America’s spiritual secular holiday

Give pause for a higher perspective this Thanksgiving

Astronaut Scott Kelly returned to Earth in March after setting the record for the longest continuous time spent in outer space. Kelly manned the International Space Station for 340 days, a feat that took a toll on him physically and psychologically.

Coming down to Earth again could have been a coming down to earth experience. It could have thrown him right back into the earthbound perspective that plagues us all too often. But he learned some things from far away, looking back on that small blue planet we all call home.

“I think it makes you more of an environmentalist, looking at the planet. I think it makes you more of a ... humanist, you know, looking out at seven and a half billion people on Earth, no political borders.

“Personally, I think it’s more of an impact on how this overall experience has changed me, and I think for the better. When we spend time away from Earth and have this orbital perspective, I think it makes us more empathetic. It was a real privilege to do this and have this experience.”

So, do you have to leave Earth to have such an experience that deepens your empathy for creation and creatures? Surely, this is the proper role of religion. It calls us to see things from above, from above the fray of frayed relationships, from above the din of clamorous voices that divide us.

A truly spiritual perspective is unifying. It teaches us to see the world as our one common home that must be treasured for its wildness and domesticated with care. It teaches us to see our neighbor as if in a mirror, reflecting our same hopes and fears, needs and desires. It teaches us that, as the witty Benjamin Franklin put it, “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”

Thanksgiving is America’s spiritual secular holiday. It can be despoiled by gluttony, distracted by football and desecrated by claims of blessing that neglect the needy. Family tensions can heighten. Nationalism can parade as patriotism. Any good thing can go bad.

Worship

Anglican

ALL SAINTS EAST DALLAS / allsaintseastdallas.org

Sunday worship 5:00 pm / Live in God’s Presence. Live Out His Love.

Meeting at Central Lutheran Church / 1000 Easton Road

Baptist

PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH / 3933 Northwest Pky / pcbc.org

Worship & Bible Study 9:15 & 10:45 Traditional, Contemporary, Spanish Speaking / 214.860.1500

WILSHIRE BAPTIST / 4316 Abrams / 214.452.3100

Pastor George A. Mason Ph.D. / Worship 8:30 & 11:00am

Bible Study 9:40 am / www.wilshirebc.org

Disciples Of Christ

EAST DALLAS CHRISTIAN CHURCH / 629 N. Peak Street / 214.824.8185

Sunday School 9:30 am / Worship 8:30 am - Chapel

10:50 am - Sanctuary / Rev. Deborah Morgan-Stokes / edcc.org

Episcopal

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH / stjd.org

Worship: Sat 5:30 pm, Sun 8 & 10 am / Christian Ed Sunday Morning & Weekdays, see calendar on website / 214.321.6451 / 848 Harter Rd.

Lutheran

CENTRAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, ELCA / 1000 Easton Road

A Welcoming and Affirming Church / Pastor Rich Pounds

Sunday School 9:00 am / Worship 10:30 am / CentralLutheran.org

FIRST UNITED LUTHERAN CHURCH / 6202 E Mockingbird Lane Sunday Worship Service 10:30 am / Call for class schedule. 214.821.5929 / www.dallaslutheran.org

Methodist

GRACE UMC / Diverse, Inclusive, Missional

Or not. Thanksgiving can give us pause for a higher perspective. It can challenge us to a more heavenly view of things. Here are some questions to ask to elevate our souls:

How can we better cherish those who share turkey with us, even if they disappoint us and disagree with us? Does God really care more for one nation than another? Why do we insist on carving up our planet the way we do, both literally by pillaging it for profit and figuratively by gerrymandering advantage for some over others? Must grievances go on forever, or might we pave a path of peace by confession of sin and forgiveness for all?

Someone will say the blessing this year at your Thanksgiving table. As we bow our heads and quiet our hearts, let’s make it a blessing all can share in, rather than a blessing for us getting our share.

George Mason is pastor of Wilshire Baptist Church. The Worship section is underwritten by Advocate Publishing and the neighborhood businesses and churches listed here. For information about helping support the Worship section, call 214.560.4202.

Sunday School for all ages, 9:30 am / Worship, 10:50 am 4105 Junius St. / 214.824.2533 / graceumcdallas.org

LAKE HIGHLANDS UMC / 9015 Plano Rd. / 214.348.6600 / lhumc.com

Sunday Morning: 9:30 am Sunday School / 10:30 am Coffee

Worship: 8:30 am & 11:00 am Traditional / 11:00 am Contemporary

MUNGER PLACE CHURCH Come and See mungerplace.org

NON-DENOMINATIONAL

LAKE POINTE CHURCH – WHITE ROCK CAMPUS

Classic Service at 9:30 & Contemporary Service at 11:00 am lakepointe.org / 9150 Garland Road

Presbyterian

NORTHRIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 6920 Bob-O-Link Dr. 214.827.5521 / www.northridgepc.org / Sundays 8:30 & 11:00 am Sunday School 9:35am / All Are Welcome

PRESTON HOLLOW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 9800 Preston Road

8:15 am Chapel, 9:30 & 11:00 am Sanctuary, 5:00 pm Founder’s Hall

Senior Pastor Matthew E. Ruffner / www.phpc.org / 214.368.6348

ST. ANDREW’S PRESBYTERIAN / Skillman & Monticello Rev. Rob Leischner / www.standrewsdallas.org

214.821.9989 / Sunday School 9:30 am, Worship 10:45 am

Unity

UNITY ON GREENVILLE / Your soul is welcome here!

3425 Greenville Ave. / 214.826.5683 / www.dallasunity.org

Sunday Service 11:00 am and Book Study 9:30 am

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