Thanksgiving 2010
Daniel 2:23
To you, O God of my ancestors, I give thanks and praise
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Our family's most treasured Thanksgiving tradition is simple, yet powerful. Around the table we go, each person, regardless of age, names a special experience or individual for which he or she is thankful. There are obvious reasons for gratitude. Sometimes we are surprised when appreciation for things taken for granted is revealed. Then comes the deep and unexpected gratitude. The sincerity of each thanksgiving is palpable. It's always astonishing to experience how emotional giving thanks can be - how giving thanks touches souls, even the youngest of souls. Each year our experience demonstrates that giving thanks must be one of the purest forms of prayer.
Many of us in the Church take our seminarians for granted. I am greatly thankful for our seminarians, the future ordained leaders of The Episcopal Church. The truth of one's calling to seminary makes for even greater appreciation. Seminarians often undergo taxing personal financial requirements to embark "on life paths that demand tremendous personal sacrifice and commitment, must uphold timeless truths in an era that values quick fixes and hot trends, and must face a public that challenges the very relevance of their mission." (Hartford Seminary's promotion of a soon-to-be released documentary, The Calling).
SIM's semi-annual visits with seminarians benefit us as much as the seminarians. Their faith commitment, spiritual hunger, intellectual striving and desire to serve The Episcopal Church and the world exceed those very real sacrifices they incur to answer their calling. SIM is thankful for each and every one of this year's 86 grant recipients representing 48 dioceses of The Episcopal Church.
I am also thankful for SIM's ancestors - from the eight men of vision in 1857, who founded SIM to "find suitable persons for the Episcopal ministry and aid them in acquiring a thorough education", to the support, prayers and guidance provided by SIM's three previous Executive Directors: the Rev. Canon Jerry Zimmerman, the Rev. Dr. Bill Penfield, and the Rev. Canon John Mitman, to the hard work of the Rev. Canon Jerry Carroon and Ruth McElraevy, who have refined and administered our enduring scholarship program during my time with SIM. SIM is blessed with an engaged board of directors committed to the future of the Church and with our chairman, the Rev. Canon Dr. Richard Tombaugh, whose keen mind, willingness to roll up his sleeves and dedication to the quality of clergy is a gift to SIM and a blessing to me.I am also profoundly grateful for our friends and supporters who contribute to the ministry of SIM. Each and every one of you made possible this year's record grant pool in one of SIM's most challenging economic environments within its 153 year history.
Give thanks and praise to God for the Society for the Increase of the Ministry and its network of seminarians, alumni, donors and committed organization! Wishing you a joyous Thanksgiving, I amYours Faithfully,
Tom Moore
Executive Director
SIM
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