Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love!

November 21, 2022

Friends,

Behold, God’s ample blessing Is gathered in with great delight; Should we not then consider How to extol the Lord aright? God on the year has lavished The bounty of his grace, And on us cast in showers His wealth in every place. How many are the favors Which he has to us shown! Which his paternal kindness Into our laps has thrown.

The fields, the woods and gardens, Gladden the heart to look upon. Be praised, O great Creator, For what thy loving hand has done. They were severely laden With fruits on every hand; God did produce such plenty To brighten all the land; When we came to the harvest, There was far greater store Than we had e’er imagined; Come, then, the Lord adore.

The earth, with all the people Can now be fed, and beasts as well All with the wondrous plenty Can be supplied, that us befell; The great Creator’s bounty, Gives all both meat and drink; Therefore each mind and spirit, Shall of his goodness think. To such unnumbered creatures, To furnish all they want, Is the most certain token Of God’s divine command.

This multitude of blessings Bestowed upon us from on high, O let us not abuse them With aught that does his will defy. God can at once withdraw it By drought, or hail or rain, If we do not behave us As followers of his train. ‘Tis at the Lord’s disposal, And still remaineth there; He can at once refuse it If we despise his care.

Then let us be more thankful, The more his mercy does abound And as when richly laden, The ear of corn bows to the ground, Let us receive in silence, And prayerful humbleness, The wealth which in his mercy He kindly deigns to bless; The more the Lord hath given, The more should lips and heart, Extol the great Creator, Who doth such bliss impart.

John Frederick Stark, Daily hand-book for days of rejoicing and of sorrow, 1728, pages 475-477 https://archive.org/details/101279241.nlm.nih.gov/page/474/mode/2up

God bless and keep you,

Pr. Buchs

COMING EVENTS: Thanksgiving Eve – Wednesday, Nov. 23 @ 7pm Choir Practice – Wednesdays, Nov. 30, Dec. 7 & 21 @ 6pm Midweek Advent Services – Wednesdays, Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14, & 21 @ 7pm Election/Budget Meeting – Sunday, Dec. 4 @ 11:30am Elders’/Council Meetings – Thursday, Dec. 8 @ 6 & 7pm Family Night – Wednesday, Dec. 14 @ 5:30pm Sunday School Christmas Program – Sunday, Dec. 18 @ 11am Christmas Eve Divine Service – Saturday, Dec. 24 @ 7pm Christmas Day Divine Service – Sunday, Dec. 25 @ 9am