Thankful – Service Review

On Sunday, October 7, we had our annual thanksgiving service at the West WIMO congregation.

I always feel like thanksgiving comes so early here in Canada, but it’s always a great reminder to have, because of how busy life gets, it’s so easy to forget about being grateful. We often focus on things we lack, things that we lose, and overlook the things that we have, things gained– we  forget to be grateful for God’s love and sacrifice, which is what brought us to the lives we have now.

Some memorable things from the service include:

• The prayer worship, how wonderful it is to just hear the voices of God’s people praise His name. Praise and worship is something that we do every sunday, but it’s truly incredible to just listen to how everyone praises and worships God in their own way.
• The testimonies shared this sunday were truly amazing. We heard a testimony from Miguel Duterte about his experience at the 180 conference from last august; to see and feel God move in his heart and the hearts of other young people. A season of dryness now flooded with living water, awakened to the call to share the love of the Lord shown in the Gospel. And we heard the story of Kuya Mark Cueto, how God’s faithfulness and mercy has sustained him through all the events that happened in his life, and led him to surrender his life to Christ and trust in His plan. Hardships and hurt turned to rejoicing, a full display of the love that God has for us.

• Then we had the preaching, which talked about being thankful and how fitting it was to hear about gratitude after hearing testimonies such as those. Pastor Jong talked about how our joy is proportionate to our gratitude. The more thankful we are about what we have, increases our joy. When we realize just how much there is to be grateful about- we realize that it is so easy to be joyful.

• Finally, to close the service and to kick off Pastor’s Appreciation Month, Kuya Kurt gave 5 myths (or stereotypes) about pastors lives which were busted as he explained that the pastors of our church go against these myths with how they live their lives. Each of the pastors put in so much work to make sure that Sunday services run smoothly, and it’s easy to forget how much background work (especially prayer) is involved. So, if you haven’t been able to yet, make sure to go up to the pastors and share how much you appreciate them!!

There are so many things to be thankful for, and not just on thanksgiving day. I’m learning to be thankful each and every day, no matter what happens because nothing will ever change what Jesus did when He died on that cross, and there is no greater act of love, nothing worth being more thankful for.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

His love endures forever.”

Psalm 136:1

 

– Cali Mendoza