Friends,

Happy Thanksgiving!  Professor Emeritus at my seminary, theologian Dr. Christine D. Pohl, is featured in Richard Rohr’s Wednesday meditation on the Thanksgiving topic of gratitude.  Writing about how gratitude impacts our relationships with others, she comments, “When our lives are shaped by gratitude, we’re more likely to notice the goodness and beauty in everyday things.  We are content; we feel blessed and are eager to confer blessing…Expressions of gratitude help make the community alive to the Word, the Spirit, and God’s work.”

I think particularly about the expressions of gratitude we heard from the Foster Your Future young people at both our recent cooking class and Evening in Barcelona fundraising event.  We all felt blessed by them—their journeys, their accomplishments, and their deep sharing with us.  Gratitude, indeed, begets blessing upon blessing—it works in all directions.  Thus far was have raised around three-thousand dollars to continue blessing wonderful young adults who are successfully transitioning from foster care into independent living.  Our donations will continue to support them as we offer cooking supplies and classes so that they may build essential skills for life.  Through it all, may we enjoy the goodness and beauty of new friendships and deeper community!  

With Gratitude,

Co-Pastor Sandi