Signs of Hope - Thanksgiving and Blessing

Recently, I have had a chance to preach on several occasions about thanksgiving and blessing, and how even in the midst of the hard times and scarcity that we now face, we as Christians are called to share our blessings with others. The fire this week at the Bea Gaddy Family Center in Baltimore again brought to light the tremendous needs of many in the city, and the ongoing need to address poverty, homelessness and hunger. For over two decades, the Bea Gaddy Family Center has served the poor of the city, with Ms. Gaddy playing a pivotal role in these efforts until her death in 2001. In the wake of the fire at the Gaddy Center, what has been most heartening is the generosity of many individuals, businesses, and organizations that have come forward to offer support to ensure that the Gaddy Center’s efforts in housing the homeless and feeding the hungry on Thanksgiving and throughout the year will continue. Thanksgiving affords each of us the opportunity to reflect upon the blessings in our lives, and to share from our blessings. Signs of hope in the city can be found the in many churches across the city that open their doors throughout the year and share the blessings of God. Carpenter’s Kitchen at Mt. Vernon Place UMC, Lydia’s Kitchen at Sharp Street Memorial UMC, and Manna House at Lovely Lane UMC, are three shining examples of such generosity, and point to the blessing of sharing with others the blessings of God in our lives.