Church of Christ Uniting

I love fall…its colors, and smells of wood fires burning, the sound of geese flying south, cold apples and warm cider, the crisp fall air that puts color in cheeks, and makes us want to wrap up in sweaters or cuddle up with a book by a warm fire. It also is a time of home-coming. This year we are planning a first Fleming Thanksgiving at my brother’s home outside Philadelphia…the result of having become closer knit after celebrating my niece’s wedding on 8-08-08 and having us all together for a week in North Carolina for Charis and Tim’s event this year, 7-17-09. As our family grows we count so many blessings in our lives!

However, whatever the situations in our families, our churches, or individually- Gratitude is a Choice we make on a daily basis. Robert Emmons has written the book THANKS- a life of Gratitude can make you happier! We know that people who count their blessings are those who not only feel happier, but spread that attitude to others. He lists three important aspects of living with gratitude and how it can change someone’s life:

• An appreciation of the goodness of the gifts given-AND the goodness of the giver
• A sense that gifts are unearned- they come to us from God not thru our deserving
• A knowledge that our gifts and blessings are MORE than we expected

In other words, as a friend Debby Heida recently shared her father’s words of wisdom often repeated in their family- with Scott’s church for their consecration celebration:

“We’re Rich- and we have some money too!”

We have lots of opportunities in this month of Thanks-giving to show our appreciation for the gifts we have been given- and to the GIVER of all gifts- our triune God!

On November 1 we will celebrate all the saints in our congregation; giving thanks for all the children baptized into our church this year, as well as those who have gone on to the church triumphant- those faithful saints who have died over this past year but whose legacy of giving will long be remembered

November 8 will be our Consecration Sunday, when we will dedicate our pledges to the ongoing ministries and outreach from COCU and our new care ministries. Please make every effort to join us in worship where Virginia Miner of Peckville will be bringing us the message “don’t eat the chicken till we see who’s at the door”! Then we will enjoy a celebration lunch prepared by Mike Carr of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Scranton- after worship in our fellowship hall.

November 15 is our annual conference meeting- after worship here at COCU and the Wyoming Cluster Church conference at 2pm at the Nesbitt Center

November 22 we celebrate “Christ the King Sunday” in our traditional worship time

November 29 is the first Sunday in Advent (already!) with candle-lighting and our annual Trim the Tree at 5pm with a carry-in dinner and games/crafts for all attending.

It’s a full month of celebrating who we are as the ‘whole family of God’ together- but it won’t be the whole family if YOU aren’t there! Remember, Gratitude is a Choice- every day- so “Choose this day whom you will serve; as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” (Joshua 24)

Pastor Carol