The first year in our New Jersey pastorate we were left thousands of miles distant from our families. It took a while for those Easterners to understand Midwesterners, and we them. But a Wheaton classmate in Grand Rapids alerted her family in distant Newark who invited us up from the shore. Their thoughtful kindness became the final definition of Thanksgiving. Ever since, we have looked around for those who would otherwise be as we might have been.
I learned Thanksgiving is a time not so much to preach but to listen to the pews. A mentally disturbed woman testified to the peace she has experienced through faith in God. An old man reared in a drafty farmhouse: “I thank God for a warm house.” A man who had recently lost speech from a stroke labored: “Thank-you-for-pray-ing-for-me.” Macho men for the only time in public: “I am thankful for my wife and my children.” “I thank God Sam is having his first Thanksgiving dinner with Jesus.”
No one should be alone on Thanksgiving, and the joy we learned from the thoughtfulness of others brings at least as much joy to us as to our guests. It has become a time of thankful giving.
The thanks I give this Thanksgiving is for Thanksgiving itself and for what all these Thanksgivings have given to me. It is not just the giving of thanks but what thanks gives.
Connections gives thanks for Wallace Alcorn Pastor, teacher, writer, army chaplain and friend.
Prayer Gatherings Online & In Person Call the church office or email info@college-church.org for details on these prayer meetings. Sunday Morning Prayer (Online) 8-8:40 a.m. Led by Pastor Eric Channing Monday Morning Prayer (In person) 6:15-7:15 a.m. in C104A. Led by Elder Rob Wolgemuth Wednesday Night Prayer (Online) 7-8 p.m. Led by the Missions Office • Nov. 4: Andrew Carlburg, mid-term missionary participating in the world race • Nov. 11: Phil & Ann Baur, bringing the gospel to the unreached from Florida • Nov 18: Steve & Mirian Cox, serving at Word of Life Seminary in Brazil Friday Lunch Prayer for the Persecuted Church (In person) 12-1 p.m. in C103.
Lydia Prayer Fellowship looks forward to hearing from Melissa Warner at the home of Ann Deckert, Tuesday morning, November 10 at 9:15. Ann’s home is just off Prince Crossing Road and Main Street at 214 Woodboro Dr., West Chicago. Regular members and visitors will want to make it a priority to be there.
reception desk. Anita Deyneka will be sharing her burden for the orphans in our world. She is with Mission Eurasia, serving with the World Without Orphans (WWO), and partnering with A Family for Every Orphan. Feel free to invite your friends and join us.
Abigail Prayer Fellowship will meet on Thursday, November 12, 1-3 p.m. in C103. All welcome to join the group for afternoon prayer. Aaron-Hur Prayer Fellowship will meet on Thursday, November 19, at 7 p.m. at the home of Jim Locke, 1428 E Thomas Road in Wheaton, (301) 580-4961. Our guests will be John and Leila, serving in Asia. Our prayer pulse email goes out every Monday. You can get prayer updates via that email. Sign up by clicking "Enews signup" on our website. If you already receive other emails from College Church, click "manage my preferences" at the bottom of any email and select prayer pulse to add yourself.
Hannah Prayer Fellowship will be meeting on Wednesday, November 11, at 1:30 p.m. in the Commons (C103) across from the
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