Finding the Blessings

Dear Friends in Christ,

Next week is Thanksgiving week. It is a time for family and giving thanks for our blessings. Even during troubles and trials, we can still find the blessing of family, our faith community, and God’s gracious love in Christ. Please know that I am praying that everyone in our congregation will know the peace of Christ during these days. 

Join me in praying for our nation. We live in a highly dissatisfied society. The anger and frustration we see on the daily news networks are alarming. National studies show that social discontent is at an all-time high. 

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am convinced that the frustrations of our society are directly related to a critical, growing departure from Christ. The farther we get from Christ, the greater the chance we miss the blessings all around us. 

As the Church, let us step forward in every place we go to find the blessings and positives around us. Let us meet hatred with love. Let us with joy, respond to discontent. Let us pour out a double measure of peace in a reactionary society. Let us be the people of hope in places of despair. Like no other time, it is our time to be the Church that makes a difference. 

I am having surgery this week and will miss the next two Sundays. Pastor Jana will be preaching this Sunday, November 23 and Rev. John Mollet will be preaching on November 30. John is one of the previous pastors at Stonebridge UMC. He is known for his sharp wit and ability to speak directly to the truth of the Gospel. 

Please pray for healing and recovery for my surgery. Pray for my wife Amy, that God will give her patience during this time. 

One more thing… We are in the final stages of the Imagine Our Next 30 campaign. Help our campaign team by responding by December 1. You can go online to complete your commitment. We are well on our way to setting the stage for a great future for Stonebridge Church. 

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Pastor John Allen