Dear members and friends of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church:
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
For over three hundred years, Christians all over the world have sung “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” This hymn is called a doxology, “doxa” being a Greek word meaning “glory.”
This doxology was written by 17th c. Anglican Bishop Thomas Ken, who was orphaned in early childhood and raised and educated at Winchester School. His ministry was described as stormy and colorful. Traditionally this hymn was sung to the tune of “Old Hundredth” – which was composed by Louis Bourgeois, a follower of John Calvin and the 16th c. Reformation. More recently, however, some congregations have used an alternate melody (“Come together” by Jimmy Owens”).
During Ken’s lifetime, many believed only passages from Scriptures, and in particular the Psalms, could be sung as hymns, but Bishop Ken felt Christians should be allowed to express their praise to God in other ways. He initially shared his hymns with students of Winchester College to sing quietly in their rooms while doing their devotions. Ironically a hymn initially sung in private for fear of criticism is now one of the most frequently used pieces of music in public worship.
Indeed, there are many ways we can express our praise to God for all the blessings God has given us. In our faith we are encouraged to celebrate the breadth of God’s goodness day by day and let our faith reflect our thankfulness in the way we live. As Paul wrote to the Colossians, “Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (2:6-7). It’s been said that gratitude is a currency we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy. I think Paul understood that. He lived in challenging times and faced various hardships. But even in the hardships, he was a person of “thanks-living”. “I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4: 12-13).
God has brought us together as brothers and sisters in Christ, and God gathers us together through worship and other church activities so that we may encounter his divine, transforming presence. In community, we realize we are part of a larger family with whom we can share our joys and burdens, our hopes and our prayers. We have opportunities to follow Christ, serve, and try to make a difference in the lives of others. Indeed, the hearts of those who seek the Lord find reason to rejoice (1 Chronicles 16).
Like our namesake, St. Paul’s know what is like to have plenty. We know what it is like to be in need. We know what it is like to minister with an abundance of people and resources. We know what it is like to minister with fewer people and resources. We know what it is like to be the church in good times…. And we are still working out what it means to be the church in a pandemic.
And throughout all these circumstances, we can celebrate and share the depth and breadth of God’s goodness. But our individual and collective expressions of faith and thanksgiving are not only important for our congregation’s ministry today. They can shape and bless future generations of Christians as well. We are, for example, thankful for the legacy of believers before us who gave of their time, skills, wisdom, and gifts. Financial gifts of yester-years even help support our ministries today.
With gratitude, we wish to express our thanks for the ways each of you contribute to the life of this congregation. You are a blessing through your presence (in person and virtual), devotion, prayers, service, and compassionate spirit. Your offerings of time, ideas, skills and resources are equally appreciated. The enthusiasm and ideas you share to grow in ministry and mission are encouraging, especially as we contemplate what it means to be the church today and post-pandemic. Your steadfast support during these times of uncertainty is especially important for supporting today’s ministry needs so that we can plant seeds of hope for renewed ministry. Should you wish to give something extra to support God’s work through St. Paul’s, we thank you for your Thanksgiving gift. We are not set-up for e-transfers, but gifts can be received in person, dropped off at the church, or sent by mail.
May God continue to bless you abundantly! And may God bless us that we may provide opportunities for people to encounter God in life-changing ways, experience rest and renewal of spirit, and explore what it means to live in faith today.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Wendy MacWilliams and the Session of St. Paul’s