MADISON — The Madison Area Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service is being planned again this year.
Last year’s inaugural service, hosted by Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Madison, attracted approximately 800 attendees eager to come together to thank God for our many blessings.
Christian leaders and music ministries from Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, and Evangelical traditions led the hour-long service.
It was an exciting, worshipful, positive, and spirit-filled gathering.
Marcio Sierra Jr., local evangelical leader and Lighthouse Church Pastor stated, “It was one of the most beautiful services” he had ever been to.
Several thousand dollars and a small mountain of food were collected and donated to three local food pantries, including St. Vincent de Paul.
This year’s event will be on Monday, Nov. 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at City Church, 4909 E. Buckeye Rd.
Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison plans to again be one of the leaders the service.
All are welcome to participate.
Tom Flaherty, City Church lead pastor, remarked, “We are called in our differences to come together and love each other.”
Rev. Kerri L. Parker, executive director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches added, “It’s always a joy to pray with siblings in Christ. I’m grateful to friends in the Catholic Church for beginning that conversation in the Madison area.”
Cash and non-perishable food items will be collected to benefit those who don’t have what many of us can easily attain.
A reception and a chance to network will follow.
Our community and hurting world need God’s love and Christ’s witness more than ever.
The hope is that by coming together to celebrate what we share in common in Christ, our witness will be stronger.
The encouragement to join together in prayer comes from the example of smaller Wisconsin communities as well as Psalm 133:1, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers [and sisters] live together in unity!”
We all, to varying degrees, have struggles that weigh us down and sometimes we need to be reminded to be grateful.
In this season of giving thanks, in addition to feasting and watching football, let’s count our blessings.
One way to do that is to join with other believers on November 20 at 6:30 p.m. at City Church, make some new friends, and praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Reach out to John Schmitz at jjschmitz7@gmail.com or 608-695-5801 for more information.