give thanks

Who and what am I thanking God for this year?

It's a question that makes the rounds at my family Thanksgiving table. You might ask it at yours, and consider it for yourself. Make some quiet time to reflect. Keep it short, simple and straightforward.

First, jog your memory. Scroll back in your phone through all the pictures you took this year. Or the social media posts you made. Skim through your 2025 calendar. Look back through your email. If you scrapbook or journal, review them. Wherever you are bound to find the bits and bobs produced by simply living your life, take a quick peek. Even a receipt folder or junk drawer could be full of memories.

Next, give thanks. Raise a quick, heartfelt thank you prayer for only what you are truly thankful for. Don't make it about forcing yourself to feel thankful for what you feel you should be thankful for. Otherwise, this simple practice of gratitude will turn sour. Forget that! For one, judging yourself only poisons the gifts God has given. For two, it's about God and not you. Let it be "Thanks be to God!" not "Woe is me!"

Feel free to write these thanks-givings down. A simple list could suffice. Or it could be something your journal about. Why? You might find it quite fruitful to root your intentions or goals for 2026 in your gratitude from 2025. It's a powerful way to let the Spirit lead you in that planning. When you row a boat, for example, you must look backwards to go forward. So how much your 2025 gratitude is related to what you yourself intended, planned, or initiated? How much came from a source beyond you? What would it take to enter 2026 more open to surprises or spontaneity? And more focused on what, in the end, from your own recent experience, is truly worth investing yourself in?

Finally, express your gratitude to the people who need to hear it. Let your thank you prayers become thank you notes and thank you texts and thank you visits and thank you hugs. It multiplies the joy to share it. And again, life is busy and scheduling is hard. In an ideal world we all would say and do more with more people to say proper thank yous. Do what you can, and let go of what you couldn't do.

Remember, thank God, thank others. Let the gratitude guide you into 2026. Keep it honest and simple.

I continue to thank God for you and for the priviledge of being your pastor. The recent trip to Tanzania was such a blessing in so many ways, including with and for my whole family. Your commitment to this companionship made that possible. And the strategic planning process is another one of those God things. It's a five year plan your leaders are making, which is nearly as long as I've been your pastor already. It's evidence of the sense I have: we are just getting started!

Thanks be to God!

Pastor Clark