Dear Friends:

As the crispness of autumn settles in, I find myself looking up favorite fall comfort food recipes. Apple crisp, pumpkin pie, candied sweet potatoes and homemade cranberry sauce. Food is one of the ways we remember isn’t it? Especially as we prepare for this season of thankfulness.

The recipe I use for apple crisp was given to me at my bridal shower. An old family friend’s name is on the top right corner and it is titled – ‘Apple Crisp for Two’. It is simple, and quick and certainly for a young married couple, it was a homemade treat. There are a lot of past memories attached to that recipe and each year, about this time, it gets pulled out. Now, it is the perfect size to make for myself and to have a leftover portion for the next day!

My sister says I received our mom’s pie making genes. Most of the time, my pumpkin pie recipe is the one on the back of the Libby’s pumpkin pie can. It is the one that I can find in the moment because they are good to print it right on the can! My mother had a slightly different recipe and it was tasty. When I have the time, I dig that one out and make it. But like many other people, I use what is right there in front of me on the label and I am thankful that while I can grab all the ingredients while in the store by reading the label.

At Thanksgiving gatherings, I have often made the candied sweet potatoes. They are not a family recipe per se, just brown sugar, butter and freshly cooked sweet potatoes but the key is in the careful process of cooking them in the skillet and getting just the right candied consistency without burning them! It takes time and patience.

Then there is the cranberry sauce. Growing up, my mom made the homemade cranberry sauce. My dad used it as his “gravy” on his stuffing. It was sweet and tart and really didn’t have much spice in it. As my children were growing up, I made the cranberry sauce I grew up with but also had to have the canned slices for the rest of my family. Today, my daughter-in-law usually makes the homemade cranberry sauce but with spices and orange zest. Over time, new adaptations have been good.

Thankfulness is rooted in the past, practiced in the present and leads us into the future! As we prepare for this season, we are coming to the end of the liturgical church calendar as well. The Christmas decorations are already in the stores, but we can take time to appreciate this season as a preparation time for Advent, before Advent prepares us for Christmas.

On Sunday, November 3, we will take time to remember the saints of the church that we have lost this year. We will have a special All Saints Day remembrance in worship for those in our church and for those in our lives that passed away this past year.

Then, let’s settle in with some Psalms of Thanksgiving as our focus for the month as we consider: “19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” Ephesians 5:19-20.

With blessings and gratitude,

Pastor Carolyn

November 2025