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Community gives thanks at service in middle school
AUSTINTOWN — The program proclaimed this passage, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving” (Psalm 100 4-5). And the 150 participants who entered Austintown Middle School doors Sunday night for a community Thanksgiving service came to give thanks.
Greater Austintown Ministerial Association sponsored the event that featured music, speakers, presentation of the colors and a tribute to unsung community heroes.
The praise band and choir of Austintown Community Church set the tone of the service with the song “Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart.”
The Rev. David Roberts, known as “Duffy,” of Austintown Community Church, said the ministerial association decided this year to hold the service at a local school “outside of the normal houses of worship to make it more open to the larger community.”
The presentation of the colors by Boy and Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts Austintown, coordinated by David Nelson and Tricia Doyle, contributed to the community element of the event.
The Rev. David Verzilli of Native American Ministries asked the audience “to count your blessings even in the face of economic, physical and emotional struggles.” He mentioned that in the song “Now Thank We All Our God,” he once heard a little girl substitute “ton by ton” in the line “count your blessings one by one.” But, he said, “ton by ton” sometimes reflects the enormity of our blessings.
The Rev. Robert Offerdahl of Native American Ministries led the crowd in a Latoka language presentation of the doxology “Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow.” He introduced American Indian Priscilla Pipe, who sang “Amazing Grace” in Dakota and accompanied herself on the guitar. Kendall Pipe offered a prayer.
Jackie Burley, executive director of Protestant Family Service, noted that the “need is great” and the agency is thankful for all contributions.
The Rev. Guy BonGiovanni, president of Life Enrichment Ministries of Canfield, was keynote speaker. He said at the first Thanksgiving, the Pilgrims were thankful for religious freedom, the help of God and Indians and the promise of the future in the skills they learned from the American Indians.
He asked those at the service to be thankful for God’s plan, priority, provision, protection and promise. “God has a plan for us and does it on his time table,” the Rev. Mr. BonGiovanni said.
As for protection, God sends his angels to watch over us and God offers the promise that people can call upon him when in trouble, he said.
The Rev. John Trimbur of St. Joseph Catholic Church mentioned “unsung heroes” of the community including those who are serving and had served in the U.S. armed forces, and police officers, firefighters, medical personnel, government leaders and school personnel. He noted they all contribute to the quality of community life. Father Trimbur also noted that the “unsung heroes” are those struggling to provide for their families. “We all need one another,” he said.
The Rev. Elmarie Parker of Wickliffe Presbyterian offered the benediction.
Michele Grazier of Austintown said the service was uplifting.
Evelyn and Tony Ciccone and their son, all of Austintown, also attended. She said they read about the service and were drawn to it. “It sounded like a wonderful event,” she said, and noted at the conclusion they weren’t disappointed.