Thanksgiving Worship

Our Thanksgiving worship service this morning was led by Pastor Hans Overduin. Together we noted the theme of of thanksgiving in the Psalms as we sang versified versions of Psalms 103,108, 116,117, 118 and 136. The sermon was based on Luke 17:11-19, the account of Jesus healing the ten lepers but only one Samaritan returned to give thanks. In his first point on how rare thanksgiving is, Pastor Overduin quoted from J.C. Ryle noting that our tendency is often to put our mercies under a bushel but our trials on a hill. The second point focused on the rightness of giving thanks in which both the negative and positive aspect were highlighted. It is right to give thanks as the fact of our sins make every misery we are spared is a sign of God's grace; it is also right to give thanks for the abundance of blessings which are undeserved. In his final point, on the richness of giving thanks, we were reminded how the act of giving thanks is something that we never regret and in itself provides spiritual blessings. The service concluded with a prayer of thanksgiving led by the office bearers in which our national, family, and church blessings were enumerated. A thanksgiving offering was also taken and in that too, we are reminded of the privilege of worship and blessings we have been given.

"Bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all His benefits." Psalm 103:2