As THANKSGIVING approaches….
I am thankful for the providence of God. There is no greater truth to know and cling to than the fact that this world belongs to God and our lives are in God’s hands. While nothing is ever perfect, especially our lives, our souls and our world, it is WELL because God loves us well and cares for us just as he cares for the birds of the air. He cares, so we can rely on Him. We cause ourselves all kinds of distress and distraction when we forget this single truth. It is good and right for us to approach each morning, midday and evening with this thought: “There is a God and I am not God. The God that truly is loves me lavishly and perfectly. I shall give thanks to God.”
I am thankful for Christ’s guiding presence by the Holy Spirit. Jesus promises all of us “I am with you, even to the end of time”. This promise says we are not alone. We are never alone. We are never excluded, kicked out, marginalized or put out to pasture. We have a companion every step of the way in Jesus. And, not only does Jesus walk with us at all times, even when we goof up, Jesus wants to fill us with the rich guidance and centering purpose that is ours by the Holy Spirit. We are truly Jesus’ people. As an adopted kid, I dread abandonment and rejection. I am constantly reminded by the gospel truth that I am not alone and have not been left behind. Give thanks to God that he is with you and guiding you in Jesus Christ by the power of the Spirit.
I am thankful for all the brothers and sisters in the Lord. We are made for God and for one another. We are made by the perfect community of the Trinity to live in community with one another. This joyous reality means that along with Jesus, we have many other companions on life’s way. The Old Testament teaches, “how good and how right it is when brothers and sisters dwell together in unity.” Our common-union with Jesus and each other is a rich dwelling place full of the possibility of love, tenderness, mercy, accountability, challenge and deep meaning. And, as we live god-ward together for the sake of the world, the world is renewed. Thank God for those around us – our brothers and sisters in the Lord — here at Sanctuary and all around us.
I am thankful for Sanctuary Church. For 10 years we have been plugging away. We have been making something beautiful in an area of Seattle that some snidely call, “Greenhood”. To me, it is a privilege to be the church here with all of us together in Christ’s mission in and with our neighborhood. This church has been a place of love, acceptance, forgiveness, growth and transitions in life for so many of us! I am deeply thankful that we are God’s church and that we have each other. I am also grateful for the Green Bean and our opportunity to be present in Greenwood in a redemptive way on a daily basis. Thanks be to God for our two physical expressions of the church in Greenwood.
I am thankful for all the ways this church shows Jesus to the world. We get to be the eyes, ears, arms, legs, heart and mind of Christ to a watching world. We declare Jesus through our militant weekly act of worship. We declare the love of Christ in Greenwood through the Green Bean. We declare the glory of God through arts and music. We announce the kingdom as we preach the Gospel. We demonstrate Jesus through our faithful presence “in his image” in the places where we work, live and play. I am thankful for being a place that welcomes people who might not be at home elsewhere — those on the margins and those who are church-weary and appreciate our more informal and missional model, as opposed to a bureaucratic expression of organized faith.
I am truly thankful to be in Greenwood/Seattle. Our neighborhood loves us. Talk to the merchants. Talk to the folks who live here. Sanctuary and the Green Bean have a ton of street-cred built up over years of living in and with Greenwood. Our neighbors know we are here and want us to stay. And, I think most of us have come to appreciate Greenwood and its role in Seattle as an urban village, even if we don’t live in this exact part of town. Nancy and I live in Ballard, but we work and spend much of our time in Greenwood and it seems like home to us. I am grateful for this changing, growing, renewing area of Seattle. Thank God for special places.
I am deeply thankful to be your friend and pastor. I spent many years as a broadcaster, which were happy, fun years. Yet, I find being a pastor much more challenging and fulfilling. I am thankful that you make me a part of your spiritual development network by worshiping together, sharing the word together and coming around the Holy Bath and the Holy Meal (our sacraments). You have been wonderful to serve as best as I am able. Please forgive my shortcomings while I express my thanks for you.
I am thankful for Family. Like you, I treasure my family connections. From grandparents who snuggled, disciplined and taught me to follow sports, to parents who raised me well in the midst of 60’s rebellion. And, I am eternally thankful for the first and only true love of my human life in Nancy Jeanne Murray Rowland. Finally, what can one say about kids who are sharper, better and more dedicated to their purposes in life than any parent could ever expect? My kids are now among my best friends and my greatest inspirations.
Thank you Mighty God for all these things and so much more. Thank you from this old pastor and from all of us. We give you thanks.
Much Love and Gratitude,
Randy