2002 ThanksGiving Day Mass

There are members of St. Joan of Arc who believe the Thanksgiving Mass is one of the best celebrations of the year. This year’s observance seemed to prove the point.

The camaraderie was apparent as soon as people entered, many searching out friends to share handshakes, hugs, and holiday greetings. It was as though everyone there knew that one of the great blessings of their life was this wonderful parish with it’s deep spirituality, social justice, and like-minded souls. But just in case there was any doubt about the nature of the day, the screens above the altar were appropriately adorned with turkeys!

Father George Wertin was the celebrant and after his welcome and the gathering song, For the Beauty of the Earth, he and Julie Madden offered a Litany of Thanksgiving. As each gave thanks for all the many things we have to be grateful for, the congregation loudly proclaimed, “Let us give thanks to our God”

We give you thanks….

For the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the song of birds and the loveliness of flowers.

For the seedtime and the harvest, for the productive earth and the gathering of its produce.

For the wonderful diversity of races and cultures, for ever-widening circles of friendship, even among those who differ most from us.

For your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people assembled here.

For the torch of liberty lit in this land and throughout the world and for the men and women who have stood firm in the cause of freedom, justice, and truth.

We give you thanks, God who was and is and ever shall be, for all these gifts so freely bestowed on us.

Many of the St. Joan of Arc musicians were on hand - Fred and Anna Vagle, Dan Chouinard, Cyril Paul, Dick Hedlund, and Nancy Stockhaus. Guest artist Jim ten Benzel with trumpet in hand did a masterful job of creating both a reflective mood and at other times, a dixieland, hand-clapping tribute.

Father Wertin introduced his homily with a Chinese parable. He told of an elderly man who lived with his son in a rural area. The men are visited with a series of events, sometimes difficult, other times fortunate. As the story progresses we see that the misfortune often gives rise to luck, but then the luck gives way to new misery. Each event prompts either the sympathy or congratulations of nearby neighbors. To each expression of sympathy the father replies, “Good fortune or ill? Who knows?”. Likewise, to each expression of congratulation, he replies, “Good fortune or ill? Who knows?” At first a Chinese parable seemed an odd choice for our very American observance, but it was the perfect reflection for a parish like St. Joan of Arc which realistically meets the harsh truths of life without ever losing it’s sense of hope and abundance.

When Father was done he invited people in the congregation to come up to the front of the church to share the particular things they were grateful for. The responses were diverse, touching, and often humorous. There was gladness over the AIDS ride; a home bathroom remodeling; an expression of thanks for the SJA Cabaret that helped replace the sadness of Paul Wellstone’s death with a new sense of hope and joy. The parish was thanked for their tremendous effort in the Warm Hands, Warm Hearts project, and someone else reflected on the gift of difficult and challenging times that allow us to grow and become stronger. Father then asked everyone to give thanks for their own gifts by sharing in a special collection for the SJA Care Fund - a special fund to help families in crisis.

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Sue O'Brien is the wife of Tom, mother of four children, and grandmother of six. She is dental hygienist and manages a dental practice in Spring Lake Park. A parishioner for many years, Sue worked as a caregiver at Grace House for seven years, beginning the week it opened. Now she is looking forward to meeting new people at St. Joan of Arc as she helps out as a web reporter and photographer.

The offertory procession was a beautiful dance led by May Bernardo. Gifts of bread, wine goblets and money baskets were ceremoniously presented at the altar. It was followed by most everyone in church bringing up their own bags of food for local food shelves. Within minutes the entire altar area was surrounded by this symbolic, yet very tangible expression of thanks.

During Communion, Jim ten Benzel (a.k.a. Louis Armstrong) sang “What a Beautiful World” . That was followed by the touching and so appropriate, “Simple Gifts”. After the final blessing the musicians broke into a spirited rendition of, “Over the River and Through the Woods”. And in the spirit of great joy and well being, everyone headed home - or perhaps to Grandmother’s House.