November 13, 2024
A Note from Pastor Jon
Dear Friends,
November, in my humble opinion, is the best month of the year. It’s not just because we get the privilege of voting, or because it’s No-Shave November, or even the fact that it happens to be my birth month (though that does make it a bit more momentous).
For me, November is special because it’s the one month when we intentionally pause to celebrate and give thanks for the abundance and blessings that God has given us.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving reminds us, as Christians, that we are indeed blessed by God. Now I know that some of us may feel more blessed than others right now, and some may not feel blessed at all. But if you’re able to read this letter, if you have clothes on your back, transportation, food to eat… then you are blessed. So I want to encourage you to take a moment to give God thanks for the ways you’ve been blessed, big or small.
We truly are blessed, and as we give thanks to God, we also hear a call to be a blessing to others.
This season, we at HUMC have a wonderful opportunity to bless our neighbors through our annual Thanksgiving Outreach on Saturday, November 23rd. Partnering with the Hilliard Food Pantry Plus, Hilliard City Schools, and Scioto Ridge UMC, and many volunteers, we’re able to offer a little extra to hundreds of families in our community.
There are chances to serve and chances to give.
While the posted volunteer slots are filling up quickly, please don’t let that stop you from choosing a shift and coming to serve even if the slots online say they are filled. We always have room for more hands, and there are plenty of ways to help! So make plans to join us on distribution day — there are ways for all ages and abilities to participate.
Donate grocery gift cards
Right now, our biggest need is grocery gift cards. Our goal is to give each family at least $30 to help with their Thanksgiving needs beyond the produce and pies we’ll be providing.
To meet this goal, we need at least $9,000 to fully fund the effort. While few of us could write that check alone (though if you feel called to, let me know!), together we can make a big impact. If each of us gives $10, $20, or $30 from our abundance, we can offer a huge blessing to our community.
Psalm 107
As you consider how to show your gratitude to God this season, I commend to you Psalm 107.
In this psalm, the writer shares a song of thanksgiving that celebrates God’s steadfast love and God’s power to rescue people in distress. The psalm recounts stories of people in hardship — some lost in the desert, some imprisoned, others sick, and some caught in storms at sea.
Each time, the people cried out to God, and God delivered them from their troubles. The psalmist reminds us of God’s mercy and faithfulness and calls everyone who’s been delivered to give thanks. It ends with these words:
“Let those who are wise pay attention to these things and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.”
This is our invitation: all of us who have known God’s kindness and rescue are called to reflect that love outward. For we within the church who have been blessed — by grace, care, and peace — this is our call to turn our blessings into action.
We’ve all felt the depths of God’s faithfulness, and now we’re encouraged to share God’s love, especially with those on the margins, the outcasts, and those struggling.
Even if we feel we don’t have much to give, God uses every act of kindness, compassion, and sacrifice to make a difference. When we join in God’s mission and offer what we can, we become vessels of a love that reaches beyond words.
So, this November, in this season of thanksgiving, let’s give thanks with grateful hearts, and let’s be a blessing.
With love and gratitude,
Pastor Jon
The Rev. Jon Osmundson
Associate Pastor
