Giving Thanks

Pastor Erik reads a Psalm before we start.

Each week during worship, we celebrate a meal.  We gather around the table, break bread and drink wine while we remember and celebrate Christ's presence in our lives and world.  Meals are important to the Christian faith.  Jesus's first miracle takes place at a wedding feast.  Jesus eats with sinners and tax collectors.  Jesus feeds 5,000 hungry people on a grassy hill side.  Jesus himself was born in Bethlehem, Hebrew for House of Bread. And Erik often reminds me that they word 'companion' literally means "one you break bread with." Jesus always shows up when there is food.

So it should be no surprise that, for our family, sharing meals with others has become the heart of how we do God's mission in Tokyo.  From women's group, to dinners, and afternoon lunches on Sunday, we love to enjoy a meal with people.

This weekend we got to share our love of eating together by breaking bread with over 60 people.  We hosted the annual Tokyo Lutheran Thanksgiving Party.  Erik and I have been planning for over a month.  We invited people from Tokyo Lutheran, Hongo Church & Student Center, Nozomi's friends from playgroup, and other friends.  We really enjoyed having all the children there.  After dinner they ran around the tables filling the air with the sounds of their laughter and joy.  It really made it feel like a holiday.

After we feasted, everyone introduced themselves and said what they were thankful for.  Many were thankful for the opportunity to have Thanksgiving away from home.  Some were thankful for new friends and community. Many were thankful for their family and spouse.  It was very humbling to hear all the people that thanked us personally for inviting them not just to our party, but into our lives somehow.  I was near tears after everyone had finished talking.

The two delicious turkeys Pastor Erik roasted.
The key is butter and an oven bag.

An abundance of bread.

This year's Thanksgiving Spread.

Over 60 guest gathered at Tokyo Lutheran Church to
give thanks to God and celebrate life with each other.