Congregants at Fenimore Street United Methodist Church in Brooklyn on Nov. 19 celebrated their annual Thanksgiving Harvest with a two-hour Worship Service, giving thanks to Almighty God for his many blessings.

The service, held on the 25th Sunday after Pentecost, featured the full participation of the congregation, with lofty singing, praying, scripture reading and preaching.

Days before, the Decorations Committee fully decorated the church in Harvest colors, and placed gifts baskets around the altar and on the pulpit to be distributed to less fortunate church members and members of the community in general.

The Sunday School children made a presentation before the congregation sang “Bringing in the Sheaves,” and the Praise Team evoked many teary eyes with extended worship, singing, among other songs and hymns, “Be Sure to Say Thank You.”

Bro. Jeffrey Adolphus conducts the Combined Choir. Photo by Nelson A. King

Bro. Jeffrey Adolphus, the church’s former organist, visiting from his native Belize, conducted the Combined Choir with a spiritually-uplifting rendition, “Give Thanks.”

Afterwards, the African American Pastor, the Rev. Roger Jackson, delivered a riveting sermon on “A God of Expectations”, basing his text on “The Parable of the Talents,” Matthew 25: 14-30.

It says in part: “For the Kingdom of Heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And onto one, he gave the five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Pastor the Rev. Roger Jackson delivers sermon on “A God of Expectations.” Photo by Nelson A. King

“Then, he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents,” it adds. “And likewise, he that had received two, he also gained another two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth and hid his Lord’s money. After a long time, the Lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them.

“And so, he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents; behold, I have gained besides them five talents more,” the scripture continues. “His Lord said unto him, well thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord…”

Sunday School children make their presentation. Photo by Nelson A. King

Stating that the parables are “illustrations told by Jesus Christ,” Rev. Jackson said that “what they said here is that others are not doing the things, which Jesus offers us. The spiritual lesson is that God blesses us with a number of gifts. God expects us to use our abilities. Jesus knows our abilities.

“God has a season for us,” he said. “Go ye into the world, and the Season of Harvest will come back into his church. God is calling you; find and seek things you can do.

“Young people are taking cues from us,” Rev. Jackson added. “This text is about harvest – harvesting our soul, harvesting our gifts.”

Though the entire Worship Service was dedicated to Thanksgiving Harvest, the recessional hymn reminded and accentuated to everyone that “Every Day is a Day of Thanksgiving.”