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Thursday, November 24
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We were blessed to be part of our congregation’s Thanksgiving Day service where 33 people gave testimony of God’s goodness and faithfulness to them in 2022. Microphones are placed on stands at two parts of the sanctuary to make it easy for anyone to give a testimony. THere was also a portable mic. Three ministers took turns overseeing the service. There is no preaching only the testimonies. We have a large congregation and every person who walked to the microphone was called by name. (I don’t think I could have called everyone by name – especially the young people.)
We heard words like, we are thankful for… our family, our heritage, our church family, leadership team, freedom from anxiety, devotions that reminded me to be grateful, our church’s phone system when we can’t get to church due to age or illness (50-80 people listen on the phone line on a Sunday morning), protection as we traveled, God’s faithfulness in guiding my path during the year, safety in a foreign country, God’s love, God’s goodness in health issues, God’s grace, strength for a tough journey in 2022, privilege to walk without pain, God never forsakes us, beauty of creation, God is our refuge, peace following depression, blessings from God no matter what is going on in our lives.
My testimony was a greeting from our friend Hans in Belgium. We had been chatting by messenger early in the morning and when I told him we had a 9:30 am testimony meeting, he asked me to greet the congregation and wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving Day. (He and Anneke visited our church in 2019.) We were going to visit Belgium in 2020, but COVID paralyzed the country, affecting our choice to not go then and in 2021 and 2022. We are looking into the possibility of going to visit them next August.
We went to Jere and Kristen’s house for our Thanksgiving Day lunch.
They always have beautiful decorations on the tables.
This year there were 15 people – 7 in the living room and 8 in the kitchen.
Deb and Kristen in the living room. Deb is pouring sparkling grape juice. Kristen is preparing dinner rolls.
Sparkling grape juice
Smoked Turkey
A plate with filling (stuffing, mashed potatoes ham, turkey, baked corn, broccoli, and green beans. There was also pumpkin and cranberry bread, cranberry relish, pickles and olives.
Cerwin, Jeff, Kristen, Jere, Roy Deb, Barb (Roy’s mom) and me taking the picture.
The young people: Jared, Yeira, Jesse, Josh, Ian, Jana and Austin.
Roy, Cerwin, Jeff and Yeira relaxing on the couch after lunch.
Dessert: fresh pineapple, mixed plater of apple, mince and shoefly pies, pumpkin pie, apple pie and cookies.
Jere and Kristen sure know how to prepare a delicious meal.