It is easy to take things for granted in life, especially if we don’t see all the time and energy that go into making them possible, so I want to take a moment and express my gratitude for everyone who is apart of Buffalo Presbyterian Church.
Sitting in on most of the committees and groups at the church and being in the building throughout the week (not to mention the emails I get and conversations I’m apart of) I see many of the people who devote so much of themselves to this community of faith. People give their time, energy, ideas, skills, and so much more to this church and it really shows. We have talented musicians who share their gifts enabling us to more fully worship God each Sunday. Folks share their culinary talents with us in various ways throughout the year and based on the empty plates and bowls I’d say they are much appreciated. We also have lots of folks whose work goes less seen, they keep up the building, the finances, and various activities that make up the life of this community. The list of ways people give of themselves and the list of people who give could easily fill an entire newsletter. And there is much that people do and give that I don’t see, and yet I am grateful.
I give thanks for all the people who devote what they can to the life of this community, enabling us to be the Body of Christ in Buffalo and beyond. While the many gifts, talents, and resources people share are cause to give thanks, it is most of all, the people themselves, each and every one of you, for which I give thanks. Your presence at BPC makes everything this congregation is and does possible. So to each of you, thank you for sharing yourself with all of us at Buffalo Presbyterian. And God, who gives each of us life and breath, and called all of us here to be the Body of Christ together, thank you.
I encourage you all to to live lives of gratitude, not just for BPC, but for all that God has given us and invited us to be a part of. For it is God in whom we live and move and have our very being, and it is God who has called us, redeemed us, and freed us to live lives of love through Jesus Christ.
I leave you with two quotes to express my gratitude and encourage your own.
Thank you,
Pastor Brian “ ‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” —Alice Walker
Give thanks in every situation because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.- 1 Thess. 5:18
