By NICK YAMASHITA
Moapa Valley Progress
Members of various local churches gathered as one congregation on Tuesday evening, Nov. 26 give thanks in their own way.
Members of Calvary Community Church, New Hope Christian Church, Lake Mead Baptist Church, and the Moapa Christian Church gathered together at 210 North Andersen Street in Overton, NV. The Calvary Community Church under the direction of Pastor Jason Ham played host to this special annual event.
Pastor Richard Fisher of the Moapa Christian Church introduced the various presentations to an almost full house of over 125 attendees in the congregation.
The service started with an opening prayer and led into singing and worship led by members of the Moapa Christian Church and New Hope Christian Church.
An awe-inspiring and beautiful rendition of “Amazing Grace” left the congregation in silence and tears of joy. This moving performance was by New Hope member and 13-year-old Aspen Frawley accompanied on the guitar by her Grandfather Regan Frawley of the Moapa Christian Church.
Members of the Lake Mead Baptist Church followed with a reading of a poem and a couple of performances of songs to which the congregation also sang along.
The guest speaker was Pastor Mitchell Tobler of the Lake Mead Baptist Church. Tobler rendered the New Testament story of Jesus who healed ten lepers. But only one of the lepers returned to give thanks to the Master. He was made whole.
Pastor Tobler went into the life of a leper during the days of the Bible and added historical references and a learned sermon of how we must be grateful for what we have as we have been given everything by He who created us.
“Thanksgiving and the holidays are surrounded by a sense of rush with Black Friday, sales and more,” Tobler said. “Let us put on the brakes on this Holiday rush and remind to give ourselves and other persons thanks, be a thankful people.”
After this sermon, the congregation celebrated and worshipped in song led by Pastor Hamm of the Calvary Community Church. Tobler said the closing prayer and attendees enjoyed each other’s company while munching on refreshments. A sweet ending to a sweet tasteful night of “thanksgiving”.
“This event brings us together in Jesus and its good for all to hear this message, interconnecting with each other, fully fellowshipping with thankfulness,” said Pastor Fischer.
“This event was great!” added Pastor Tobler. “I always look forward to it every year. When the churches come together it feels like family.”
The host Pastor Ham summed up the results of the attendance. “It was like every Thanksgiving service,” Ham said. “Good attendance and good service which was full.”
The clergy for all the churches were present except for Pastor Daniel Evans of New Hope who had family emergency commitment to attend to. Still, his congregation represented him well in the service.
