Giving of Ourselves
Thanksgiving and the season of Advent are coming our way, and as we move through these holidays, it’s easy to feel the pressure of gift-giving and holiday planning. Perhaps you have already started searching for Christmas gifts for loved ones or received a name for a family gift exchange. And let’s not forget the chaos of plans to visit family in a short amount of time. With all the presents and activities, it’s easy to get wrapped up in our own hemisphere. Yet the very idea of giving revolves around gratitude and the love for one’s neighbor.
With Thanksgiving, we are reminded of the importance to give thanks for all we receive from God. At the heart of this notion is the realization that God is the ultimate giver, the one who loves us into existence “You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13 NABRE). Thanksgiving invites us to look beyond our own sense of control to see God’s hand at work and also to encounter how those around us are also given by God. And from here we can proceed to then take up the role of giving of ourselves and reflect on how that can radiate outward.
Recently, the Co-Cathedral received a message regarding our Meal Ministry that reveals how in giving we can inspire others to give:
“My name is Katie Hunt, you helped me start our Meal Train Ministry at St. Jude of the Lake up in the Cities. I just wanted to let you know what our ministry is doing. I reached out to the Annunciation school and parish staff offering meals, and already 7 people have taken us up on it. Our ministry is now a year old, and feels like a pretty well oiled machine at this point, and we are ready to take on this kind of an endeavor. (I'm reaching out to other metro churches for assistance making all the meals, but still, the infrastructure is there to provide help.) Thank you SO much for coming up with this idea and helping me start ours. None of this would have been possible without you. God has worked so well through you! Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart.”
There are many upcoming ways that you can both give thanks and also give time. If you are interested in joining our Meal Ministry Team, please reach out to Megan Rodriguez at mrodriguez@sj.org. We also encourage you to explore the countless opportunities to give to families in need this season.