Pastoral Letter: Embracing the World with Gratitude
(Luke 17:11–19, NRSV)
Grace and peace to you, dear Simsbury UMC family.
When the morning air brushed against my face, the word that quietly came to mind was “gratitude.” Only a few days ago, the sunlight still carried a trace of warmth. Now the cool wind slips through the window, reminding me that the season has changed. In this shifting air, I realize once again how much grace holds every part of our daily life.
Earlier this week, I was invited by church members to attend a Rotary Club meeting—a local service organization. There, I saw some of our members actively involved in the life of the Simsbury community, serving and leading with hearts of compassion. It filled me with deep gratitude.
Faith that moves beyond the walls of the church and reaches into the world—that, I believe, is one of the most beautiful expressions of thanksgiving.
Not long ago, I joined the River Run 5K event, and my younger son, James, ran in the one-mile children’s race. To my delight, I met several of our church members there, too. We greeted one another, exchanged smiles, and cheered together. In that moment, I thought, “This is church.” Not just a place where we gather on Sundays, but a people who live out the love of Christ in the rhythm of everyday life.
Gratitude is more than a polite word or a passing emotion. It is a way of seeing—a spiritual practice that opens our eyes to God’s presence in all things. When we give thanks, we remember the grace already given,
and that memory sends us back into the world to share it with others.
In Luke 17, ten people with leprosy are healed, but only one returns to thank God. And Jesus says to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:19, NRSV)
Gratitude, in that moment, became more than a response. It became the beginning of a new life. Through gratitude, faith takes form, and faith leads us again into worship—and then back into the world.
I see that same grace at work in you. In your homes, at your workplaces, and within our community, you live as people of light and salt, embodying the Kin-dom of God right here in Simsbury. Each act of love, each word of encouragement, becomes a quiet hymn of thanksgiving.
Friends, you are doing beautifully. Your faith, lived out with gratitude, is already telling the story of God’s love in this place. And as your pastor, I find myself giving thanks for you—every single day.
This Sunday, let us come together to worship the Triune God with grateful hearts. And after we gather, may that same gratitude send us back into the world, to embrace our neighbors with Christ’s love.
Bring your family, friends, and neighbors. Let’s share together in the joy and grace that flow from hearts of thanksgiving.
This Sunday’s Message: Through Our Gratitude: Mission Possible
Gospel Lesson: Luke 17:11–19 (NRSV)
I look forward to sharing that sacred time with you—a time when gratitude becomes the language of our faith, and faith becomes a gift for the world.
In Christ,
Pastor DH