Candice's Comments

Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices...

These words of Martin Rinkart in 1636 were put to music by Johann Cruger. This hymn was originally conceived as a table grace, praising our bounteous God. These words remind me to live with a thankful spirit every day of my life.

Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices . . .
I knocked on the door of my neighbor to give her a piece of her mail that had mistakenly been put in our mail box. When she opened the door, out came a small white and gray dog, followed by a large (huge! gigantic!) black dog that reminded me of Clifford, the Big Red Dog on PBS Kids television. Not being very brave when it comes to dogs, I began to back away from the door rather rapidly as the dogs began to encircle me and fear set in. I am grateful for a neighbor who corralled her dogs and protected me from harm, real or imagined.

Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices . . .
I am blessed to participate in a Clergy Lectionary Study every Monday afternoon. Six to eight of us gather to discuss the lectionary passages for the coming week as a part of sermon preparation. We affirm each other, challenge each other, and pray for each other as we listen to the scriptures and their interpretations through one another. I am thankful for clergy committed to study and share conversation together, honoring the God we serve.

Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices . . .
On a recent trip to an apple orchard and pumpkin farm, I watched my granddaughters enjoy a farm play area. They drank cider and ate sweet doughnuts. They pumped water and drove toy tractors and jumped into a big bed of shelled corn. What fun! I thank God for delightful experiences that make us laugh out loud, touching and smelling, hearing and seeing and tasting the joy of creation.

May we awaken each day, giving thanks to God with our hearts and hands and voices.

In Thanksgiving,
Candice