Thanks to the Rev. Canon Heather Melton for her inspiring talk on Gratitude for our January 23 ANEW2 Zoom.
She noted that 'gratitude has become transactional' (you give me a present, and I give you one) rather than a response to God's goodness. True Gratitude is a vulnerable process because when we are grateful, we recognize our dependence--on God and each other. Basically, everything is gift, even if it doesn't look that way at the time. Heather quoted Vincent Donovan, author of Christianity Rediscovered, as saying "Thank you means my love to your love." It is really knowing and responding to another person and to God.
How do we start to be more grateful? We are invited to NOTICE things around us, even just a purring cat, seeing a bird, or having mittens. Heather shared some handouts, which can be downloaded from this Google Drive Folder. This includes a note from Heather, ways to Notice things to be grateful for, graphics about donating, and a list of UTO grants since the beginning.
Heather gave a history of the United Thank Offering, which has been in service for 130 years. UTO gives over $1 Million in grants annually. Last year's gifts were given to ministries working to respond to COVID19. Mid-year grants of $400,000 were distributed. In 2021, the focus will be on ministries working for the care of creation. UTO empowers justice work when we, as individuals, cannot. Check out the UTO website for more information on grants, giving, and resources. You can also check the UTO page of this website for summaries of recent news.
All comes from God and we really do have enough, are enough, and have enough to share. A simple way to share gratitude is to send a note to thank someone for who they are, or what they do (such as essential workers during COVID, or someone who may not know they are important to you).
You can watch the entire presentation here:
