I trust your Thanksgiving (and your tummy) was filled with blessings and that your family and friends were cause for true thanks. Ours certainly was and we count you among our many blessings. Thank you for making these first eight years here filled with love, joy, and warmth that is felt, not only by the pastoral staff, but by those who visit as well. In short, we’re still having fun and we are thankful.
I received an email from Don Schneider, President of the North American Division last week. He sends out tidbits of news each week and it is always interesting reading. This time he was sharing some reports from the recent NAD Year End meetings and I thought one was something that should be shared since we are so heavily invested in our school.
Another report at the NAD Year End meetings was presented by Larry Blackmer, NAD Vice President. After doing research with 30,000 students, it is possible to say that students in Adventist schools test better in all subjects than students in public schools. This is true of all subjects, and is true of all grade levels, and in big schools and small schools.
That is a pretty impressive report. We may not always be able offer all the trimmings and facilities that the large public schools can give, but we give some things that they can never give. In addition to the spiritual emphasis they receive, students that go through the Adventist school system develop relationships that last a lifetime. In public schools individuals may have a handful of friends that remain close in adult life, but in our schools classmates tend to remain close much more often.
I know that you parents want your children to be fully prepared for college and graduate work. We find consistently that students from Adventist education, in large schools and small, are prepared as well, and most often better, than students from the public school system. Pray for our school, the faculty, and all of our students. Napa Christian is vital to our church.
I am sorry to report to you that Sue Stanton’s father, Jim “Big Bear” King, passed away last week. He had been ill for some time and the family is relieved that he is resting, but there is simply no easy way to say goodbye to a parent. They will have an open memorial service sometime after Thanksgiving. Please keep Walt and Sue and their family in your prayers.
I also have some good news to share with you. At the Pacific Union Executive Committee meeting held on the 15th of this month Ricardo Graham was elected as the new Union President to replace retiring President Tom Mostert as of January 1, 2008. I am very pleased with this news. Ricardo has a good balance and a great spirit and has the true heart of a pastor. As most of you know he was our Conference President just prior to Elder Pedersen and is much loved and respected here as well as elsewhere. Please keep Ricardo and Audrey in your prayers as they take on this new and challenging responsibility.
I know that Thanksgiving is past now, but did you know that Thanksgiving actually began in the United Kingdom, as their Harvest Festival? It was later brought to America by the early settlers, and from there it became a much more important holiday than it had been originally. The first celebration in America took place in Plymouth in 1621 by the Pilgrims, which was actually a form of the UK's Harvest Festival. The first official Thanksgiving was actually in the Virginia Colony on December 4, 1619. The first national Thanksgiving Day was proclaimed by George Washington and celebrated on November 26, 1789.
For the Christian, however, thanksgiving is not a holiday, but rather a lifestyle. Thanksgiving is a part of every worship service and a part of our daily relationship with Jesus, who has given us every reason to be thankful. Count your blessings. Name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
The rehearsals for the Christmas program are coming along very nicely by now. I assure you that this is going to be a program you are going to be proud to invite friends to. Do it now so they can get it on their schedule. The dates are Friday evening, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. and Sabbath morning, Dec. 22 at 11:15. Let’s show them how much we appreciate all their hard work by packing the house!
The church board met again last Monday evening. I can’t tell you what a pleasure it is to work through the agenda each month here. I have been in churches where board meetings were always a cause of great stress. The meetings lasted long and there was great division. That is not the case here. We have well attended meetings with open discussion and we are always able to come to consensus in a harmonious manner. That doesn’t mean that everyone always agrees, but I have yet to see an unpleasant incident. In short, I am again thankful for this church and its lay leadership.
Next week is already December and we are definitely being enticed into the Christmas season. Our home is taking on the look and it will be over before you know it. But, the Child of Bethlehem, Immanuel, God with us, will still be with us. I hope you won’t lose sight of Him during the celebrations. Enjoy the season, but never forget the reason.
