Thanksgiving Sunday an important accent in the rhythm of the year

Big events

Thanksgiving Sunday is a significant milestone in the landscape of the year for me.  In my first church it was often designated as friend Sunday and it was a time of great celebration.   At Community Wesleyan Church is has always been the time for our Thanksgiving dinner, a time when the family of God gathers for one of the biggest social events of our year.   

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Significant ministry

It is usually also a time of significant ministry for our church. It marks the end of the Thanksgiving message series; it is the day for handing out Thanksgiving dinners to those in need; and on it we enjoy the first contribution of the season from one of our special performing groups.  In addition, in the evening, for many years, I and others have been a part of the ecumenical Chittenango area Thanksgiving service.  This event is a unique sacrifice of praise that adds a glow to the season. The glow comes from the smooth cooperation of almost all the Christian churches in the Chittenango area joining together in praise to God as well as from the privilege of being a participant both as clergy and as a singer in the mass choir.

Seasonal changes

In our culture this is a week of seasonal change too.  Hunting season starts. Often the first significant snows fall.  In the stores, Black Friday is this week; by next Sunday everyone will be thinking about Christmas shopping. 

Liturgical year end

Liturgically, too, Thanksgiving Sunday is usually the last Sunday of the church year—not the fiscal year but the liturgical year.  In most years, the following Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, which is the beginning of the new liturgical year.   While our church does not formally follow a liturgical year, I have always observed Advent, so this change is always noted with a change of décor, the use of the advent wreath, and the beginning of a new message series.

Wood gathering

Outside, my attention turns from gardening to wood for the fireplace stove insert.   My father always said, “Wood should warm you twice; once when you gather it and once when you burn it.”  So I try never to work on wood for the fireplace insert until it’s cold outside so that it has a chance to warm me when I do the work,  even it if it’s only gathering and cutting kindling from what has fallen from the maple trees in the yard.

I love Thanksgiving Sunday

As I was reflecting on all this, I decided that the events of Thanksgiving Sunday have become important to me as a marker in my own calendar of the year. They help me mark the changeover of the seasons.   Thanksgiving Sunday for me has become a very important transition point from fall into Christmas.  Celebrating on this day is important to me.