Dear Friends, October, 2023
On Tuesday, September 19, Chapel Heights UMC had Jason Mahnke, from the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation, come and speak to the Finance committee. One area that was discussed and stood out to me above the rest was a simple two letter word and gesture, “Thank You”. How often do we thank each other for what was done in the life of the church for the sake of God’s Kingdom? How often do we thank our different committees that meet and do the best they can to fulfill their ministry? Most of us who work for God in some capacity don’t do what we do to receive a thank you, but, it is a nice gesture to offer someone and it is appreciated.
Let’s start with the Lord. Psalm 107:1 states, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Thank you Lord for everything. The everything could include: for life, breath, family, friends, fellowship, for shelter, food, clothing, work, recreation, etc. Thanking the Lord would include so many things that there really isn’t enough paper on earth to cover it all.
After we have exhausted our “Thank You” list to the Lord, we could start a list to those who do a kind deed without pay. Thank you for opening the door for __________. Thank you for smiling. Thank you for helping carry groceries for __________. Thank you for listening. Thank you for paying it forward for someone less fortunate. Thank you for singing in church. Thank you for leading the singing. Thank you for playing a musical instrument at church. Thank you for being committed and faithful. Thank you for sharing your opinion. Thank you for your creative nature. Thank you for being honest. Thank you for loving the unlovable, the outcasts of society. Thank you for visiting those in nursing homes, assisted living, and in prison. Thank you for random acts of kindness that no one knows about but the good Lord. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Romans 12:9-18 states, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Living in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible , as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
May we be a thankful people by what we say and by what we do!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! See you in church, Pastor Jean
On Tuesday, September 19, Chapel Heights UMC had Jason Mahnke, from the Wisconsin United Methodist Foundation, come and speak to the Finance committee. One area that was discussed and stood out to me above the rest was a simple two letter word and gesture, “Thank You”. How often do we thank each other for what was done in the life of the church for the sake of God’s Kingdom? How often do we thank our different committees that meet and do the best they can to fulfill their ministry? Most of us who work for God in some capacity don’t do what we do to receive a thank you, but, it is a nice gesture to offer someone and it is appreciated.
Let’s start with the Lord. Psalm 107:1 states, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Thank you Lord for everything. The everything could include: for life, breath, family, friends, fellowship, for shelter, food, clothing, work, recreation, etc. Thanking the Lord would include so many things that there really isn’t enough paper on earth to cover it all.
After we have exhausted our “Thank You” list to the Lord, we could start a list to those who do a kind deed without pay. Thank you for opening the door for __________. Thank you for smiling. Thank you for helping carry groceries for __________. Thank you for listening. Thank you for paying it forward for someone less fortunate. Thank you for singing in church. Thank you for leading the singing. Thank you for playing a musical instrument at church. Thank you for being committed and faithful. Thank you for sharing your opinion. Thank you for your creative nature. Thank you for being honest. Thank you for loving the unlovable, the outcasts of society. Thank you for visiting those in nursing homes, assisted living, and in prison. Thank you for random acts of kindness that no one knows about but the good Lord. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Romans 12:9-18 states, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Living in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible , as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
May we be a thankful people by what we say and by what we do!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! See you in church, Pastor Jean
