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We continue to monitor how the COVID-19 situation may affect our LLC Summer Services and Annual Meeting scheduled for July 2-5 this year in Marquette, Michigan. As the situation remains fluid, we are making contingency plans if physical services are indeed canceled and we move to holding Summer Services online. As previously stated, we will make this decision and announcement by May 1.

We continue to monitor how the COVID-19 pandemic affects LLC activities. With the current situation, including schools in various regions closed to in-person learning for the duration of the school year, we have canceled all our camp activities at LLC facilities through the end of May. The situation will be monitored on an ongoing basis, and announcements of any further camp cancelations will be made going forward.

Preparations are being made to post a Sunday School video Easter morning. You may view this video with your loved ones as part of your Easter celebration at home. Details about when and where this video will be posted will be available before Sunday on LLC social media and website. A notice with these details will also be sent to LLC congregations. Work is also going forward on planning further Sunday School videos that will be published in coming weeks. We will send further information on these items as it becomes available.

While we understand the vital importance of fellowship in the life of our believing young, we feel a need to remind them that it is also their duty to obey the recommendations and regulations set forth by local and national authorities with regards to gathering at this time. Please remind your youth, and others, the importance of doing their part during these unprecedented times. Let us all support one another in this endeavor.

Various Contributors | 2019 December Voice of Zion Angels are God’s messengers. There are many examples in the Bible of angels bringing messages to people, such as God’s promise to Abraham, to the virgin Mary, and to the shepherds caring for their flock by night. More than two thousand years ago, the angel Gabriel appeared before Mary, a young believing woman, with an astonishing proclamation. God had selected her for a very special role, unique in all the history of humankind. She, a virgin, would give birth to a son who “shall be called the Son of God,” of whose kingdom “there shall be no end.” Be Not Afraid Humans can be startled and even afraid when an angel appears. That is why the angel first says, “Do not be afraid.” But when the angel departs, the believer is reassured and comforted. Our daughter Katie was the bravest person I’ve ever known. She was diagnosed with cancer at seven years of age. She endured many surgeries, radiation treatments, medication and therapy in her short life. During the day she enjoyed lots of attention from family and friends, but at night she was lonely and fearful. An angel kept her company through the long nights, she reported. To her, congregational singing sounded like “the angels in heaven.” Angels exist not only in Bible stories; they also protect and guide us in our daily life. Martin Luther related that angels are truly around us in this life, providing for and guiding our affairs, if only we would believe it. “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (Ps. 91:11). We can be assured that God’s angels are protecting us every moment, from that first spark of life in our mother’s womb to, indeed, “all thy ways.” This is so even beyond our last breath, when we finally reach our destination in heaven. Shining and Clad in White The stereotypical mental image I have of an angel is a tall, handsome figure clad in pure white, with a graceful aura of quiet majesty. A typical artist’s rendering would perhaps show the angel with wings, hovering above the ground. Wings or no, angels appearing in this way are mentioned in the Bible. When the women found Jesus’ grave empty on Easter morning, an angel dressed in white with a face shining like lightning was sitting on the stone that had once blocked the door. The angel relayed a message of hope to the women: “He is not here: for He is risen” (Matt. 28:6). At times, however, we may not recognize an angel for what they are. I think the Ethiopian eunuch would agree, puzzling over the book of Isaiah in his chariot by the side of the road. The Holy Spirit led Philip to talk to him, a conversation which led the seeking eunuch to see the way to heaven and believe. After the eunuch’s baptism, “when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:39). From the eunuch’s perspective, Philip certainly must have been an angel! “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb. 13:2). These angels on earth – our brothers and sisters in living faith – are escorts that help keep us on this narrow pathway to our mutual destination. With words of encouragement, comfort or rebuke, they bring the most comforting of all messages, that of the living gospel of Christ: “Believe all your sins forgiven in Jesus’ name and precious blood!” Angels of All Ages Human reason might lead us to think that a guiding angel would be an adult, perhaps an elder with advice formed from many decades of life experience. This may be the case, but just as often the angel comes as a little child with a simple comment or reminder. Perhaps it is your own child, or perhaps it is the youngster in the next bench over. Jesus reminds that a child is the most important in His kingdom on earth and has a special link to the Heavenly Father: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 18:10). Our heavenly Father uses his angels in heaven and those angels that live among us to bring messages, support and comfort as we travel through our temporal life. We thank Him for this and all the gifts He bestows! Brent Huhta GOD CARES FOR HIS OWN THROUGH ANGEL ESCORTS The clay road was red and dusty under my feet. The tropical sun’s morning rays were already warming the earth, edging the day toward the hot afternoon ahead. I was not alone. My believing African escort, who had labeled himself my bodyguard, walked alongside me. As we ambled along, we visited. Sometimes we were trailed by laughing children, other times it was just the two of us. I was more than 7,000 miles from home in a country and culture that was strange and new. Yet in the midst of my worries and uncertainty, it was comforting to have my African escort nearby. We uplifted each other. Even though the label of “bodyguard” had been assigned lightheartedly, to me he felt like an angel. In his company, I was secure. Intermediaries between Heaven and Earth The Bible comforts us with the fact that angels do indeed exist both as intermediaries between the realms of heaven and earth, and also as earthly escorts on our journey (cf. Heb. 13:2). Although experiences in our time with angels of the “supernatural” type are exceedingly rare, there are numerous accounts of such throughout the Bible, from the book of Genesis to the Revelation of John. For example, many experiences with heavenly angels during the dawning moments of the New Covenant are described in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts. These confirm to us that God, in certain times and in certain places, has accomplished His work though heavenly angels according to His purposes. As travelers in faith, we often hear and sing about another kind of angel. These angels are our earthly companions who, through faith and mutual endeavor, take steps hand in hand with us on our journey. Have you, dear child of God, met such an angel? When doubts were heavy and sin pressed on you, were there angels nearby? Can we not rejoice that earthly angels were able to relate greetings from heaven? God Sent an Angel Escort Time passes, bringing a ceaseless flow of change to creation. Yet even after a decade, faded thoughts of that walk over reddish-clay earth still come to me. I lay on a hospital bed, hoping and praying for recovery after life-threatening, emergency surgery. My wife has been by my side every moment, day and night, but has finally taken a few hours to go home to see the children. In life, moments of worry, sorrow or despair occur along the way. This is one such moment: I’m alone now, and I’m down, way down. The room is so chilly. I close my eyes and try to doze. A moment later, I hear someone enter the room. I open my eyes, and though my vision is dim, I see a nurse approaching my bedside. The nurse gently and quietly spreads some heated blankets over my legs and feet, the warmth quickly penetrating. It feels good, but I’m still down. I look up at the nurse. His face lights with the joy of serving. In weakness, I beg the nurse to reassure me with the gospel, and vivid memories of the dusty road come flooding back. Through no strength of his own, the same angel who walked with me along those dusty African roads ten years earlier, preaches uplifting words: “All your sins are forgiven in Jesus’ name and blood.” Joy and peace return. God cares for His own through angel escorts. Ignace Hounwanou, originally from Togo in west Africa, was granted a student visa in 2004 to study in the United States. He completed his Registered Nurse training and subsequently earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Washington. Ignace currently works at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, Washington. He and his wife Katie, née Niemela, live in Snohomish, Wash., with their four children. John Stewart DISCUSSION POINTS: 1.Psalm 103:20 says: “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.” Whom do you suppose the angels are, in the writer’s eyes, and why? 2.The writer to the Hebrews speaks much of angels. Read the first two chapters. How does the writer compare Jesus with angels? 3.What other examples of angels are there in the Bible? 4.Have you ever experienced help or a message from an angel in your life?

Ross and Kayla Fredrickson | 2019 October-November Shepherd's Voice God gave Moses the task to go talk to Pharaoh about freeing the people of Israel and then after that to lead them back to the land of Canaan. Moses first said no. He said he was a poor speaker. But God promised to be with him and give him words to speak. Moses obeyed. Do you remember what the shepherd boy David said to Saul when he asked him to fight Goliath? Did he puff his chest and brag that he had killed a bear and a lion while caring for his father’s sheep? No, instead he said that God would deliver him from the hand of the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17). Of ourselves, we know that we are nothing. But God works in us and through us. God gave words and gifts for Moses to lead the people of Israel. He also helped David defeat Goliath. If someone at school asks how you believe, God will give words for you to speak. He gives as He sees fit. The devil may try to tempt us and make us think we’re better than other people. The only difference between us and the people around us is that we have the gift of faith. This doesn’t make us any better, but we’re the most fortunate to have this gift. We want to share this gift with our friends and neighbors. They too can believe their sins forgiven when the gospel is preached. Maybe you are good at riding bike or maybe you’ve done well in your classes at school. However, it is good to remember to be humble in such things. Being humble means accepting that all good things and good gifts are a blessing from God. We use these gifts not to emphasize how good we are, but rather to serve others and show honor to God. We accept that we are weak and faulty, and we need help and prayers and support from others. We need the gospel to help us in our life of faith. The opposite of being humble is being overly proud. We can take pride in accomplishments and at the same time humbly thank our Heavenly Father for all blessings. God’s Word teaches, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). We pray that God will help us to be humble and remain in faith. Let’s remember each other in our prayers. Ross and Kayla Fredrickson THINGS TO VISIT ABOUT: 1.Read about the shepherd boy David in LLC’s Illustrated Home Bible, page 128. How was David able to fight Goliath? 2.Why is it important to be humble and not proud? Why should we pray for this? 3.It is easier to be humble when our sins are forgiven. Why is this?

Mark Pikkarainen | 2017 August Voice of Zion Free from Sin Do you remember how good it felt as a child, when the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name and blood was preached by mom or dad for something that you had done that was wrong? Was it not a good feeling to know that you were free of that heavy burden of sin that weighed on your conscience? There was no question that the sin was washed away in Jesus’ name and blood. The burden and sin was gone, forgiven and forgotten! Throughout life, sin can accumulate and weigh us down on our journey of faith. We are bombarded every day with news from around the world of horrible atrocities, rumors of war, and the temptations of the world in all manner and form. We are exposed daily to temptations at school, work, and even with friends, as the devil works tirelessly to lure us away from living faith that offers so much comfort and security. It might feel unsettling if we hear our parents or others talking about troubling matters at church and with believers. It may at times feel hopeless, and we may begin to worry: Will I be able to remain believing in the safety and care of God’s kingdom? Will I make it to heaven? Do Not Fear Dear child of God, fear not! Jesus has died for our sins and has promised to provide a place in heaven for us if we keep faith and a clean conscience. It is that simple! “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). We don’t have to worry about what is happening in the world, at work, at school, with friends or family, or in other issues or troubling matters. We can turn our burdens to Him and be free. When sins are forgiven, we can believe as a child. Unchanging Doctrine The devil is always busy raising questions about the teachings of God’s Word, even the core doctrine that we have known since children, the forgiveness of sins. There is no better nor secure place to be than in the middle of the flock of believers, rather than out on the edge where the devil moves around seeking whom he can devour. What can be easier and more secure than to simply believe as a child, putting sin away? What a comforting feeling it is, knowing that if we were to die, we would be in heaven forever! Is there anything that you can think of that you would be willing to exchange for eternal life in heaven? Is this not the assurance that we believers all live and strife for? Is this assurance available through unbelieving friends at school, at work, or through anyone else in this sin-corrupt world? Do we with our own reason need to understand all of the mysteries of faith in order to make it to heaven? No, we do not. All that is required is that we simply believe, keeping faith and a clean conscience, nothing else. Escorts Preach Forgiveness Remember dear young, and also older child of God, when the worries and weight of sin beset you, put that sin, doubt, fear, and worry away through the simple gospel message, believing sins and doubts forgiven in the name and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have beautiful escorts in God’s kingdom who willingly preach the forgiveness of sins through the power of the Holy Spirit. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Freely offer this gospel, also to those who do not own this gift of faith. What better and more secure feeling is there than knowing that your sins are forgiven and that you are a child of God? This gospel message is preached openly and freely. In God’s kingdom, we do not travel alone but are united within a flock of believers who are together striving to make it to heaven one day. Jesus teaches in His Sermon on the Mount that we don’t have to worry about tomorrow because our Heavenly Father takes care of us (Matt. 6:25–32). If we keep faith and a clean conscience, our good and gracious God will care for us on the way to heaven. Mark Pikkarainen Discussion Points: 1. What can happen if one ignores the grace-gift of confession? 2. How can we encourage one struggling in faith, who may question the truth of God’s Word? 3. What does God’s Word say about our role as a confessor mother or father, a friend? 4. Share joys you’ve experienced, when God has given strength to care for your conscience and put sin away. 5. Sing song of Zion #306 and discuss its meaning in your life.

Various | 2017 April Voice of Zion There has been a considerable amount of chatter about the newly established girls’ home in Monticello, Minnesota. It has been positive and exciting! God answered many prayers and provided the necessary gifts to make this happen. The Building Hope home is not an LLC project, but it certainly captures the interest of many, including the LLC’s Home and Family committee. What a beautiful blessing. Betsy Simonson, Jessica Kallinen, and Kelsey Huhta have a home filled with faith, hope, and love! Could any of us ask for anything more in this life as we journey toward our eternal home in heaven? The establishment of this homes speaks of God’s love and the simplicity of living faith. These writers and photographers shared what they felt, saw, and experienced and allow us also to feel the joy of this new venture. Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever” (Phil. 4:19,20). Rod Nikula Building Hope, Inc.—Need becomes Reality Building Hope, Inc. is a private non-profit corporation established on May 5, 2016 with the mission of providing support services to believing adults and children with varying physical and cognitive abilities. Tarja Brown, of Litchfield, Minnesota, is its Executive Director. “I think that services for the children or loved ones of believers has been a need for many years in God’s kingdom,” she says. The need has now become a reality. The first such home, located in Monticello, Minn., provides services to three women who are renting the home. The Work Began Much work goes into the organization of such a venture. Three sets of parents initially got together and invited four others to assist them, forming the board. Brown, who is currently employed in this field, was asked to be on the board, bringing approximately 20 years of experience to the group. Building Hope also needed to be registered with the IRS and the State of Minnesota as a 501C3 charitable organization. It needed to be licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human Services as an organization that would provide services either to adults living on their own or adults and children living with their families. A suitable home needed to be found, as well as believing staff. Brown says, “The home is the home of our clients and is a believing home. Staff are there to assist them in everyday matters of life. This is their home, and we are there to serve them with love.” Staff provides services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, thus enabling the women to live and work in the community, to have friends and family over, or to go to visit other believers. Future Plans Future plans for Building Hope are to ex­­pand services to include other believing brothers and sisters who may have need for these types of services in this area. A letter written by Curt Simonson, chairman of the board, went out to nearby congregations, expressing Building Hope’s mission and how it might help to provide a service and answer questions about the organization. “We believe every life is a blessing from God and should be valued, protected, and cherished. Our hope is that all who serve and are served by Building Hope can enjoy a pleasant atmosphere each day along the journey to heaven,” the letter states. God Has Blessed Brown says that being part of this endeavor has brought her much joy. Many prayers have also risen to the Heavenly Father to guide the footsteps of those involved. “God has richly blessed us, and all thanks go to God for the success we have had,” she says. Kathy Nevala A New Home, a New Life When we moved to Monticello almost two years ago, I had the pleasure to get to know Betsy Simonson. Betsy found out that we are related, and cousins are very important to her. Every Wednesday or Sunday at services, she seeks out her cousins and friends. She comes to greet, gives a hug, and lets us know how she is feeling. Faith is important to Betsy; she freely asks for the gospel. When her new home came to fruition, we heard something new about it every week. She was busy making plans and lists as to who could come to visit. Each week, she showed me who was on the list. Each week she had hope. Then the hope became true. The first week the girls were in their new home, Betsy invited me for coffee. I feel fortunate to live close by, and I was able to walk there. Betsy came running to the door to welcome me. She seemed a little shy. This was not the Betsy I had seen before. She told me she was nervous to have company. But in just a few minutes she relaxed and showed me around her new home. She had set the table, ready to serve coffee and cookies that she had baked. She introduced me to her new friends Jessica and Kelsey. Since the first visit, I eagerly wait to go to visit my new friends. I learn something new from them every time. Betsy and Jessica go to work Monday through Friday at Functional Industries in Buffalo. A bus picks them up every morning and drops them off in the afternoon. Kelsey will be starting a new job soon. The girls love to help with chores. Kelsey is good at cleaning. Betsy loves to bake. Jessica likes to wipe the table and counters. She is very detailed, and there is not a crumb in sight when she’s done. The girls are able to do their own laundry with some assistance. They also help plan menus. The girls have learned to work together. As with siblings, it isn’t easy to al­­ways get along. But the gos­­pel is most important. They take care of each other as believing friends do. Jessica loves to play with cards. She sorts them by color and number. The cards go everywhere with her. I have come to know Jessica as a happy-go-lucky girl. She is smiley, with a sense of humor. She loves to color, do puzzles, and play catch. She won’t let me forget anything. If I take my glasses off, she is worried about them until I put them back on. Kelsey has been teaching herself sign language. She likes to color and do word searches. She also loves to sing and play piano. She takes great care of her many dolls. Kelsey played a song for me that was in memory of her grandma Naemi Huhta. Kelsey says her grandma loved music. Weekend time feels good. Betsy says she can sleep in. The girls love to go on outings. Once a month they go to the library to take out books and CDs. Sometimes they go shopping and stop somewhere for tea. Sometimes they do crafts or bake. Kelsey says the best part about the weekend is that they can go to church on Sunday. The weekdays are routine: personal cares, getting ready for the work day, working, helping prepare supper, and favorite evening activities. An early bedtime is good. The girls like to go to Bible class or services on Wednesdays. Many evenings end with singing and saying the evening prayer together. All the girls love their new home. They look forward to each new day and like to know which staff will be on the next day. As night falls on this new home, we can be assured that tomorrow is a new day of grace and hope. Denise Nevala An Example of Faith Having the girls join our congregation has been a joy. As they’ve gotten to know us, they are sure to find us every church service to greet with “God’s Peace!” or give a welcoming hug. Our little kids keep tabs on them and whisper to us, “The girls are here!” One evening it was my husband’s turn to teach Bible Class. One of the girls came over and asked him if he was the teacher that evening. He confirmed, and she said, “I’m feeling tired tonight, can you forgive me in case I fall asleep in your lesson?” This freedom and simplicity of faith is a great example to our whole family. We feel blessed to have them be part of our congregation life. Ruth Kiviahde Girls Offer Important Connection It has been special to have the Building Hope girls attend our Monticello congregation events. We see them come with smiles on their faces, eager to connect with various people. They find their seats quickly and sing from their hearts. Sometimes at the beginning of Bible Class one of the girls has touched base with the Bible Class teacher, promising to listen and not fall asleep during the lesson. The small children as well as the older kids see and interact with the girls on a regular basis. Each of the girls has her own special way of connecting with different members of the congregation. Having them as part of our congregation reminds us that God has made us all a little different and has not made any mistakes. The girls come to church with the help of a staff member who works in their home. Many of the staff are familiar faces from our congregation and some are from neighboring congregations. It is important and fun to connect with the staff from other congregations, too. God has allowed the girls’ home to be in our congregation, and we are thankful for that. Perhaps Monticello or another congregation will be blessed with a boys’ home someday! Tim Kesti Parents Thankful for New Home, Too “I’m going to live here the rest of my life!” Betsy Simonson says to her mother Melba. The transition of three young women from their family homes and another group home into the Building Hope group home, in Monticello, Minn., has been very good. For over a year, parents Ron and Melba Simonson, Dean and Sharon Kallinen, and Ernest and Martha Huhta, along with the other Building Hope committee members, met to discuss and plan the opening of a group home for four girls. These meetings consisted of planning, organizing, and establishing Building Hope, Inc. All three parents alluded to the fact that the whole organization could not have moved forward without Tarja Brown’s professional assistance. Sharon Kallinen says, “It seemed to take forever.” A few years ago other parents met, but nothing materialized. “It just wasn’t meant to be at that time,” Melba explains. But in God’s time, the obstacles and hurdles resolved, and suddenly the group home was a go for November 1, 2016. “I was in denial,” Martha Huhta says, regarding her daughter’s need to live in a group home. The support from others, and Kelsey’s question, “How come I can’t move out and live with some girls?” helped her accept the idea of Kelsey moving into the home. For the first few days, Kelsey was quiet there. Then, she spread her wings and began to love it. The other housemates and staff members are now her “friends.” The Huhta family has relocated to Monticello from northern Minnesota. “It’s nice to live close by so we can stop there at a moment’s notice,” Martha says. “Jessica has really blossomed since she moved into her new place,” her mother Sharon says. Jessica had been living in another group home for ten years. After moving in, “it took me by surprise how easily she transitioned,” Sharon adds. Jessica seemed to sense the difference from the group home she was in to one where she is surrounded by believers. The parents all agree that the home is a wonderful, safe place where their girls can be independent. To be blessed with the gospel by the other girls in the home and from the staff members is a reassuring comfort. “It feels good to know that Betsy will have a place to live after we’re gone,” Melba says. Kayla Fredrickson

Paul Waaraniemi | 2017 January-February Shepherd's Voice A New Year—A New Start Have you ever heard a grown-up talk about making a New Year’s resolution? What do you think that big word resolution means? When used in this way, it actually means a promise. At the beginning of each new year lots of people make special promises to do, or not do, something for one whole year or longer. If, later in the year, you ask people who have made these resolutions whether or not they have kept their promises, they often admit that they have not. Some people have made important changes in their lives with a New Year’s resolution, though. Some of these kept promises are sticking to a healthy diet, getting more exercise, quitting smoking, saving money, and so on. Do you think you could keep a promise to yourself? A new year can be a good time to make a change, because when we’re saying goodbye to the old year, along with it, we can bid farewell to a bad habit, too. When we look at the calendar, we see that the new year has a new number. At Christmas time it was still 2016, now at the beginning of January it is 2017. A new year is a new start! If we have done something wrong, we can put it away by asking forgiveness and believing it forgiven in the name and blood of Jesus. What a wonderful thing! And we can have forgiveness at any time, not just at New Year’s. Sometimes, though, we do things that are not sin, but they are not good for us either. I think we can all think of something like that. How about eating too much candy, or not brushing our teeth every day? Now at the beginning of 2017, let’s think of some promises we could make to ourselves for the new year. I can think of a very important one—doing Sunday school, and regular school homework early when the teacher assigns it. We do a better job if we have enough time. Sunday school memory work is hard to remember if we don’t give ourselves time to practice. Another promise could be going on a candy strike—our dentists would like that! Mom, or the people who take care of us, would probably think promises to willingly take turns at dishes or housework would be a great New Year’s resolution. There are really fun resolutions kids can make too! How about playing piano every day or getting regular exercise? Writing in a journal or diary for 365 days in a row would give you quite a book at the end of the year. (Did you know that a year usually has 365 days?) Just think how much you would know if you read one poem or one page of a thick book every day! If you make a promise that lasts for a whole year, you have developed a new, good habit, one that you won’t have to break the next year. Like we said earlier, a new year can mean a new start! Make a New Year’s resolution and see how long you can keep a promise to yourself. Paul Waaraniemi Adapted from 1997 January/February Shepherds Voice

Janelle Huhta | 2016 November Voice of Zion “Thanks for Joy and Thanks for Tears” (SHZ 351) Thanksgiving is an official government holiday in both Canada and the U.S. with a variety of underpinnings, traditions, and meanings. For some, it’s a work-free day to prepare for Black Friday shopping deals or to focus on a football game, with or without a turkey dinner. For others, the tradition of “everyone coming home” for a home-cooked feast is the main event. In our mostly non-agrarian society, where food is ever-abundant at the grocery store, the post-harvest gathering to give thanks to the Creator is ever less-connected to crop results. In times past, feast and famine tumbled around each other in tandem, and post-harvest rituals were especially centered on food and its gathered abundance before the non-growing season took grip upon the land. Giving Thanks to God Nevertheless, we can celebrate Thanksgiving in many joyous and uplifting ways, gathered with loved ones around tables laden with good food. We may consciously pause to itemize and even share all we have to be thankful for. Our blessings may filter through our mind as we sing from the “Thanksgiving and Praise” section of our hymnal. We may find much joy in this day set aside for rest and thanksgiving, in spite of a current sorrow or trial we carry. I’ve asked a few of my siblings for thoughts, as they have been incorporated into new Thanksgiving families, as well as some insight from my own children on our own special family gathering in 2015 which was abundant with “thanks for joy and thanks for tears.” As the Canadian Thanksgiving happens sooner in the harvest calendar than the American, perhaps due to the earlier harvest dates, I asked my brother Ryan, currently living in Saskatoon, for some thoughts on his new Thanksgiving family traditions. He slipped the reporter’s pen over to his father-in-law Duane Pirness, grandfather to Ryan and Anniina’s three children: Arian, Sonnet, and new baby Ismay who will join the Pirness celebration this year. A Special Time for Family “Our Thanksgiving meal has always been a special time for our family,” Duane says. “Canadian Thanksgiving occurs on the second Monday in October, so each year we celebrate it with a turkey meal. Some years it has worked better to have the meal on Sunday; other times we’ve had it on Monday. Mirjami is Finnish, so the tradition was a new one for her, but she immediately embraced it as a special family event. When the children were small, it was a day that they enjoyed and looked forward to; usually their Aunt Myla came to share the meal with us.” Time doesn’t stand still for any of us, and now Duane and Mirjami have entered a new phase of Thanksgiving celebrations: “With two sons-in-law, and grandchildren, it has become even more special, when it’s possible for all of us to be together. When the children were little, they were excited over the special meal. Now it has become a time for visiting and playing games, with everyone enjoying the little ones. Other than the fellowship, nothing has been specially planned, although sometimes everyone shares what they are especially thankful for.” Duane shares a mutual and heartfelt hope: “that our celebration on Thanksgiving Day will help us remember to be thankful every day for all the gifts and blessings God gives to our family.” Celebrations Change with Circumstances Just as far away from my household is my sister Heather, who lives in Kalispell, Montana with her husband Conor and nine children. While extended families make reliable Thanksgiving guests, this family has had to forge new traditions: “The first couple of years in Montana, we were able to host a Thanksgiving feast at our trailer with all of the other Montana folk. Everyone brought a part of the meal, and we sang Thanksgiving songs.” Sometimes, they were able to host online services as part of their Thanksgiving gathering. Again, change is re-shaping their holidays, as their family grows and more believing families settle around them, too many for one household table. Heather feels blessed to have hosted long-distance company for the last three years of turkey dinners, followed by restorative fellowship, singing, and outdoor activities. Blending Traditions, Thanking Together Even farther to the west from me lives my sister Katie with her family. Like Duane, Katie is married to an immigrant who has different childhood experiences surrounding a Thanksgiving feast. Her husband Ignace hails from Togo in West Africa, where he didn’t celebrate any harvest festival growing up, but enjoyed many other types of family gatherings, with special meals, beverages, and traditions. Since he works as a nurse in the Seattle area, he sometimes has had to work over the Thanksgiving holiday. When possible, Katie, Ignace, and their children, including Fiam who will taste his first bite of Thanksgiving this year, have gathered with extended family for Thanksgiving dinner, as Katie explains: “We have enjoyed taking the whole day to visit, eat, play outdoors, and just be together. When Ignace is part of our Thanksgiving celebration, we bring an African dish for the table, such as tapioca porridge or plantains. Thanksgiving is celebrated with lunch and dessert, and when the men and young boys have done the dishes, the mood shifts to Christmas. Names are exchanged and the children visit excitedly about the upcoming season. Our little family too looks forward to Christmas, another festive time to spend, in part, with my dad’s Seattle family, who are special people in our lives.” Katie reflects on the tradition of setting aside a day for Thanksgiving, that “while it’s easy, even natural, to focus on blessings of abundance, (surplus food and material goods for example), we pause to give thanks for the numerous blessings we’ve received.” The Heavenly Thanksgiving Lastly, I want to share my family’s Thanksgiving experiences of last year, which my 12-year-old daughter Livie describes: “Last Thanksgiving is one I will remember all my life. My grandma (Naemi) was very sick with cancer and we knew it was going to be her last Thanksgiving with us. She came on a hospital bed. Once everyone had eaten, we stood around her bed and sang her favorite songs. I am thankful she got to be there. At past Thanksgivings, she was always the last one to eat because she was on her feet, making sure we all were fed.” It certainly was a time of joy and tears, to gather, eat and sing, knowing our dear Naemi awaited her eternal rest after a busy and productive life of serving her family. She passed away on the last day of 2015, to join that heavenly Thanksgiving feast. We will make our Thanksgiving plans this year, with special memories of years gone by, with joy welcoming new attendees, be they babies or new additions by marriage or friendship, and with thankfulness in our hearts for so much, “Thank you, Lord, for all your blessings!” Janelle Huhta Discussion Points: 1. How is Thanksgiving currently celebrated in your home/family? 2. What kinds of food do you eat? Do you think about how they got to your table? 3. What non-food traditions do you enjoy at Thanksgiving time? 4. Can you think of a time when you have personally experienced famine? If not famine, a trial so heavy that you have had difficulty giving thanks to God? What has helped you?