A Community that Celebrates Celebrate to throng to

A Community that Celebrates Celebrate = “to throng” = “to observe” = “to extol” = “to display”

What do you like to celebrate? Birthdays Christmas Weddings Festivals Anniversaries National Events Success

Activity To celebrate we often give presents Make 2 lists: 1 - What would you like to ask for to make yourself happy? 2 - What is needed for others to be happy?

Calendar of Christian Festivals

Calendar of Religious Festivals n i t o n s i l a v i t s e F t s e v h c Har r u h c d e h s i l b the esta r a d n e l ca

Today is the last day of Sukkot Jewish festival of Tabernacles Festival of ingathering Remembers God’s protection during the exodus Leviticus 23: 40 -41 - “and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. You shall keep it as a festival to the LORD seven days in the year; you shall keep it in the Tabernacle, Booth or Shelter seventh month as a statute forever throughout your generations”.

Harvest Festival Themes Creation Thanksgiving Poverty Farming Fishing Industry Injustice Giving Talents Harvest of souls

What shall we ask for? 1 - What would you like to ask for to make you happy? 2 - What is needed for others to be happy?

What did you find? In Matthew 7: 7 Jesus instructs us to: Ask - that we will receive Seek - that we will find Knock- that the door will be opened

It is important to Ask Lord’s prayer: give us today our daily bread. We value things we ask for. Don’t take God’s gifts for granted. Acknowledge God as our provider. Matt 6: 33 - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. James 4: 3 - When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

It is important to Seek If we don’t seek we remain unaware of what we may find. Don’t ignore God; seek his wisdom, guidance and care. Keep searching. Proverbs 8: 17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently, find me. Psalm 105: 4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

It is important to Knock: To be invited into the presence of God. To open doors to new adventures with God. Break out from our self-limited existence. Psalm 84: How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord Almighty. John 10: 7 Jesus said “I am the door for the sheep. . . I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Ask, Seek, Knock Ask Pray, request Seek Learn, discover, discern God’s will Knock Act, move forward Ask to show that you want what God has to offer Seek to be close to God Knock to open ways to serve God Let us celebrate our confidence in God to give us good gifts, most especially the Holy Spirit (Luke 11: 13)