A Thankful Community
Joyce Brewer (left) and Rachal Hisler share a warm embrace from across the table before enjoying their Thanksgiving dinner.
Jamie Lea, pastor at First Methodist Church Anahuac and Middleton Memorial Methodist Church in Wallisville, serves a Thanksgiving meal to community members during the Mid-Chambers Ministerial Alliance's 11th Annual Community Thanksgiving.
ANAHUAC— Anahuac Primary School was alive with chatter and brightened by the smiles of community members as many gathered for an evening of prayer, food, and, of course, Thanksgiving.
On Saturday, Nov. 22, the Mid-Chambers Ministerial Alliance hosted its annual Community Thanksgiving at Anahuac Primary School, with congregations from churches around Chambers County coming out to enjoy good company and good food.
"The purpose of this community Thanksgiving is to unify our community, break down the denominational walls, and to show our community that even though people are different...we can still come together in fellowship and be kind to one another," said Sheri Phelps, primary organizer of the event.
Mark Pagels, pastor at Community Christian Fellowship and chairman of Mid-Chambers County Ministerial Alliance, began with a welcome and an opening prayer, followed by The Cross Baptist Church Pastor Shannon Cunningham, who led in a gospel reading.
Cunningham shared the message from Luke 17:11-19, the story of the 10 men with leprosy who Jesus Christ healed.
Although 10 were healed, only one, a Samaritan, came back to Jesus to share his gratitude.
"This man came back because his heart has been transformed," Cunningham said. "Only one came back, not because he owed God more, but because he saw more. Gratitude is the evidence that you understand what Jesus has done."
Reflecting on the passage, Cunningham challenged guests to look within.
"The nine were healed; the one was changed," Cunningham said. "The question I have for you is, have you been changed?"
Pastors in attendance then introduced themselves, including Mark Pagels, Community Christian Fellowship Church in Oak Island; Jamie Lea, First Methodist Church Anahuac and Middleton Memorial Methodist Church in Wallisville; Shannon Cunningham, The Cross Baptist Church in Wallisville; Cody East, Cornerstone Church in Anahuac; and Hubert Breaux, Hankamer Community Fellowship.
Each year, New Covenant Fellowship prepares the turkey, and various other churches provide the sides and desserts.
Aside from the traditional Thanksgiving desserts, CC Ice Cream Truck was there to satisfy the sweet tooth, which Phelps expressed gratitude for.
Pastors serve dinner, dessert and drinks to the people in attendance. This year, the Double Bayou/George Washington Carver Reunion Committee joined to help serve guests.
Phelps shared that Julia Barber, vice president of the DB/GWC Reunion Committee, expressed interest in the event, and she looks forward to the partnership.
Not a single bite of food went to waste: some leftovers were delivered to relatives who may not have been able to travel, some went to the Community Hot Meal Program, and some went to the Chambers County Sheriff's Office.
"We're very happy with the turnout," Phelps said, adding that about 200 were in attendance to visit with one another while enjoying the Thanksgiving meal.
The Mid-Chambers County Ministerial Alliance serves the community in many ways, including giving a Bible to each graduating senior, hosting an Easter sunrise service, and hosting vacation Bible school each summer. Other services include building wheelchair ramps, community clean-ups, and providing a choir for Anahuac's Christmas parade.