FROM THE PASTOR: Rev. Larry Hoffmann

With November comes the celebration of Thanksgiving. Traditionally in this time of the year, we reach out to help people as an expression of our thanksgiving to God. Sometimes we get to know folks who are in entirely different situations than you and I. And at times we are overcome with a sense of guilt that we are not in their situation.

I recently read an article by Catherine Gugerty entitled “In From Guilt to Gratitude: Spiritual Ministry with Persons Who Are Poor and Homeless. Catherine writes of her ministry in a soup kitchen for the homeless. She experiences a sense of guilt for her not being in their situation: she has a home, good food, a new car, etc. Homeless men and women helped her with her guilt – in making a shift to gratitude through honesty and relationships. She identifies a number of factors that lead to this sense of guilt, then tells how her friends from the soup kitchen have taught her. Here are some of the things she has learned over the years: Look for God in everyone; Make eye contact; Ask a question; Wait for them to share their story with you; Be consistent; Show compassion.

Our tendency is often to focus on the guilt and speak little of gratitude. Of gratitude Henry Nouwen wrote, “Gratitude is the awareness that life in all its manifestations is a gift for which we want to give thanks. The closer we come to God in prayer, the more we become aware of the abundance of God’s gifts to us.” I have a friend who says that God does not call people to poverty. God calls us from it. Guilt can be haunting. It is only the love of God through the ministry of compassionate people that can move us from guilt to gratitude.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving,

God’s peace be with you,

Larry

FROM THE MISSION COMMITTEE CHAIR: Judy Turner

Yoga continues through November on Monday evenings at 5:30pm in the church basement.

The Food pantry will collect food from the porches of Bremen residents on Saturday, November 14. We could use a couple volunteers to sort and organize donations at the Calvary Church that am. Please see Judy Turner for more details, if you are interested. Also, if you live outside Bremen and want to donate, contact Judy to arrange pick up.

Calendar of Events

Nov 1^st – DAYLIGHT Saving Time Ends – don’t forget to set your clocks back 1 hour.
Nov 1^st – Zeta Alpha will meet at 9:30 am in the church basement. Bible study: “United Through Christ, Bound to Each Other”, Lesson 2. All women are welcome.
Nov 22^nd - Session Meeting after worship
Nov 22^nd - COMMUNITY Thanksgiving Service: Sunday, November 22, at 6 pm at Calvary United Methodist Church
Nov 26^th – Thanksgiving

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Nov 1^st – Mary Schmidt
Nov 11^th – Andrew McCandlish
Nov 14^th – Andy Ray
Nov 20^th – Tate McCandlish

Anyone wanting to add a birthday or anniversary to the list, please send an email or call the church office.

Lay Readers, Communion Servers and Ushers

Nov 1^st – Judy Turner: Lay Reader and Usher
Cinda Keller: Usher
Nov 8^th – Susan Henwood: Lay Reader and Usher
Kathy Mowry: Usher
Nov 15^th – Scott Bergreen: Lay Reader and Usher
Karen Bergreen: Usher
Nov 22^nd – Judy Turner: Lay Reader, Communion Server and Usher
Cinda Keller: Communion Server
Jane Griffith: Usher
Nov 29^th – Brenda Winegardner: Lay Reader
Kerry Boyd and Savannah Collis: Ushers

Kids’ Section

This section of the printed newsletter is a Thanksgiving activity page with pictures to color, a spot-the-differences picture of four Pilgrim children, an acorn maze, a turkey dot-to-dot and a word search grid. Its printed text is below.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

GIVE thanks TO THE Lord FOR HE IS Good
1 Chronicles 16:34

Can You Spot 6 Differences?

Acorn Maze

Dot to Dot

Word Search

Words to find:

Corn
Family
November
Pumpkin
Fall
Leaf
Pie
Turkey

Thank You God For…

Word Unscramble

tha
obgbel
plepa
seusj
eret

Newsletter November 2026