I was so grateful for a remark which  liturgist Eric Anderson spoke in worship yesterday.  He said something to the effect “of the festivities and holidays of the next several weeks, I prefer Thanksgiving.   I even said “Amen.”  There is not the craziness that goes with T-day  that we have created with Christmas and New Years.  I don’t get weary from the preparation for Thanksgiving like I do for the other ones.  It is short and sweet. (except for black Friday which is absolutely stupid!  Whoops, did I say that?)  For me, thanksgiving is a day away from life and I can just relish in its “Sweetness.”  I know, I know, there are those for whom it does not feel thankful, and there are those for whom there is no food.   But, I get to enjoy something without guilt just once and I enjoy Thanksgiving.  I am the official host of the event for Julie’s family, I hear.  I make food assignments to family members.  Recently our daughter Rachel asked about some cranberry salad she was supposed to bring  and I said, don’t worry about it, I’m bringing it.  I just needed to assign you something.  Rachel was part of a conversation we heard concerning the rolls assignment when I said to bring GOOD ones (Julie’s mom always made the greatest butter horns, but none of us have been able to come close to matching her skill with these) and she had to define what I meant by that.  ( Not something one picks up at Kwik Trip on the way to the meal).   Four pies later my prep is pretty well done.  The food I am taking is in the green grocery bags from County Market as well as the serving dishes, wrapped in dish towels-a blending of nice ones, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.   The shaker thing for mixing the corn starch and milk for the gravy, something we got from my mother-in-law years ago is in the bag as well next to the whisk used to make sure the gravy isn’t lumpy.  (That’s really the only reason any of Julie’s relatives want me to come, is to make the gravy.)   In one is a large bag of peanut M&Ms.  The cooler will have whipping cream – don’t use the fake stuff on thanksgiving, and the appetizers – a fairly recent food course for Julie’s family.   So, all we have to do now is put it all in the car and take off on Wednesday night after worship.   I enjoy and relish in the whole thing.  I am thankful to God for this One Day Dessert.   Till next week…H

P.S.  Twice:  I need a couple readers for worship on Wednesday night – let me know if you are willing.  And Sunday begins the season of Advent and we will be introducing the new altar/communion table.  

You can reach Pastor Howard at: hhintzman@wisconsinumc.org.

 * To receive Howard's Message by email, contact him at: hhintzman@wisconsinumc.org.  

<Howard's Message Archive>