Gratitude Precedes the Miracle

During the 40 Days of Prayer, we had a Thanksgiving Tree in the Prayer Room. The idea for that came from a quote in Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts. As we transition into November, a month designed to lead us to a place of gratitude and Thanksgiving, let us think about what that really means. Ann writes,

“The practice of giving thanks … eucharisteo … this is the way we practice the presence of God, stay present to His presence, and it is always a practice of the eyes. We don’t have to change what we see. Only the way we see. Thanksgiving–giving thanks in everything–prepares the way that God might show us His fullest salvation in Christ …. Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God …. The art of deep seeing makes gratitude possible, makes joy possible …. Joy is God’s life. We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if not with thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is the evidence of our acceptance of whatever He gives. Thanksgiving is the manifestation of our Yes! to His grace. Thanksgiving creates abundance. Jesus embraced His not enough, for he was fully man… He gives thanks … and there is more than enough, for he was fully God: El Shaddai, more than enough. Eucharisteo always precedes the miracle. And who doesn’t need a miracle like that everyday? Thanksgiving makes time. The real problem of life is never a lack of time. The real problem of life – in my life – is lack of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving creates abundance; and the miracle of multiplying happens when I give thanks … it’s giving thanks to God for this moment that multiplies the moments, time made enough. I am thank-full. I am time-full. Eucharisteo, remembering with thanks, this is the bread. We take the moments as bread and give thanks and the thanks itself becomes bread. The thanks itself nourishes. Thanks feeds our trust …. Manna with thanks, eat the mystery of the moment with trust, and I am nourished another day – or refuse it … and die. Jesus calls us to surrender and there’s nothing like releasing fears and falling into peace. This is what I have always wanted and never knew: this utter trust, this enlivening fall of surrender into the safe hands. There is no joy without trust! Gratitude is the most fruitful way of deepening your consciousness that you are a divine choice.“Here you can enact eucharisteo; here you can become a current in a river of grace that redeems the world! Here I can become the blessing, a little life that multiplies joy, making the larger world a better place.”

Here are events coming up in the month of November!

Ladies, keep reading Murder on the Orient Express and plan to join for our Fall Book Club. You should begin reading the book now, then we will meet on Nov 15 at 7 pm at the Ferris's house to discuss the book. Click on the picture above to buy the book from Amazon.

Most Faith groups ended in October for the Fall Semester, although a few of them will continue to meet. We will relaunch Faith Groups in January. You can begin signing up in early January and they will begin meeting on the Jan 20.

Nov. 16, 2018
7-9 pm at Faith Community Church

Come listen to some clean stand up comedy and help support the Delaware County Pregnancy Center at the same time. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door.

Every other year Pastor Richard teaches a 4-Sunday Baptism Class for kids ages 8-12. The class uses a comic-style workbook to help kids understand what baptism is, why we do it and whether now is the right time (with the help of mom and dad). The class will run January 6 through 27 and those who are ready will be baptized on February 10 during worship.

Youth Sunday School begins November 4 at 9:30am. Make sure your kids don’t miss it!

Youth group is now running in full swing, each week we have anywhere from 20 - 45 students. Sunday School will be starting again at 9:30 in the Community Center beginning this Sunday, November 4th. The first week the youth directors will be providing a little breakfast during the Sunday School hour as a way to introduce the new time.

Notable dates for the future:
- November 2, 9, 16, 30: Youth Group (7:30-9:00)
- November 23: No Youth Group (Happy Thanksgiving!)
- December 14: Progressive Dinner (more information to follow in the youth newsletter)
- June 30 - July 5, 2019: SHACC (more information to follow in the youth newsletter)

This past week the rain altered out plans. Instead of taking a trip to Lancaster for the Corn Maze we took a trip to Malvern and played Laser Tag and in the arcade at Grand Slam USA. Below is a few pictures of students and leaders with their tickets and picking out their prizes.

To subscribe to the youth newsletter visit our home page here.

What is Your Mission?

We are going to begin featuring videos from our volunteers and ministry leaders asking them why they do what they do. This month, Linda shares with us in this video, why she is passionate about working with kids through our FaithKids Worship service.

With the fruit of 40 days of prayer in our possession we’ll resume our fall schedule. Adult Bible Fellowship begins at 9:30am, November 4 in Room C. Jon Foreacre, Eric Madison and Brant Vogel will be teaching a 6-Sunday class called “Welcome Home.” We’ll examine ways to become more friendly as a church and as a church member. What is our posture and attitude really saying to others? How might we think we’re being friendly but communicating the opposite? What do we need to do when we meet a guest at church to help them feel they’re welcome and wanted by us and by God?

The Women’s Bible Class will begin November 11 at 9:30am. Fredda Ferris will lead a study on the book of Micah. All women are invited to attend.

Kids and Youth Sunday School begins November 4 at 9:30am. Make sure your kids don’t miss it!

Pioneer Girls will be hosting their Pal-Gal Operation Christmas Child shoe box packing party on November 14 at 7:00 in the gym.

Ladies…. looking for a women’s bible study and can’t join us Wednesday mornings? Come out Sunday, Nov. 11 at 9:30 am to learn more about our Sunday morning Women’s Bible Study. If you’ve got kids, this is a great way to dig deeper into the Word while they attend age-based Sunday School and do the same!

November 12-19
Faith Community Center (Gym)
Drop-off location for OCC.
Hours are:
Mon, Nov. 12: 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Tue, Nov. 13: 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Wed, Nov. 14: 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Thu, Nov. 15: 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Fri, Nov. 16: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Sat, Nov. 17: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sun, Nov. 18: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Mon, Nov. 19: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Sign up to serve here.

Each fall a local family donates a large amount of Thanksgiving turkeys to the Network. I wanted to share their heart of Thankfulness: "My husband and I have been donating this amount of Turkeys for over 20 years. It began with an elementary school drive and I noticed how few turkeys were donated. I always like the concept of the turkeys because each one felt like it fed a family. We are extremely grateful for our gifts of family, shelter, food and all the basics necessities of life. It’s a good reminder at this time of year that every one of us should care for our neighbors. We are truly cheerful givers while we are able to do the turkeys."