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A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Father God, It is You who have set us into the families to which we belong; we commit into your continual care the homes in which each of us dwells.
Protect our hearts from every root of bitterness, the desire for personal gain, and pride. Perfect in us faith, gentleness, kindness, self-control, patience, and a forgiving spirit toward each member of our family and they toward one another.
Knit us together in constant affection for one another, serving one another in love. Protect the marriage unity of husbands and wives and turn the hearts of parents toward their children, and the hearts of the children toward their parents, and the hearts of the children toward one another, perfecting loving kindness toward one another.
May Christ be honored and glorified in our homes, today, tomorrow, and always. Amen, Amen, and Amen.
[contributed by Carole Andrews] |
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| Thank You for Sharing Abundance... |
| Thank you to the many who prepared boxes for children this Christmas with Operation Christmas Child. Children around the world will be blessed by your generousity.
Many thanks also to everyone who contributed, prepared, baked, help organize and even served the Thanksgiving Dinner for the Salvation Army in Coatesville. Seeing the many hands participated in big and small ways for our local community has blessed us all. |
| November Girls Night Out - Gifts in a Jar |
| Looking for a great idea for gifts for teachers, friends and neighbors? Want to be creative and festive, yet simple and inexpensive?
Join us for an informal evening of friendship and connection as we learn about Gifts in a Jar and enjoy some hands on efforts together. No need to RSVP -- bring a friend!
Wednesday Nov. 28th, 7:30 p.m. At the home of Linda Morrison, 936 Baylowell Drive, West Chester, 610.431.09870.
Directions: travel south on Rt 100 toward WC -- just past the signs to Rt. 322 turn LEFT onto Goshen Road, and LEFT again on Baylowell. Questions? Call Megan, 610.518.3852. |
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Women's Christmas Teas - all are welcome |
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Join us for a special time together as we Unwrap The Gift of the Heart  of Meaning for this Christmas season.
This will be a great time to bring a friend as we share in delightful music, worship, friendship and connection. Bring a friend and come expecting many treasures!
worship ~ celebration ~ inspiration ~ friendship ~ gifts
Tuesday Evening, Dec. 4th, 7-9pm;
Wednesday Morning, Dec. 5th, 9:15-11:15am; and
Thursday Morning, Dec. 6th, 9:15-11:15am.
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| A Very Merry Christmas |
Friday, December 7th 7-8pm
Register now for this fabulous evening (it's free!) designed for the entire family. This is a terrific time to invite friends to share in the celebration of the season together with crafts, games, a live nativity, caroling... all appropriate for families with preschool and elementary aged children.
To Register, call the church office or sign-up on Sunday, 610.431.0300. |
| New Bible Studies beginning in January |
Now is a terrific time to join us in Women's Bible Study as two new studies begin in the new year:
- Lord, Teach Me to Pray by Kay Arthur. This is Kay's newest teaching study, based on the perfect pattern for prayer that Jesus gave in the Lord's Prayer. This study will provide insights from God's Word on how to pray, what to pray, and what to expect when you pray. Offered during all three days of study. [Tues. pm and Wed. & Thr. am]
- 5 Love Languages for Teens by Gary Chapman. Offering biblical and practical guidance on how to how to teach appropriate responsibility and how to properly handle both parental and teen anger. This is a tangible resource for stemming the tide of violence, immorality, and despair engulfing many teens today. Offered Tuesday evenings.
Study Books are IN - stop by the women's table to pick up your study materials. Want to register? Call Louann at 610.431.0300, x109 or online at www.RootedToGrow.com |
| Happy Thanksgiving |
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I thanked God for you today. I am blessed to know so many of you and am privileged to see so many connected, caring for one another, sharing gifts and talents, and encouraging those God has placed in our lives...
God's Word teaches us that thankfulness should be a way of life. Cultivating a thankful heart will result in speaking thankful words. Take a moment today to call or write a note to someone in your life to express how thankful you are for them. |
"...for in everything, give thanks with a grateful heart." - Eph 5:20
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Radical Gratitude...
Last week during our worship time many of us shared expressions of thanksgiving... blessings, joy through pain, testimony to God's faithfulness, the delight of seeing His presence in circumstances we face every day.
But what about difficult times of crisis, illness, grief and loss? How can we always '...give thanks in everything." (I Thess 5:18)? Sometimes all we can do in hard places is thank God for who He is. But we need that. Hebrews 13:15 says, "let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess his name."
Being radically persistent in our gratitude brings us closer to God because we see Him through the pain and sufferings, not because of them. Having a spirit of gratitude helps empower us in difficult times and helps us find the joy.
I saw some of that genuine joy amidst pain this week...
I was reminded by a friend who was grieving the death of a loved one of the power of prayer of sisters in Christ - prayer that sustained her through difficult moments of family needs and stress in the midst of grief.
I saw joy again when a friend recited passionately Psalm 91 from her hospital bed - delighted that God gave her this specific passage from Scripture that spoke to her through fear and pain.
And I saw that same joy again yesterday from my daughter, who wrote a precious letter to her dying grandfather on the deepest meaning of giving thanks - grateful enough for his godly impression on her life that she wanted him to hear it from her lips as she read it tearfully to him.
Today we celebrate a holiday that is uniquely American, Thanksgiving. Every year, our President calls this country to prayer and thanksgiving for the blessings we as a nation have enjoyed.
But to Christians, every day should be a time for personal reflection, prayer and adoration for a God who is sovereign and actively involved in our lives. Yet we run through busy days, and we are distracted by the cares and ambitions of this world.
Can we pause daily to reflect and give thanks? Can we be women who are radical about expressing gratitude?
Let's just do it - let's be radical. |
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Download PDF for 100 Reasons to be Thankful (Scripture)...
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