Thanksgiving Day (year b)

Sermons:

• The Attitude Of Gratitude, Joel 2:21-27, Psalm 126, by Rev. Frank Schaefer    (see below)
   

• Being Thankful, Luke 17:11-19, by Florida Ron
   

• Don't Worry--Be Happy! all lessons, by Rev. Frank Schaefer
   
• God is Enough!  Matthew 6:26-33, by The Iowa Starr
   

• I Want To Be The One, Luke 17:11-19, by Rev. Frank Schaefer
   

• A Cure for Spoiledness, dialog sermon based on Deut. 8:7-18, by Jim from B.C
   

• Remember the Goodness of God and Be Thankful!  Deuteronomy 8:7-18 by Rev. Frank Schaefer

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The Attitude Of Gratitude
a sermon based on Joel 2:21-27, Psalm 126
by Rev. Frank Schaefer

Our scripture readings on this Thanksgiving Day offer a tremendous promise.  Psalm 126  acknowledges the reality of suffering and loss in this life.  In fact, the Psalm recalls one of the biggest  joys of Israel following one of the biggest periods of destruction and suffering: the Babylonian captivity.  At one point, Israel was finished; the temple was destroyed, the people were scattered. And yet, the people were reunited and they began to rebuild their nation once again.  And they knew, according to the promise of God, that even though they may be sowing in tears, they were going to “reap with shouts of joy.”

Likewise, the prophet Joel envisions the restoration of God's people.  He is focusing our attention on a bountiful future God has in store for us and encourages us to have no fear, but be hopeful and thankful instead.

Joel evokes images of a bountiful harvest. On Thanksgiving Day we can very well relate to this word, indeed this is what Thanksgiving is all about.  In a day and age of plenty for most of us, how can we really appreciate the metaphor of the plentiful harvest as expressed in Joel?

Given the size of our modern-day  harvester machinery, the fact that we end up with so much produce that we have to dump the excess, and the fact that we have such a variety readily available may make it difficult for us to appreciate food for the blessing it is.  In fact, the excesses and varieties of  foods have become a temptation, even a curse, to our society in which many struggle with overweight and obesity.

The fact is that we have plenty to eat, plenty to wear, plenty to get around with. 

The thing about thankfulness is that it should be more than a fleeting expression--it should be a life-style and an attitude.  You may call it the attitude of gratitude.  It is an attitude with life-changing power.

When we say "thank you" to God--even in the midst of a crisis-- it almost seems as if our worries subside. Perhaps this is so because we may remember how God has helped us in times past.  [continue]