When I became the pastor of Montana's Belgrade Church in May 2011, my wife and I were graciously given a welcome gift called a "Blessing Jar." We were instructed to write down blessings we received from God and drop them in the jar. Then, from time to time, we were to empty the jar and review how God had blessed us. We loved the idea and began collecting little notes of blessings.
A couple of weeks later I was reading Desire of Ages and discovered this statement: "It is for our own benefit to keep every gift of God fresh in our memory. Thus faith is strengthened to claim and to receive more and more. There is greater encouragement for us in the least blessing we ourselves receive from God than in all the accounts we can read of the faith and experience of others" (p. 348). I immediately decided that we needed a blessing jar for the whole church.
Now we have "Blessing Sabbaths" several times a year. On those Sabbaths we do not have a sermon, but take the worship service to praise and thank God for the blessings He gives. As this idea was developing I also remembered something I had read a few years previously: "... The church members are not to expect a sermon every Sabbath. ... Let church members, during the week, act their part faithfully, and on the Sabbath relate their experience. The meeting will then be as meat in due season, bringing to all present new life and fresh vigor" (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 19).
We believe that God is adding "new life and fresh vigor" to our church family through our "Blessing Sabbaths."
Note: Blessing jars are produced by a local Christian potter in the Bozeman, Mont., area. If you are interested in a jar, you may contact Rollin Hixson at rollinhixson@gmail.com.
Montana's Belgrade Church members write down their blessings in a church "Blessing Jar" and share the notes during special Sabbath services. (Rollin Hixson)
