The month of October has been designated as "Clergy Appreciation Month." Many congregations throughout the country have expressed special thanks to their pastor and given honor to the pastoral ministry during this month. We have become more aware that the pastoral ministry makes great demands upon the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of the individuals that we call pastor. An unknown author has expressed as thanks in the following warm thoughts. "To our Pastor: God bless you for the work you've done in the service of our Lord. May His constant blessing be your well deserved reward as you meet the challenge of the tasks God gives to you. May faith and hope and happiness be yours in all you do."

I was impressed by some thoughts I once read about the church garden. It was planted with vegetables, not flowers. "The Church Garden. Four rows of turnips: 1. Turn up with a smile. 2. Turn up for church activities. 3. Turn up with a prospective member. 4. Turn up with a Bible. Five rows of lettuce: 1. Let us love one another. 2. Let us welcome strangers. 3. Let us be faithful to the commandments. 4. Let us faithfully worship God. 5. Let us give from the heart." The month of October is not over. It is still a good time to say thank you to the men and women in the parish ministry and missionaries who serve throughout the world.

Warm Thoughts: A church is a hospital for sinners not a museum for saints. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift. That's why it's called the present. Be happy and enjoy it. Be thankful. Have a great day filled with warm thoughts!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G. Werner

Published in the Marion Record October 24th, 1996.

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Till next time,

Trina