Recently, I had lunch with three pastors and one layman of several area churches to plan the annual Community Thanksgiving Service. (That’s me on the left in the photo. See if you can pick out the Missionary Baptist pastor, the Assembly of God pastor, the First United Methodist pastor, and the Second Baptist layman. Bonus points for guessing who ate the most!)
Although the Baptists outnumbered the Others by three to two (sounds like a baseball score), there were no “winners” or “losers” at the encounter. On that day (and every year on the Sunday night before Thanksgiving), the emphasis is not on what divides us but on what unites us ... the proclamation that Jesus Christ is the only Savior and Lord.
Make no mistake, I’m thankful (and a little proud) to be a Southern Baptist .... but I’m more thankful to be a Christian. And, I’m thankful to live in a town where churches can see past our religious backgrounds and heritages. We not only do this at Thanksgiving time to worship, but year round through the food ministry of “Christ’s Corner.” (We will receive an offering at the Community Thanksgiving Service to help stock this food ministry.)
I hope that you’ll come to the Community Thanksgiving Service on Sunday night, November 18, 6:00 at the England Elementary School Cafeteria. You’ll hear some great music from many of the area churches and some great preaching by our host this year, Mike Brogan of First Assembly of God.
This is just one pastor’s perspective.
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