“One of them, when he saw that he had been healed, returned and praised God with a loud voice. 16 He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.” Luke 17:15-16

Dear Friends,

This morning during our weekly Wednesday 7:00 a.m. drive by prayers, we read the story of the one man, healed by Jesus’ words, who now returns to give thanks and praise to God. Remember the story? There are ten lepers. In Jesus’ world these men are cursed doubly. Their disease isolates them from their community, their families, their livelihood. As well, they are Samaritans. Samaritans and Jews are enemies from a long way back over a dispute about where God’s holiness truly rests. Jesus really needn’t waste his time with these men. Yet, when they call out to Jesus, he takes the time to show them mercy. Jesus’ words alone heal all ten men. Off they go, with life restored. They’re overcome with joy. But, only one, just one returns to give thanks and praise to God. Jesus questions the odds, and sends the one thankful man off upon his way. Just one believes enough to know that all that he has and all that he is comes from God and he is grateful. With Jesus, we’re never too late to turn back and give thanks.

Epiphany will hold a 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist of great thanksgiving tomorrow. Come, sing out our favorite songs of thanksgiving, remember all those for whom we are thankful as we give thanks to God for our many blessings. Come in your apron, your cooking clothes, your travel garb. Come as you are and give thanks.

I love Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the one holiday of the year where our entire country, regardless of our faith, our political leanings, our gender, our station in life, our age, our position, we can give thanks. Ever since the earliest settlers at Jamestown in the 1600s, to Abraham Lincoln’s declaration that the fourth Thursday in November be a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens,” across the land Thanksgiving is celebrated. Tomorrow, as Epiphany, we’re reaching out to our neighborhood to offer thanks.

We’re giving thanks for the opportunity to serve our friends and neighbors on the streets of Fairfax with Hot Meals. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Epiphany, folks may arrive to help prepare, cook, pack and clean up 100 meals of roasted turkey with vegetables, stuffing, gravy, cranberries, fruit cups and dessert for our guests. All are welcome to come help throughout the day preparing and cooking. If you’d like to help, come to door #2 of the church building, at the garden entrance at any time throughout the day. Then, we’ll be on the road by 3:30 to meet our friends at the first of three stops in Fairfax: the Home Depot parking lot at 3201 Old Lee Highway at Fairfax Circle; the Breezeway Motel parking lot at 10829 Fairfax Blvd., Fairfax and across the street at Christ Lutheran Church parking lot on 3810 Meredith Drive in Fairfax. We’ll return to Epiphany by 5:30 p.m. to clean up any last-minute items, unload coolers, and give thanks that God blesses us with opportunities to serve.

Come throughout the day to help. We’re presenting each guest with food and a Thanksgiving card. Sit at the large table at the Garden Entrance (door #2), color and beautify each card with a prayer. Finished coloring? Rotate to a chopping, station, or a dishing up station, or a packaging station in the hallway. Come for a short time; or come for a longer time. There’s something for everyone; kids too. Thanks be to God.

A prayer of Thanksgiving by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

For this new [day] with [all] its light, Father we thank thee. For rest and shelter of the night, Father we thank thee. For health and food, for love and friends, for everything thy goodness sends, Father in heaven, we thank thee. Amen.

May your Thanksgiving bring you closer to the peace and joy of our Lord and Savior. We’ll see you on Sunday for Christ the King day with a look at truth in power, as we dive into John 18:33-38 and prepare for the season of Advent!

I am forever thankful to God for your faithfulness as Epiphany. Happy Thanksgiving.

Many blessings,

Hillary West
Rector