It is that time of year again where the menu of foods available at one meal becomes the topic of conversation for weeks! Should the sweet potatoes have brown sugar and marshmallows? Should the turkey be smoked, baked or deep fried? Are cranberries truly necessary? And the biggest of all stresses, which kind of pie should we have?
Ok, maybe I’m being a little extreme, but if we are being honest you are likely commenting in your mind about how I didn’t even mention the food you are most concerned with for Thanksgiving. I don’t know what that food is, but each family, each tradition has its own values and priorities. The differences can be stressful, but the hope is they are more fun and meaningful. The food is a way to bring us all together and show thanks to each other and give thanks to God.
At Cross, we also celebrate with a special family meal. This meal is a little less intricate than a Thanksgiving feast but it does bring the family of faith together and causes us to give thanks. The meal is called the Eucharist. Some of you may know it by the more common name–Communion.
Eucharist is from the earliest New Testament accounts of Jesus as He shared this meal with His disciples. “For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks (Eucharist), he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me”. (1 Corinthians 11:23–24)
When Jesus taught the disciples about Communion and as they passed on that teaching over the generations, it was about giving thanks. Thanks to God for all He has done, thanks for the family of faith and unity we have with each other.
This Thanksgiving, you are once again invited to receive Communion as a family of faith. We will celebrate the Eucharist on Wednesday night and on Thanksgiving Day in order to help make it more accessible to you and your holiday schedule. We pray this will be a blessing for you as we worship and give thanks to God for all He has done. Don’t let it stop on Thursday; remember every meal and every time we take Communion we are giving thanks. Remember every breath and every action is also an opportunity to give thanks for all He is and all He has done!
