Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

It’s November! What comes to your mind as we are entering the month of November? Thanksgiving? Family gathering? Family Thanksgiving dinner?

In the United States, November is the month that hosts Thanksgiving, a day to reap the harvest and celebrate the community’s or family’s collective bounty.

What does Thanksgiving mean to you this year with the Coronavirus pandemic? Can you still be thankful? Can you not be thankful as much as you have been in the years because of what we have suffered from the pandemic?

I am very thankful to God, more than I have been over the past years. It sur-prises me because this year has been more challenging that other years. As I look back, what we have gone through, all the hardships were much more challenging than other years. But I am still thankful. I am even more thankful than other years. My heart is filled with the grace and love of God.

Actually, the pandemic opened my spiritual eyes to see the blessings that I had not seen before. God has blessed me with many things. One of them is good health. However, I had taken it for granted before the pandemic. But facing the challenges from Coronavirus day in and day out, I came to realize what a won-derful gift life is. Every day when I wake up and when I go to bed, I am deeply thankful to God for being alive which means every moment is a gift and blessing from God.

I am not saying that the Coronavirus pandemic is a blessing. We all have suffered a lot from it. But in spite of all of that, we find blessings, even more deeply than before the pandemic. And we can rejoice over all the blessings from God even in times of trials such as the Coronavirus pandemic. Paul is so right when he said, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4, NRSV)

In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, we will gather at the Thanksgiving table. For many families it might not be like the usual gathering, missing some family members. But I am sure we will be able to count many blessings and rejoice in our good Lord.

I also invite and encourage you to join in giving thanks to God with Thank offering on November 22. You can also send it by mail if you join in worship from home.

November is also the month of Pledge/Commitment campaign. I thank you so much for your support and commitment to the ministries of Aldersgate Church for 2020 in spite of many challenges and difficulties. In 2021, we probably continue to face many challenges from the Coronavirus pandemic, but it also opens the doors to many opportunities. Let us respond to God’s invitation to new ministry opportunities by making faithful commitment for the growth of our church and ministries.

Pastor Sung Ho

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