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Giving Thanks: More Than Turkey Feasts by Liesel Friedrich
Get out a box, or an envelope, and every time you're grateful for a) God loving you, b) your health, c) God in your life, d) your family and friends, e) God's grace, f) not living in one of the world's war zones, or g) Anything … just put some money into the container and bring it to church on Sunday, November 24th.
This collecting of money for all the things we're thankful for has been going on for more than 100 years. It's called the United Thank Offering (U.T.O.) and the money goes all over the world to tiny, unknown corners of poverty and desperate need. Some of the money stays in our Diocese and our country because we actually have people who are NOT whimpering about how much they lost in the stock market!
The idea is to translate the times that you remember to be grateful for all of your blessings into cash. That money is then used to make dreams come true for groups and individuals in need all over the world, and here at home. The United Thank Offering changes lives and builds hope. It s the Anglican Communion in action.
We are not spending money to cut down trees to buy the little blue boxes that are traditionally part of the U.T.O. "ingathering." We each already have a box or some sort of container that will do the job. Just figure out where it is in your home and start using it. It's a spiritually enriching process, if you commit to it. Together, we will be united in thanks.
Copyright © 2002 St. Augustine by-the-Sea
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