Bits from Beth

November 28, 2025

 

Dear Friends,

It takes a lot of work to feed 577 meals on Thanksgiving Day. Our crews have boiled chickens, deboned chickens, shredded the meat, chopped the vegetable, made the cornbread, and assembled 47 pans of chicken and dressing. Our friends at Fairview UMC prepared 36 pans of sweet potatoes. Another group put cranberry sauce in containers. Another group cooked numerous pots of green beans. In the background, Erin and Tate were doing the ordering to make certain we had everything we needed. Many community volunteers coordinated delivery for those who could not come and pick up.

 

The Community Thanksgiving Dinner started 25 years ago when Carolyn Upchurch of Fairview UMC had the idea of serving a Thanksgiving meal to our town. Carolyn continues to volunteer her time in preparation and service each year. There are many volunteers who make this an annual event with one family serving fourteens years. It is great when churches of differing denominations can come together to do something for the greater good.

 

Next Sunday, we will have our last Lunch and Learn after worship. We hope you will join us for great food and fellowship. The following Sunday will be our Choir Cantata with our Hand Bells playing. After the Worship Service, we will all come up front for a picture with the whole congregation. On the 21st, we will have a Blue Christmas service in the evening in addition to the morning service.

 

We begin the new Christian Calendar by celebrating the event that changed the world and remembering that his ministry shook up the status quo and should continue to challenge the comfort of accepting things as they are and not challenging the world to look and act more like the Kingdom of God. In the Kingdom of God, people are valued for their humanity, not their utility. People are lifted up, loved, and encouraged. In the Kingdom of God, “thy will be done” is hope. Enjoy your family this weekend. We hope to see you Sunday!

 

Grace and peace,

Beth