Dear First Pres,

     This Sunday is our annual Thanksgiving Sunday worship service. As many of you have come to expect, we will give thanks by giving a food offering to support our deacons. This year, however, we encourage you to bring up your food offering when you arrive in the sanctuary. And, be thinking of some particular things for which you are thankful this year. We’re going to be giving thanks for those things in a special way during worship.

     I am particularly thankful for the new members who will join our church on Sunday: Ellen Fugi, Lisa Graham, Scott Pedro, and Kristin Wagner. Each of them has a wonderful story of faith; and they are very excited to become members of FPC Fresno. Sometimes membership gets a bad rap; it seems too old fashioned or too institutional. But for Ellen, Lisa, Scott, and Kristin it means publically declaring their faith in Jesus, committing to become active participants in our church’s purpose, and submitting themselves to the Lordship of Christ and the leadership of our church. In other words, this is a big deal.  I hope you will give them a raucous reception on Sunday; this is something to celebrate!

     I can’t wait to see you in worship on Sunday!

      Blessings