welcome to another week! It feels like fall in the Atlantic community these days. I surely appreciate the sun when it’s out.
I had the privilege of attending Jamestown Elementary School’s Veterans Day program on Wednesday, November 11. The Freedom Riders flanked the school’s sidewalk holding huge American flags. Veterans, students, and families packed the gym. Each grade sang a tribute and did a skit or a reading that showed how important it is to respect veterans. They even mentioned God a couple times. They also showed short movies with images of soldiers from World War II through Operation Enduring Freedom.
People often say that kids don’t respect their elders these days. These children showed the utmost respect to their elders, and I was so proud of them. The kids were so sincere. Jamestown School District deserves a lot of credit for teaching children to honor veterans.
We’re rapidly approaching Thanksgiving. Now, I know this is a small thing, but I was very encouraged to see Thanksgiving-themed products at Bath & Body Works this fall. Thanksgiving is a holy day, one that rarely receives commercial attention. Seeing candles with names such as Thankful, Gather, and Feast lifted my spirits. Now, while these don’t exactly say, Give Thanks to God, or “We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing,” they do nod to these ideas, and Christians will see the connection.
The sales associate I talked to said customers totally wiped out these products in a few weeks. They were almost completely sold out as of November 7. How cool is that? Money talks.
I know, I know: Thanksgiving has nothing to do with commerce. The only exchange at the first Thanksgiving would’ve been when American Indians and Pilgrims shared their food. There weren’t any Bath & Body Works candles or hand sanitizers on the tables, that’s for sure. But you get my drift.
Giving thanks to God is something we can all do every day. We can give thanks for our veterans. We can thank God for our freedom to worship him, for the fresh, sweet air, for good neighbors, for reddish-pink sunsets and fifty-degree days. Last November we had a stretch of 17-degree days. Ah!
If you helped with this year’s Crawford County Fair pie project, we’d like to say thanks by inviting you to Fallowfield United Methodist Church’s annual fellowship dinner. It’s at 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 22. We’ll bring tureens, and meat, rolls, and beverages will be provided. Expect delicious food -- you might even get a piece of Fallowfield pie.
Christian bluegrass-style band Seventh Day will perform after the meal.
Have a wonderful week. Blessings!