Incredibly, Thanksgiving Day is almost upon us.  Over the next several days, we will be confronted with some very serious questions, like...

How many pounds of turkey do I need?

How many pies should I make/order?

How many trips to the grocery store will I make?

Will I need a new refrigerator to hold all the leftovers?

And, most importantly, what will I say when people ask me what I'm thankful for?

You may have already begun to rehearse your answer for when this question is asked around the dinner table.  It's easy for the default answers come out: family, health, etc.  Maybe it’s a struggle to figure out what your answer really is.  Not only is gratitude a choice, but it is a Biblical command, and it takes intention to make your answer mean more than just a cliché.  

Each year at HCC, we set aside the Sunday before Thanksgiving to answer that last question together as the gathered church.  We call it Celebration Sunday.  This service includes a close look at Scripture to understand gratitude Biblically, testimonies of God's faithfulness, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord.

But wait... there's more!  You have an important role to play in Celebration Sunday.   During the service, you will receive a Thankful Card, and you'll be given a chance to briefly write down the reasons why you're grateful this year.  Then, our staff and elders will read out many of the cards so that we can celebrate what God has done in our midst.  The cards will then be put on display in the lobby during the following weeks, and as an added bonus, you'll be fully prepared for Thanksgiving Day :).

I hope you will join us this week as we intentionally express our gratitude to our Creator and our Savior together!

Pastor Tom Beasley