THANKS … As a token of appreciation for participating in the 2012 Thanksgiving Assembly, each pastor was presented a gift card on behalf of the Edon Northwest Schools community. Shown following the service were, from left, Mike Peeples, Junior Class President; David LaDuke, Pastor of Edon Church of Christ; Nathan Derico, Pastor of Columbia Church of Christ and Clay Parrish, Senior Class President.
Students, teachers and staff at Edon Northwest Local Schools celebrated the year’s many blessings during their annual Thanksgiving Assembly held Tuesday, November 20, 2012 in the high school gymnasium. Grades 7-12 Principal David Kennedy opened the afternoon gathering with an excerpt from Joanna Fuchs’ poem I’m Thankful for You.
“Thanksgiving is the appointed time to focus on the good in our lives,” he read. “Each day, we can find small blessings that are often overlooked by choosing instead to spend time paying attention to problems.” Principal Kennedy also shared how each person should look for “little pleasures”, learning to appreciate those who bring light and love daily to those blessed to know them. “Thanks to the staff, students and community for all you do for us at Edon Northwest Schools; we are thankful for each of you!”
After tapping into everyone’s “hidden talents”, Nathan Derico, Pastor of Columbia Church of Christ, joined his “audience” in demonstrating various sounds heard during a rainstorm. “Rain can be good or bad,” he began. “While needed for drinking, growing crops… survival, rain can also cause great flooding and damage.” In recounting the parable of the wise man and the foolish man, Pastor Derico told who had made the better choice in building his house. “The rock provided the wise man a solid foundation for his house; when the rains came down, it did not fall. In trusting God, we too will find Him always with us ~ through rain and shine ~ providing a solid foundation; the strength and hope to find peace at the end of the storm.”
Following the Choral Prayer, Give Thanks, by the Edon High School Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Cathy Frastaci, David LaDuke, pastor of Edon Church of Christ, offered the final Benediction.
At the sounding of the day’s final bell, students were dismissed to begin their much anticipated Thanksgiving Break. Classes at Edon Northwest Local Schools were set to resume Monday, November 26.
FEATURED SPEAKER … Students listened as Nathan Derico, Pastor of Columbia Church of Christ, shared his thoughts on Thanksgiving and how God is our rock and our foundation through the rainy and sun-filled times of our lives.