This column helps congregations and individuals plan for the church year's upcoming celebrations, seasons or commemorations. See previous columns...
Send congregational stories — both those for a specific month/holiday or your best timeless idea to <a href="http://www.thelutheran.org/about/send_email.cfm?person_id=8">Julie Sevig</a>.
If you and other like-minded individuals are interested in sponsoring a meal, start by meeting together to decide which holiday and how many people to plan for. Work on which groups you would invite: the congregation, groups outside the church, the entire city/town you live in? Then just do it.
Contact Nadia Bolz-Weber by email and Judy Gittus by email.
On Nov. 22, Americans will focus on gathering, feasting and gratefulness. But many can't celebrate Thanksgiving because they're either working or simply have no place to go or people to be with. Thanksgiving has become "a time to share our lives with those who have no place to go," said Judy Gittus, membership secretary of Bethel Lutheran Church, Rochester, Minn.
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| A Denver bus driver is surprised with a Thanksgiving meal delivered by House for all Sinners and Saints. |
Each year, Bethel and House For All Sinners and Saints in Denver reach out to others on Thanksgiving. Their ministries are different, but the goals are similar: "We try to give blessings and be blessings," said Nadia Bolz-Weber, pastor of the Denver church.
For five years, House For All Sinners and Saints has made turkey sandwiches and other dishes, delivering them to some 600 people who have to work on Thanksgiving Day.
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