President Abraham Lincoln, as portrayed by Murray Cox of Wabash, Indiana, reads his 1864 proclamation establishing a national day of thanskgiving during a community Thanksgiving service Sunday at First United Methodist Church in Van Wert.
Craig Kelly | The Lima News
VAN WERT — “Every day should be Thanksgiving” in the hearts of Christians.
Those were the words of Roger Peugh of Trinity Friends Church to those in attendance at Sunday evening’s Community Thanksgiving Service held at First United Methodist Church in Van Wert. Peugh gave that message while speaking on biblical passages related to thankfulness, reminding those in attendance that while much of our human nature can be focused on complaining, being deliberate in seeking out areas of blessing can change one’s entire mindset.
Returning after a five-year absence, the service was the brainchild of a group of ministers and other church leaders in the community, who wanted to give the people of Van Wert the opportunity to come together to remember all the blessings for which they are to be thankful.
“This is the first resurrection of trying to do this again,” according to Paul Hoverman, the director of worship arts for First United Methodist Church. “We’re not sure what it’s going to bring, but we have hopes for a lot of different things.”
One special visitor at the event was President Abraham Lincoln, portrayed in this case by Murray Cox of Wabash, Indiana. During the service, Cox read the original proclamation by Lincoln in 1864 establishing a day of thanksgiving and speaking on its significance, especially at the time it was given.
“It came at a good time after the victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, and it seemed like the appropriate time to have a day of thanksgiving and praise,” he said.
Along with representation from Trinity Friends Church, other participating pastors and staff from churches in the Van Wert area were on hand, including some from Pentecostal Way Church, Salem Presbyterian Church in Venedocia, the Apostolic Church of Van Wert and First Presbyterian Church of Van Wert. The intention was to come together as one body of Christian believers to help show the community the love of God, especially during uncertain times.
“In the midst of disunity, we are gathering to celebrate the love that God has for all of humanity and to be unified in proclaiming that love and that faithfulness as shown through his Son, Jesus,” said Pastor Chris Farmer of First United Methodist Church.
During the service, a collection was also taken to help fund an event at Fountain Park near the church.
“We do a big Christmas presentation with lights and different things, and they’ve been asking for money to help refurbish some of the stuff,” Hoverman said. “We’re all about community and bringing Christ to the community.”
For Rev. J.H. Vanlal Hruaia of First Presbyterian Church, this event was one he was eager to support.
“This is what we need to do,” he said. “We all come with different denominations but we all praise God. We might have differences in the way we praise or in doctrine or what we like or don’t like, but it’s like when you travel on a train. You all have a ticket and you all sit in the train and travel together.”
