Remembering Every Neighbor at the Table

Dear Christ Church Family,

As November arrives, many of us prepare for gatherings around tables — tables full of food, laughter, and stories. Thanksgiving has long been a moment when we pause to acknowledge the blessings of our lives and the people who enrich them.

And yet, as followers of Jesus, we also hold space for a deeper truth: not everyone will be welcomed at a table this month. Some do not celebrate this holiday because of cultural reasons, and some of our Indigenous siblings grieve this day as a reminder of lands taken and communities harmed — including the very land upon which our congregation now gathers. Others will not sit down to a special meal simply because there is not enough food to go around.

At the same time that some enjoy abundance, many families in our nation face hunger due to reduced food assistance benefits and financial hardship. While resources are spent elsewhere, children in our neighborhoods will go without dinner tonight. Individuals living in fear — including those who are U.S. citizens — worry that going to school or work could put them at risk because of the color of their skin or the language they speak.

This is why the Board of Directors for Camino Rising discerned that beginning our food pantry ministry before Thanksgiving was not just important — it was essential. We cannot celebrate gratitude while ignoring the ones Jesus calls us to feed, welcome, and love.

As we gather this month, may we practice a gratitude that expands outward — one that includes compassion in action. I invite you to pray intentionally for our neighbors who are hurting, and I strongly encourage you to support our food pantry with financial donations or your time. Together, we can ensure more people in our community know the blessing of a full table.

Let us give thanks — and let our thanks become a blessing to others.

“You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us.” — 2 Corinthians 9:11

May this season remind us that gratitude and generosity walk hand in hand.

Originally written for our November Edition of The Beacon, our newsletter.