Seeing someone struggling to exit the sanctuary Sunday, I reached out to assist them and gave my warmest, “Good morning!”
With barely a pause he grumbled and launched into: “You’ve been sending me mail…”
It wasn’t the first time—and it won’t be the last—that gratitude for a beautiful and meaningful worship service gets superseded by grievance.
Maybe that’s why Paul reminded the Thessalonian church to: “Give thanks in all circumstances!” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Just like us, Paul’s friends were surrounded by negative influences. And when we have the option of grumbling or gratitude—especially when the news is negative and social media trends towards sociopathic—it can be easy to drift towards the depressing. But he also reminds the Corinthian church (and us!) that:
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…Therefore we do not lose heart…for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all!” (2 Cor. 4:8-9, 16a, 17)
Paul’s reminder will be our focus during Youth Sunday this week as each element of worship—Scripture, music, readings, drama, prayers, and sermons—all point toward our theme: Gratitude.
No matter what you encounter this week, choose gratitude, remembering that our Youth are grateful for a wonderful church like Ardmore, for the opportunity to share their gifts in worship, and your smiling face this Sunday morning!
“Give thanks in all circumstances!”
Rev. Dr. Steve Cothran
