Dear Church Family,

We all experience it, don’t we, how holidays seem to sneak up on us nowadays? A likely reason is that there are so many things demanding our attention, and that list of things seems to grow exponentially as we all get older. Thanksgiving is one such “sneaky” holiday in our country. Did you know it’s one week away? We may have already set travel plans, but how much have we thought about the holiday itself? Is it a day we just try to get through and get done, or is it a time we choose to slow down and actually grow in deep gratitude?

I pray that we are like that one thankful leper. In Luke 17:11–19, as Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem, He encounters ten lepers quarantined at a distance. They call out to Him for His healing power. And Jesus, in His usual unexpected way, tells them to go and show themselves to the priests—and the lepers are healed as they go!

I’m sure each one was overjoyed to have been healed fully. Wouldn’t you be? You’d want to show and tell everyone! But in all their joy, how many of the ten came back to thank Jesus? Only one returned, falling at Jesus’s feet in passionate gratitude. Jesus is disheartened by the other nine, but to this one who returned, Jesus spoke directly with kindness: “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” That leper recognized the moment and remembered what is most important—not his circumstances, but his God.

God is the first and most cheerful Giver. Let us remember to give thanks to Him for the blessings He so generously bestows upon us.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I pray for safe travels and delicious cooking! Our campuses will be closed on Thursday and Friday (November 27 and 28), and there will be no Wednesday night activities next week. One thing you will be able to do all week is submit online nominations for our Executive Council and Deacons. Visit cityrise.org/nominations for qualifications, information, and links to the forms for these important positions within our church leadership.

Have a good weekend and a truly thankful Thanksgiving holiday next week, Church Family! We’ll see you on Sunday for the closing of Can I Still Experience God?
 

Stay Expectant,
Pastor Roger