We are having a Thanksgiving day service - I'm not cooking any turkeys the next day (I only bring wine and pumpkin cheesecake to the thankksgiving feast) so I'm free to take the kids.   I believe it will be a 'standard church service' (the alter looks lovely btw) that is open to the neighborhood....

and after the service, we are having pie.   Gotta like that.

We'll be having a 10 am joint service with the Roman Catholic parish that adjoins our church's property. There's a tall evergreen hedge between the two.  But!  There's holes in the hedge!  And, even handrails and graveled walkways with steps!

We've been doing this for many years. The congregations have a very close relationship. The choirs join for this and other occasions, and give special performances of major works together.

We use their sanctuary because it is larger. The offering envelopes are color coded, with ours going to fight hunger. Between the two congregations, we have a SRO crowd for the service.

What is interesting is as often as not, our associate pastor, a female, gives the sermon. They'll allow that.  But they say we must cross back over the hedge when it is time for the Eucharist.

And then, I'll be heading to my brothers, about 45 miles away, for dinner about 4:00 pm.  My son should be dropped off there by his mom just in time for dessert, after his joining her family's dinner.

I even helped Mama make the lefse!

Our local ELCA Lutheran community of three churches held a combined T-giving worship/communion service this evening.  This was the third year the joint services have been held -- each of the pastors, an intern and an Associate in Ministry participated, the choir was made up of members of the three choirs (practice was before the service), and the church was full despite some nasty weather outside.  It really was nice and a chance to visit with friends from the other churches at the coffee/cookie time afterward. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I'm taking a break from cooking (we double-timed last night and this morning and have everything done or cooking except the mashed potatoes!), and procrastinating cleaning...Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Here's our menu -- feel free to enjoy virtually!

turkey (locally raised) with apple-herb stuffing
relish trays
cranberry sauce
mashed potatoes
roasted winter veggies (butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips, turnips, celery, garlic, onion)
escalloped tomatoes au gratin
German sweet-sour green beans with bacon
rolls
sweet potato pecan pie
Amish fruit pies