Introduction
When we share with one another, whether family or friends, we receive from them as we give of ourselves. Some of the sharing is about good, wonderful times and experiences. Some is of painful and challenging times. Sometimes we bring guilt, sometimes sorrow, sometimes joy, sometimes we bring hope. Ecclesiastes 3 talks about many situations in our lives.
Program Ideas
Preparation
Prepare a buffet of Autumn snack foods. Include some seasonal items—apples, cider, fruit breads. There are many ideas online. Encourage conversation as the women mingle at the table about food/meal and memories that certain foods evoke.
Activity
Thanksgiving is a time of family gatherings. It often reminds us of times in the past. It may be recipes, or decorations, or locations, or people that remind us of priceless times perhaps never to be experienced again except in our memories. Use a canning jar or macaroni box into which you could put slips of paper on which are written memory questions. Have the women chose one from the box and share their answers.
- What are some foods that remind you of past family gathering?
- What is your first memory of Thanksgiving?
- Are there traditions associated with Thanksgiving that you still carry out with your family?
- Did you every celebrate Thanksgiving in an unusual location?
- Share a funny or embarrassing Thanksgiving story.
Craft
Paint a picture of a memory from this year, or years gone by, on a Christmas tree ornament to be hung on this year’s Christmas tree. Check craft or Dollar stores for clear plastic Christmas balls and use either permanent markers, or paints to design the decoration. Add the year you are remembering.
Sudoku Thankful Puzzle
Sudoku has become an enjoyable puzzle of all ages. The letters of ‘Thankful’ can be found in all columns and lines, as well as within the marked boxes. Each letter can only be used once in each word. Check the following website for ideas: https://www.247sudoku.com/thanksgiving/.
Priceless Time Together
Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (Share in reading the verses. The lines written in italics are simplified renderings of the verses which may help to encourage feedback regarding those times in our lives.)
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
A time to begin something new, a time to let something go,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
A time to stop and a time to begin
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
A time to regret/sorrow and a time to renew
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
A time to let go and a time to hold on
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
A time to decide and a time to act
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
A time to show love, a time to show wisdom
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
A time to choose right and know wrong
(Italics are thoughts/restatements of the Bible verses)
Alphabet Memories
Someone has said “memories are priceless, but they certainly have great value.” Using the letters of the alphabet, write one word that reminds you of a memory for each letter. Example: C – cake (reminder of my mother’s Christmas cake) or M – mountain (reminds me of a family cabin on a mountain). Share the alphabet answers.
Your Memory Chest
In the movie “We need a little Christmas,” a child reminded his mother that when you have a memory chest you can keep memories safe, and you never lose them. He had made her a box filled with items that reminded him of the times they shared together. Perhaps some of the alphabet memories we just shared should be kept in a memory chest, so they won’t get lost.
We read in 1Thessalonians 5:16 -18, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.”
We are to give thanks IN all circumstances, not FOR all circumstances. Although some circumstances can prove to be very helpful to us in the days ahead. Perhaps it is while we rejoice, despite our circumstances, and pray in every circumstance, whether challenging or inspiring, that we can give thanks. In giving thanks we say, “I trust in You Lord and thank You for Your power and grace in me.”
Paul wrote these words from Corinth, when Timothy returned from Thessalonica, to report that the new converts stood fast in the Lord despite persecution. Think of one thing that you can we share to encourage one another today. (Spend some time in sharing.)
Conclusion
Conclude your time together by praying for one for another. Offer prayers of thanksgiving, prayers of praise and worship.
Songs
# 364, “Give thanks with a grateful heart.” *
#395, “Thank you, Lord, for all your goodness.” *
#45, “Now thank we all our God, with heart and soul and voices.” *
*The Salvation Army Song Book
