How can I give thanks?
Luke 17: 11-19 New Ark United Church of Christ, Newark, DE October 12, 2025 Photo of a white plastic bag with a yellow smile face and the words "Have a nice day" and "Thank you!" When I was a member of the Monroe Congregational Church, UCC in Monroe, CT, a woman named Janice Whitely asked me if I would sing at her funeral. I said to her that yes, I would but I would also sing for her anytime she wanted me to. So, she asked me to sing her favorite hymn as a solo one Sunday. It’s number 14 in our hymnal. I’ll start singing it but I invite you to join me. This hymn is not typical of our faith experience, especially if we are White and privileged. The composer, Andraé Crouch, is the son of a bishop in the Church of God in Christ. While our two denominations disagree on theology about our LGBTQ+ kindred, the faith experience of this song resonates with many in the United Church of Christ, ironically, especially those who know what it’s like to live in exile, t...
