THANKS GIVING ... is not just something we do on the fourth Thursday in November. That day is special; however, it is not the only time we say thanks to God. We give thanks to God every day and before every meal. We thank God for the daily provisions in our lives. Our Thanksgiving worship service will be on November 22. We will give thanks for God's love, goodness, and amazing grace. Thanks giving is something on which we reflect as each Sunday as we present our offerings. Thanks giving is vital as we prayerfully reflect on God's goodness and how much we will in "faith promise" (financial pledges) give to God, through our church, for 2010. That opportunity will be on Sunday, November 8. Watch for a letter and pledge card arriving the week of November 1. Gratefully reflect on God's faithfulness and the blessings you have received through our church. Offering God the "first-fruits" of our labor comes from God's Word. In response to God's generosity, we are invited to generously give thanks to God. The more we learn about God, following Jesus as his disciples, the more generous we become. We give not out of obligation (like taxes) but as a result of a cheerful and grateful heart. The result is that with our offerings, God's transforming love is shown in West Covina, California and around the world. Thanks giving is something we will do on Sunday, November 1 as we will remember and express gratitude for "The Saints Who From Their Labors Have Rested" since November 1, 2008. If you have someone you want remembered, please call the church office (626 918-1221) with their name. Names will be listed in the bulletin, we will remember and pray for them. Eucharist means Thanksgiving and is the word used for the Lord's Supper, which we will also celebrate November 1. November 15 we will give thanks for the opportunity of making a child, somewhere in the world, extremely joyful, as she or he opens a shoe box filled with toys, school supplies, and personal items, lovingly and prayerfully packed, as we present those boxes to God. We will pray for the boxes as we turn them over to Samaritan's Purse, who will sort them according to destination and place a booklet about Jesus in each box. Crates of shoes boxes will be loaded on to transport planes and flown to countries around the world. This year, if you want to trace your boxes you can print out a tracking label from www.samaritanspurse.org. Click on EZ GIVE DONATION and follow the instructions. You will be asked to donate $7.00, using a credit card, to help cover the cost of shipping the boxes. You can print a label and place on the outside of the box which will allow you to trace the box. All of us are invited to place our photo and name in the box so that the child will know from whom the gifts came. Continue praying that God will lead your box to the child that most needs an expression of God's love. Thanks giving begins and ends the month of November when on the 29th we celebrate the First Sunday in Advent. Anticipating Christ's return is something for which we are thankful. May this Thanks giving season be special for each of you as you take time to express your thanks giving to God. Glen Thorp

The deadline for the December newsletter will be Wednesday, November 18th. You may transmit your material in any of the following ways: by e-mail to preschurchoffice@earthlink.net, by regular mail, or by dropping it off at the church office.