I find that feeling grateful is a liberating feeling. There’s a kind of release about feeling grateful. When I feel grateful, I can recognize that I’m not responsible for everything that happens. I can see all the things that are beautiful and moving and true that I didn’t have much to do with. Feeling grateful makes it possible for me to appreciate and marvel at the gifts of other people, and that’s a good feeling.

I’ve had a lot of opportunities to be grateful lately. I was grateful to Kayla Hanson and Sara DeVere and Emily Nowak for putting together that wonderful worship service on confirmation Family Day – they taught the class about worship in a way that I never could have. I was grateful to Pastor Wendy who kindly offered to lead all the worship services on November 19th because she knew we were moving that weekend and what a miserable experience that is. And, I’m very grateful to Linda for doing nearly all the packing while I’m working (and for being a wonderful partner in all of life)!

Being grateful is instructive. I can learn from Kathy Dangin how someone can put together a county-wide disaster relief program and still have everyone involved love her. I can learn from Bob Finlayson how to do a Christmas giving project with integrity and humor and really get people involved. I can learn from Pastor Wendy how to have a lock-in that’s a lot of fun and still keep a semblance of order without yelling all the time. I can learn from Ashley Lenz how a young person can be a very capable leader.

Being grateful is a kind of spiritual discipline. With a posture of gratitude, I am more “in the moment,” able to see and respond to the wonderful kindness of people and to the work of God behind the scenes. I can be warmed by the choir’s singing and the puppet ministry, the faithfulness of the altar guild and the kindness of the acolytes as they pass out crayons and coloring books, the greetings I get from members, their generosity in supporting the congregation’s ministries with their treasure and their effort and their love.

Being grateful is fun. When I can be grateful for other people’s leadership, I can practice being a good follower instead. I can enjoy Bonnie Stump’s faith and presence as she presides at the congregation meeting. I can rejoice at Dick West’s thoughtful, faithful service over so many years and at John Hofmann’s vision of a future church on this parcel of land, a vision so strong that he made hundreds of people believe it, too. I can be thankful that Ann Wolfgang was willing to step forward and accept election as our next Council President. I can be delighted by Susan Bullock’s kindness in sprucing up the narthex and the Demme family for helping her. I can laugh with the In Crowd, grateful for their blessedness and good spirit and celebration of life.

Being grateful builds community. By being grateful, I recognize and acknowledge my dependence on other people and on God for everything I have and do and am. I realize how much I depend on Melissa Stuart, not just for her excellent work but also for her good spirits and kindness and thoughtfulness. By being grateful, I recognize how much I depend on Kay Aronhalt for her ability to see what needs to be done and her continual willingness to do it, on Jean Wolf for picking beautiful and appropriate music and on Val and Sandy and the Sing and Rejoice Band for their talent and joy. I can recognize Barbara Harris’ friendliness and warmth and Debbie Bang’s quiet competence and Cherise Ross’ cheer. I can recognize how much I depend on Donna Neri and Amaré Merz for being able to pull off any gathering with style and grace. I can be thankful for Jim Jordan for making sure all the parts work together.

And I’m especially grateful that there are so many good things going on that I’m sure I’ve missed some (and I apologize for that!). It’s no accident that Barbara needed so long to recognize our volunteers a couple of weeks ago.

As we move past Thanksgiving and into the period of Advent waiting and preparation, spend some time doing something that is liberating and instructive, fun, spiritual and builds community – be grateful. And don’t be shy about it – catch someone doing something good and thank them for it. It’s a good way to live.

Pastor Greg