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Another Monday is upon us, how quickly these weeks are rolling by! It seems as though Thanksgiving gets a smaller and smaller window of attention anymore. I appreciated Pastor Kevin’s reminder to not rush past Thanksgiving and into Christmas yesterday morning. Though I am in a hurry to get to Christmas in a lot of ways, and my mind has been in “Advent-mode” for several weeks here at the office, I (and probably all of us) need this week to slow down and savor. And I’m not talking about savoring the good food that I’m sure we’ll all be enjoying around our tables! I’m talking about savoring the good things the Lord has done and provided for us this year!

We will all be back to worship together on Wednesday evening for our annual Thanksgiving Eve Service. Come be encouraged by the testimonies of gratitude for every generation! The service begins at 7 pm and as a reminder the Thanksgiving Offering will be collected. You can contribute financially to support COBYS Family Services and the Solanco Food Bank, or tangibly by bringing food bank donations to the service. 

As I was saying, Sunday 11/30 brings in the first week of Advent. How quickly we will see Nativities and Christmas Trees instead of leaves and pumpkins! We will gather together for a combined Sunday School hour that Sunday for our last Every Generation Sunday of the year. In case you missed it yesterday, each household will be creating Advent Candle holders or “wreaths.” You will get to help prepare the board, decorate with Advent themes, enjoy light refreshments and collect an Advent devotional to read as you light your candle each week. Even if you don’t want to have your own Advent candle board, please join us! You can partner with another family to help them make theirs and enjoy the fellowship of the church family together! Like all Every Generation Sundays we will meet in the Sanctuary at 9:30 to worship together and then you will be dismissed to the Family Life Center. 

Enjoy your time together with family this week! I certainly am thankful for all of you!

 

What WE’RE Learning This Week: A nugget of what our Lil’, Youth and Adults Roots heard this week

Our Family Theme: Root Truth Review!

Our Root Text: Revelation 4:11 NIrV

How Every Generation Lives This Out: Ask a Roots Kid to recall the 10 Root Truths in order! (need a hint? check out “The Dig” podcast!)

Check Out This Week’s PODCAST EPISODE

 

What I’M Learning This Week: Sharing what I’m reading and listening to lately

It is not lost on me that for many of us the holidays don't always feel like holidays we know and love. Sometimes we have to hold joy and thankfulness in one hand while we hold grief, or sorrow, or doubts, or frustration in the other. Much of this year has been learning how to practice this balance for me. 

When I stumbled upon this “Thanksgiving Prayer for Complicated Joy” I quickly printed it out and tucked it in my Bible. This really isn’t a prayer just for the week of Thanksgiving, it’s for every week of the year. The prayer hinges on Habakkuk 3:18, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” It is a kind and gentle prayer that creates space to bring before the Lord the things that feel hard and heavy from the season, or seasons we’ve been in and through. And then just like the verse states, YET. The prayer turns, kindly guiding our hearts to recognize and remember the blessings that have been given to us, despite all else around us. 

No doubt, we all certainly have so much to be thankful for. But it’s okay to still make space to lament this week. Just don’t end there. Use this prayer to help you bring both and before the Lord.

 

Make Every Week Count: Parenting, Grandparenting & Spiritual Mentoring Resources

Something to Read: I heard about this on a podcast recently and LOVED it. Check out the “Three Gift Christmas Tradition” and maybe you’ll consider gifting like Jesus received - a gold gift, a frankincense gift, and a myrrh gift.

Something to Listen to: Loving this new song! Check out “Get His Good” by Southeast Worship

Something to Follow: It’s that time again! Check out this year’s ROOTS GIFT GUIDE for some spiritually enriching gifts for Roots friends of all ages! 

 

How Can You Pray? Prayer Requests and Praises from Roots Ministries

PRAY for those who will be alone, grieving, or in the midst of unexpected circumstances this Thanksgiving week.

PRAISE for all who participated in different spiritual growth and discipleship experiences at last week’s Roots Night!