"O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever." Psalms 136:26
Photo by Ginni Savalli
Hey Fab! Family,
This holiday season comes at a time that many of us have not seen the likes of before—during a recession. The day of Thanksgiving comes during a time where because of economic strife, wars and governmental transition, we could easily slip into the mode of complaint and find so many things not to be thankful for. The stores we once rushed to on Black Friday are no longer having the deals and some have even closed its doors for good.
This Thanksgiving Day falls within the 11th month of the year, just as it has before on many other years, but this time, it looks and feels different. We are dragging our feet to gather our loved ones together to celebrate and give thanks because perhaps many of us feel like we have less to thank God for. This 11th month of this particular year is one where we are still seeing the rich getting richer—with companies like AIG still receiving even more in billions of dollars to bail their failing company out on our tax dollars, while the poor are getting poorer because this month the unemployment rate is at an all time low nationwide.
Many of our friends and loved ones may have lost their homes during the subprime lending and credit crisis. Others we know their paychecks are not reaching as far as used to—although gas prices have dropped significantly, it is still higher than it was this time last year and food prices in the grocery store have gone up. For the rest of us, these troubling instances are our very own story. Eleven months into the year of 2008, the year that had much promise and was said to be the year of new beginnings in many congregations around the nation, is turning out to be just another chapter in this painful year of life.
But, as I reflected on this upcoming holiday, I realized the most important thing is that I am still here. If you are reading this column, you are too. And that is much to be thankful for—we lived to see another day, where God’s unfailing love for us still continues to endure. We were able to truly see new beginnings this year, with a man of African descent being elected to the White House. I take all of the things that I may have lost, merely as a moment where God was purging all the clutter and resetting my priorities, therefore, creating a new beginning indeed. In fact, there is much to be thankful for.
“Life can be very trying. When your child is hungry, your body wracked with pain, or you have no idea where you and your family will find a place to sleep, it's hard to find something for which you can be thankful. So, for just a few minutes on Thanksgiving Day, step outside your situation and just "be." Find something, no matter how small, to be thankful for because in giving thanks, you will be lightening your load, even if for only a moment.”
Are you or someone you know in need of food this holiday season?
Check these churches out:
Bethel AME Church¬ will be providing food for 250 families on Thanksgiving Day, 10.a.m., 1300 Druid Hill Ave.
Union Bethel AME Church will be hosting a Community Thanksgiving Dinner, 8615 Church Lane, 1p.m., Nov. 15
Payne Memorial AME Church will be hosting a Community Thanksgiving Dinner for the Homeless, 12 to 2p.m. Nov. 22
Empowerment Temple AME Church, “Give Love, Give Food” Thanksgiving Pantry, 4217 Primrose Ave.,10 a.m.-until Nov. 26
Looking for somewhere to worship for the Thanksgiving holiday?
Shiloh Christian Community Church, 825 Yale Ave., Nov. 22
Mt. Pisgah Christian Methodist Church, 1032-34 N. Fulton Ave.,7 p.m., Nov. 26
New Christian Memorial Church, 3525 Caton Ave.,6:30 p.m., Nov. 26
Fuller’s Temple Solid Rock Pentacostal Church, 4119 Reisterstown Road, 6:30 p.m., Nov. 26
Ark Church, 1271 East North Ave.,7 p.m. Nov. 26
Thanksgiving Day Services
Bethel AME Church,1300 Druid Hill Ave., 10 a.m.
St. John AME Church, 810 N. Carrolton St.,10:30 to11:45 a.m.
Union Bethel AME Church, 8615 Church Lane 10 a.m.
Whitestone Baptist Church- 3100 Walbrook Ave., 10 a.m.
Greater Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, 2525 East Preston St.,10 a.m., Holy Communion and Baptism Service
Gillis Memorial Church, 4016 Park Heights Ave.,10 a.m.,
Central Baptist Church and Jones Tabernacle Baptist Church will have a joint church service, 2035 W. Baltimore St.,10 a.m.
Empowerment Temple AME Church, 4217 Primrose Ave.10 a.m.
Star of Bethlehem Spiritual Temple Church of Christ, Inc., 1301 W. Fayette St., 11 a.m. to 12 p.m..
Mount Moriah Baptist Church, 2201 Garrison Blvd.,10 a.m.