Giving Thanks Passionately

Five Kernels of Corn

That’s the title of Rob’s sermon for Thanksgiving Eve service tonight. He preached on this text: I Thessalonians 5:12-22.

When Pilgrims had their first Thanksgiving, they only had five kernels of corn, yet they gave thanks. Every Thanksgiving, they put five kernels of corn on their plates as a reminder of the first Thanksgiving and to be thankful of what they have.

We should be thankful in all conditions. We have to give thanks passionately. The word, passion, comes from Latin, pati, and it means to suffer. This means we have to give thanks even when we are suffering.

We hope that everyone counts their five kernels of corn to remind themselves that they are blessed and that they are thankful.

On a side note: The picture was for the cover of the bulletin. Rob and I collaborated. Not bad for team effort.

Dear Third Presbyterian Church

Open Letter to the Church in Staunton, Virginia:

Dear Third Presbyterian Church,

Since the move, we are slowly getting settled into our new lives in Kentucky. Most of the boxes are unpacked. We still have a few left. Rob is getting used to the routine of writing a sermon every week. We are learning more and more about small, friendly, cozy community called Canada. I am becoming comfortable with this new role: an itinerant teacher. A lot of driving, I must say. But I love the kids I’m working with.

As the season of thanksgiving is coming upon us, we would like to take the time to thank you for all you have done for us for the past six years. Without your loving open hand and guidance, we would not be where we are today. As Jack said in his sermon on the last Sunday we were there, you opened your hands and hearts, not knowing what the journey would be like and not knowing all the answers. You did it anyway. You gave us a home for us to go through the ups and downs of our journey. You gave us opportunities to use our talents to do ministry, especially for Rob as an elder. You gave us a place for us to get married and supported us in the early years of marriage. You put up with Rob’s tenor in the choir and Rob’s long hair. You picked on us and made sure that we are being taken care of. Most of all, you were family.

There are pictures of Rob’s ordination posted on here. You can also read about it, too. Feel free to read other entries. We plan to update it as often as we can.

May God Bless,

Love, Beth and Rob

This picture is a little crooked, and this was taken at the time of our wedding. We didn’t own a digital camera then. When we come back and visit, we’ll take a better one. Or someone can email us with a better picture.