Monday Ministerial Musings
By Rev. Mark William Ennis
2023 Blog #46
November 20, 2023
A Different Thanksgiving This Year
Since long before I became pastor of the congregation I serve, there has been a custom around Thanksgiving. I inherited this custom and have enjoyed it thoroughly. This custom is to hold a Thanksgiving Dinner for congregation members on the day before Thanksgiving.
This tradition began decades before I ever heard of this congregation and, I am told, was originally begun for people without families to go to for the holiday. It was established for single people who would have spent this festive day alone and was meant to give fellowship, and good food for people who might otherwise have spent the day by themselves.
I must say that I am happy to have inherited this tradition. It has brought me joy over the years to have welcomed people to this festive dinner. Unlike most of our fellowship meals, this one is elegant, using China dishes instead of paper plates, glass stem-wear instead of paper cups, and even candles lit on the tables. Visitors from outside our congregation who have attended this event have commented that it is fancier than they have seen in church facilities. I consider that to be quite a compliment.
The turkeys are always supplied by two sisters who are part of the church. One of these two also supplies corn pudding. People attending bring dishes to pass. Of course, over the years, these have been rather traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Mashed potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, and gravy have all been on the menu. This year I suspect that our menu might be a little different.
Beginning in January, a Hispanic church planter has been working with us and we now have a new, Spanish Speaking congregation nested within our congregation. Many of those folks will be attending this Thanksgiving dinner. For some folks, this will be their first Thanksgiving in the United States. They don’t know about Turkeys, stuffing, or mashed potatoes but they will be bringing dishes to share at the dinner. I don’t know what food they will be bringing but I suspect it will be very different from the kind of foods that we think of when we Anglos think of Thanksgiving. I don’t know what additions to expect but I do expect a few surprises.
Yes, our tradition continues, and we will be sharing food, enjoying fellowship with new friends and old friends. This year our tradition won’t change but our menu will. Some people, who have attended this dinner for years will be guests again, but newcomers will also be there. It will be the same but different and I suspect that it will be better.
I look forward to this event more than I have in the past. I suspect it will be a blessing to all.
#ReformedChurchInAmerica #PastorMarkAuthor.com
#BergenCounty #BergenfieldNJ
#Thanksgiving #Traditions
#Immigrants #Hispanic
To read more of Pastor Mark’s writings, please look at his website:
Pastor Mark Author 