Children were asked how their family cooks the Thanksgiving turkey.
Russell: You cut the turkey up and put it in the oven for ten minutes and 300 degrees. You put gravy on it and eat it.
Jeremy: You buy the turkey and take the paper off. Then you put it in the refrigerator and take it back out and cut it with a knife and make sure all the wires are out and take out the neck and heart. Then you put it in a big pan and cook it for half an hour at 80 degrees. Then you invite people over and eat.
Meghan H.: You cut it into 16 pieces and then you leave it in the oven for 15 minutes and 4 degrees, you take it out and let it cool and then after 5 minutes you eat it. Lauren: First you find a turkey and kill it. Cut it open. Put it in a pan. Pour milk in the pan. Put a little chicken with it. Put salsa on it. Take out of pan. Put it on the board. Cut into little pieces. Put on a rack. Put in the oven for 7 minutes at 10 degrees. Take out of the oven and put eensy weensy bit of sugar on it. Put a little more salsa on it. Then you eat it.
Hebrews 12:28 – Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.
How many “recipes” do we have for worship? More than you can count probably. I know, you think if you name all the major denominations, you should have it covered but don’t put your money on that bet. We all, in our own way, either in church or at home have a particular way we prefer worship… and there is nothing wrong with that. But what do we do about the new believer, the “faith youngster” who is learning from our example…from how we prepare the feast? How do we explain the why’s…or do we? Do we just expect them to memorize what we do and be comfortable with that? Do we expect that how we want it is how they will as well?
I tell folks that belief, from my perspective, is like a Thanksgiving feast (even when it isn’t Thanksgiving). Everyone doesn’t always want the same thing, the things that dress up the meal. Don’t like cranberry sauce; fine, prefer yams to mashed potatoes; wonderful. Green bean casserole is not your thing; have some corn. But the turkey is central to the feast, it is what everyone came to the table for. As long as Christ is the center of your worship you can’t go wrong. This or that difference between your church and another is not what is important…Christ as the center of the church is. Visit any church you feel like this Sunday. All are worshiping our Savior. Find one that prepares the feast just as you would have it. Presbyterian service is at 1100 in the sanctuary and live on Facebook webpage.
From The Pulpit is a space reserved for Alger County faith leaders to express church events, happenings and more in the community. Congregations must be based in Alger County. To learn how to submit selections for From The Pulpit, email munisingbeacon@gmail.com or call 906-235-4958.
