When the night winds whistle through the trees and blow the crisp brown leaves a-crackling down,

When the autumn moon is big and yellow-orange and round,

When old Jack Frost is sparkling on the ground,

It’s Thanksgiving Time!

When the pantry jars are full of mince-meat and the shelves are laden with sweet spices for a cake,

When the butcher man sends up a turkey nice and fat to bake,

When the stores are crammed with everything ingenious cooks can make,

It’s Thanksgiving Time!

When the gales of coming winter outside your window howl,

When the air is sharp and cheery so it drives away your scowl, 

When one’s appetite craves turkey and will have no other fowl,

It’s Thanksgiving Time! 

– Langston Hughes

Dear St. Lukers,

As Langston Hughes writes, it is Thanksgiving time! Hopefully your homes are alive with the smell of baking, the sounds of laughter, and sights of faces you love.  

Your St. Luke’s leaders and staff pray you have a blessed Thanksgiving Weekend. We know our diverse congregation will be spending Thanksgiving and this weekend in a variety of ways. Some will find precious moments to gather at a feast with family and friends, others will have a quiet moment reminded of the empty seat of someone they love who is missing this holiday, and some will spend the day or weekend working to offer hospitality to our city beautiful guests.

Our prayer is no matter how this holiday finds you, may your heart be full of praise and may you be overwhelmed by peace, love, and grace from a God who calls you beloved. As the author of Colossians 2:7 writes: “Be rooted and built up in him, be established in faith, and overflow with thanksgiving just as you were taught.” 

We hope you and your loved ones will join us in worship on Sunday as we bring our sermon series “I wish You More” to a close. This Sunday, you will have a chance to bring your promise to God’s holy table and we will pray over the promises we make, but also the wishes God has for our congregation and our community. Click here to fill out your promise online, or download a copy to bring with you. Remember, you can leave your promise envelope open if you wish for us to know your promise, or if you want it to be a promise just between you and God, then place your promise in a self-addressed, sealed envelope. We will record your name only and then mail your envelope back to you. Pastor Corey and I look forward to worshipping this Thanksgiving Sunday with you. 

May God bless you and may your heart overflow with thanksgiving to the God who loves us in the gift of Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving Blessings,

Your St. Luke’s staff and leaders