20 Days of Gratitude
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:15-17
20 Days of Gratitude
We are going to intentionally count our blessings on the 20 days leading up to Thanksgiving week with a gratitude challenge. Each day there is a specific expression of gratitude that we would like to invite you to do. Gratitude Cards are available to pass out to anyone you want to know that you are grateful for them. You can click below to download the full gratitude challenge or if you prefer something tangible, you can view it on the back of your weekly church bulletin.
Friendsgiving Events
Seniors of Faith (55+) November 10th at 12pm
Mountaintop Youth (Grades 7 - 12) November 16th at 6pm
FUEL (Singles 25-40) November 19th at 6pm
A Beginner’s Guide to Friendsgiving
Thanksgiving meals are a tradition in our society. Every year we flock to a relative’s house to share in a family meal, to express gratitude, and to take a nice turkey nap! Of course we’re grateful for our families, but our friends are family too, right? There’s a name for a Thanksgiving meal with friends- it’s called Friendsgiving! If you’ve never hosted a Friendsgiving meal, this is your year- and now you’ve got a handy guide to get you started!
The first step in planning any meal is to have a point person; a party planner, if you will. Odds are you already have a good idea who the party planner will be. Simply pick that one person who operates as the ‘mom’ or ‘dad’ of your friend group. Maybe this person is you? Whoever you pick, this person will be in charge of handling the big details of your Friendsgiving: the location, the time, who is bringing what, etc. Remember, come Thanksgiving week, schedules are hectic. Plan your Friendsgiving for early or mid November to give all your friends the opportunity to attend. A group message or private Facebook group are good ways to keep track of the logistics and details!
The next steps are easy, decide who will bring what dish to your Friendsgiving. You don’t want to double or triple up on macaroni and cheese (or maybe you do? No judgement here!) so be sure to plan accordingly. It’s easiest for the host to handle the main dishes like turkey or ham. Not every friend group is full of master chefs. If you or your friend simply CAN’T cook, ask them to bring the plates, napkins, drinks, etc. To-go boxes are crucial this time of year! Also, be sure to consider dietary restrictions for all of your guests. Nothing is less friendly than having to eat an entirely different meal because you can’t eat anything the group has prepared.
Once you’ve gathered your friends around the table, make it special. You’ve likely had several meals with your friends, but this is Friendsgiving! Take some time and talk about why you’re thankful for the people surrounding you. Share specific stories and feelings. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” God bless you, happy Thanksgiving, and happy FRIENDSGIVING!