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From The Pastor

From the Pastor
Thanksgiving has a long history of celebration in the United States. Starting with the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1622, to George Washington declaring a day of Thanksgiving to God for the blessings of becoming a new nation, and finally, having Abraham Lincoln pronounce it as an official national holiday in 1863.  I have always treasured this time of year, as we offer to God our praises of him, while still having an eye toward preparation to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ next month at Christmas. As I think about our year together, I am firmly convinced that we have a lot to be thankful for at Chestnut Level. God has blessed us with wonderful leadership from our elders, deacons and trustees, a strong staff to help in the work of the ministries of the church, and all of you that have made a strong commitment to CLPC.
One way we express our Thanksgiving to God is with our generosity of both our time and our talents. As we look back on 2018 and how we gave of our time, talent and financial gifts, we need look to God’s word to help us continue with our generosity in moving forward. In Paul's second letter to the church at Corinth, he writes on how giving should be something you do as an individual manner, something to be thought of and carefully planed, and also that we do it joyfully. Paul writes, “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.” 
(II Corinthians 9:11-12). What a great way to think of Thanksgiving! 
Happy Thanksgiving! 
Pastor John
Quote of the Week
“It is only with gratitude that life becomes rich!” Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor, theologian, anti-Nazi dissident, and key founding member of the Confessing Church. His writings on Christianity's role in the secular world have become widely influential, and his book The Cost of Discipleship has been described as a modern classic.
Happy ThanksgivinJohn Hartman