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Dear Sisters and
Brothers in Christ, greetings to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Greetings and may the grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and
Christ Jesus our Lord be with you all.
With the onset of November, our thoughts naturally turn to the
holidays. Thanksgiving and Christmas are
two of the biggest days of the year; it is unfortunate that so much of their
true spirit and meaning have been lost.
The trappings of Christmas have been discussed again and again. We have coined phrases like “remember the
reason for the season” to combat the secularizing of Jesus’ birthday
celebration, and I believe that most Christians have been able to maintain the
proper perspective. Thanksgiving is another matter.
Although there is no particular Biblical event linked to the
Thanksgiving holiday, and it is one that is celebrated only here in the North
America, there is precedence for such a celebration that dates back to times
and places much older than the Pilgrims’ first harvest celebration. In fact, harvest celebrations are common to
every culture that has sought to till the ground. However, as Christians, following the lead of
our Jewish ancestry, these celebrations have been elevated to their proper
place, that of thanking God not just for the harvest, but for all things. All that we have and all that we are, all
things are gifts from God.
Unfortunately,
Thanksgiving has come to signal that Christmas is just around the corner. The
tradition of truly assessing our lives and our God-given fortunes and humbly
seeking to raise our voices in praise and thanksgiving for the blessings that
God has bestowed upon us has slowly given way to the tradition of family
gatherings, football, stuffing ourselves with great food, and Black Friday (the
biggest shopping day of the year).
This year, among all the fun of Thanksgiving, why not take some time to
reflect on God’s goodness in your life.
Consider your good fortune, and all that God has been able to accomplish
through you. Then when you say grace
over your turkey dinner, with friends and family gathered around, be a witness
for God’s Kingdom and praise God with your sincere thanks.
As people of faith, we are called to do more than simply say “thanks”
to God. We are called as Christians to live within a community and to share of
ourselves, our time,
and our wealth for
the benefit of the entire community and for the purpose of proclaiming the Good
News of Jesus Christ to the world in which we live.
While God and Christ can surely succeed without us, we are called to
work diligently for the sake of the
Gospel using every resource at our disposal in the cause of Christ. “Every resource” refers to all the
gifts, talents, and wealth we have received from God. The Psalmist reminds us that “the earth and
all it contains, belong to God”, since our lives and resources belong to God,
why should we begrudge God’s claim on them and desire to use them.
In this season of giving to one another, let us consider more fully
what we have to offer our God. In giving
thanks to God, let us pledge our whole selves: time, talents, and wealth to
God’s service and the glory of Christ’s kingdom. Why wait until January to make a New Year’s
Resolution? The liturgical calendar
begins the Sunday after Thanksgiving; let your Thanksgiving be one in which
giving thanks leads to a deeper commitment to God. For it is indeed God who has given us what we
have, and by His grace, he has made us who we are.
May the peace and blessings of God, the joy of Jesus Christ, and the
guidance of the Holy Spirit be with you all,
Mitchell Lee Miller
THANK YOU
Thanks
to everyone for the cards, meals, phone calls and visits after my knee
surgery in June. Your generosity and warmth are greatly
appreciated. Deneice Hall
ANOTHER THANK YOU
Thanks
to Emmy Lou Dorsey for suggesting that we needed a diaper changing Koala Bear
area in the ladies room and Thanks to those who have it installed. We
look forward to many babies putting it to use.
Deneice Hall
If you would like to
be a service participant in the future, please contact Pat Markham. We especially need children who would like to
serve as acolytes.
Remember to place these special services on
your calendars
November 26th – Community
Thanksgiving Service at Fallston Presbyterian Church - 7:00 pm November 30th – Hanging of the Greens Worship Service 10:30 am December
21st – Service of Lessons In Carols - 10:30 am December
24th – Christmas Eve Services
§
7:00 p.m. – Family Service §
11:00 p.m. – Candlelight Service
Community Thanksgiving Service
Wednesday, November 26,
2008
7:00 p.m.
Fallston Presbyterian Church
Worship Committee is
preparing for a
Pie Social
immediately following
the service
We are in need of Homemade Pies!
Please contact Pat Markham (410-877-0290 Home or 410-371-8266 Cell) if you are able to donate a pie. I will have a
sign-up sheet available during
Sunday School and Worship beginning Sunday, November 2nd. If I do not get enough donations, I will be
calling You!!! We will need
approximately 20–25 pies (large enough to cut into 8 slices each).
Last year the Lutheran Church served 139 individuals from the community. Let's see if we can serve more!!
Mission News
News from Faith Communities and Civic
Agencies United (FCCAU)
On November 21st, FCCAU will host its 6th
annual fundraiser to benefit the homeless of Harford County. The dinner and
auction will begin at 6:00 pm at the Maryland Golf and County Club, located at
1335 East MacPhail Road, Bel Air. The theme this year is “Now More Than Ever…Celebrate Our Success…Support Our Future.” All
of the proceeds will benefit the homeless of Harford County through our services
at the Welcome One Emergency Shelter at Riverside in Belcamp as well as at the
Welcome One Fellowship Center in Edgewood. Tickets are available at
$75.00. For more information and to
place an order for tickets, call our office at 410-272-2229.
Alternative Gift Giving at the FPW’s
Christmas Bazaar
The FPW is excited to host our second Alternative Christmas
Gift Market at the Christmas Bazaar to be held on Saturday, December 6th. This year, instead of giving more things, give more meaning by honoring friends and loved ones with donations made
to various local, national, and/or international charitable organizations. Last
year, we supported the following organizations:
Church World Service, Heifer International, Harford Habitat for
Humanity, FCCAU, and the Medical Benevolence Foundation. Anyone interested in
joining our planning and decorating committee should contact Judy Hebert.
FPW ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
The FPW Annual Christmas Bazaar will be on
December 6th, from 9:00 am-2:00 pm!
Quilt tickets are available from Sandy Stokes. There will be a bake
table, lunch, and children's shopping area. Any crafters who would like to have
a table should contact Mildred Hopkins Donations are needed for the children's
shopping area (see any youth or
Andrew).
There is now a sign-up sheet in the
Narthex. We need your help!
Please sign up!
FALLSTON COMMUNITY PRE-KINDERGARTEN NEWS
Fallston Community Pre-Kindergarten
will have registration for church members on Sunday, November 23, 2008, from
9:00 to 10:30 AM in the church office.
SANTA BREAKFAST
Fallston
Community Pre-K is holding its annual Breakfast With Santa on Saturday,
December 13th. We offer two seatings, 8:30 and 10:30 AM. The cost is
$12 per person or $40 for a family of four. This fee includes breakfast, a
picture with Santa, a story, a craft, and face painting. We will start taking
reservations on November 10th. Please call the preschool office (877-1655)
if you have any questions or you want to make reservation.
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The Bag Lady and Thanksgiving
Dinner
It
was very cold and a light snow was falling as young Jimmy Dorche piloted his
Ford Escort down the street toward the city park. Snow on Thanksgiving was a
rarity in this part of the country and it caused almost as much excitement as
the traditional turkey dinner, the traditional afternoon of football, or the
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on television. But none of these things were
on 17-year-old Jimmy's mind at the moment as he carefully maneuvered his car
over the blacktop. He had his own tradition to tend to and what he was
looking for he would probably find in the deserted park.
Usually bustling with activity, even on cold days, the park was practically
empty now. Everyone was home with friends and family enjoying their Thanksgiving
turkey. Jimmy was tempted to have a bit more dinner himself, but his second
helping sat on the car seat beside him along with a big hunk of Mom's
homemade pumpkin pie and a Thermos bottle of hot coffee. Jimmy wouldn't
succumb to temptation and eat more today.
For the past two years, Jimmy had established a tradition for himself. He had
never suffered a hungry day in his life. The son of an unwed teenaged mother,
he was given up for adoption as an infant and was taken in by a Christian
family. When he was fifteen, to honor his Lord as well as his parents, he
decided to take his second helping of Thanksgiving dinner to the park to
share with a homeless man or woman.
His first year, he had found a man who had been on his own since he was
thirteen. In the summer he worked odd jobs, but in winter he lived at the
local rescue mission where he earned an occasional dollar by cleaning up the
place. The second year, he shared his Thanksgiving dinner with an elderly man
whose wife had died long before and his children had moved to another city.
They never contacted their father nor offered to help him in any way. "I
reckon they're ashamed of me," the rheumy old man had said.
Throughout the year, Jimmy often thought about the two men. He had gone to
the mission to try to find them, but they were gone without a trace. Now
Jimmy wondered who he would meet this Thanksgiving.
As soon as he arrived at the park, he saw a
ragged woman sitting hunched over on the bench of one of the heavy concrete
picnic tables provided by the city. She wore an old battered red coat and a
dark wool cap over her matted, graying hair. Close beside her was the
tattered bag that carried all her worldly possessions.
Jimmy
pulled the car into a parking place and got out. He took the covered dishes
and the Thermos bottle from the front seat and began walking toward the bag
lady. When he stood in front of her, she jumped as if she had suddenly been
awakened from dozing. She looked up at Jimmy. Suddenly her eyes brightened
and she started to speak but, instead, she lowered her head and stared at the
frozen ground.
"God bless you, ma'am," Jimmy said, smiling. "I have brought
you some Thanksgiving dinner. Would you do me the honor of sharing it with
me."
The woman looked at the food. She was very hungry -- she hadn't eaten since
last night's dinner at the mission. She nodded and Jimmy served her food,
uncovered the plates, put a napkin and silverware on the cold concrete picnic
table, and poured her a streaming cup of coffee from the Thermos. Then he
watched her as she ate. Although it was very cold in the park, he felt warm
inside. The God of love was clearly at work within him. He loved his
tradition and he intended to continue it -- and more -- for the rest of his
life.
When the woman had finished, he cleared the table and put the dishes into a
pile. He poured another cup of coffee into her Styrofoam cup and closed the
Thermos. Then he reached into his wallet and pulled out a twenty dollar bill.
He thrust the money into her gnarled hand. Then he reached over and kissed
her lightly on the forehead.
"May God richly bless you, ma'am," he said softly. "And thank
you for giving me the honor of sharing my Thanksgiving dinner with you."
With that, Jimmy picked up his dishes and returned to the car.
She
had stayed in the city purposely to see him grow, but remained carefully in
the background and out of sight so she would not embarrass him or cause him
pain. Her own life was a shambles -- time spent in state mental hospitals
and, at other times, living on the streets. But she had seen him grow into
manhood and was very proud of his many accomplishments. Today, she had longed
to tell him who she was, but could not bring herself to do it. Instead she
thanked God that He had so richly blessed her today, in spite of her trials.
Tears welled up in her eyes. She had seen her son on Thanksgiving and he had
loved his mother.
"The greatest among you will be your servant." (Matthew
23:11 NIV)
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Worship Participants
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November 2
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Usher: Sarah Price
Greeter: Walt and Pat Markham
Acolyte: Taylor Miller Lay Reader: Bob Cooper Children's Sermon: Rev. Miller
Communion: Steele Glenn, Suzanne Demme, Fred Stokes, Mel
Martin
Alternate: Walt Markham
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November 9
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Usher: FPC Youth
Greeter: FPC Youth
Acolyte: FPC Youth
Children’s Sermon: FPC Youth
Lay Reader: FPC Youth
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November 16
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Usher: Sandy Stokes
Greeter: Geary and Emmy Lou Dorsey
Acolyte:
Children’s Sermon: Fred Stokes
Lay Reader: Geary Dorsey
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November 23
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Usher: Dave Merow
Greeter: Deneice Hall
Acolyte: Children's
Sermon: Sharon Tyler Lay Reader: Patti Sauers
November 30
Usher: Walt Markham
Greeter: Mildred Hopkins
Acolyte: Children's
Sermon: Lay Reader:
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Deadline for the February
issue of the Reflector is November 23
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