Psalm 118 opens with an encouraging declaration: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever!” Every single day offers an opportunity to pause, praise, and thank God for the countless blessings He gives us into our lives. We give thanks to God for what he has done for us through Jesus, for forgiveness, for His love, for our families, work, homes, friends and more…. God’s grace is always present. And you – what other gifts would you add to your own list of blessings?
November arrives to highlight the vital importance of gratitude. This season of thanksgiving also invites us, right at the beginning of the month, to pause and remember our loved ones who have gone before us into eternal life.
Last year during this month, I wrote about the celebrations of All Saints’ Day, Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), and the traditional La Ofrenda. Now, our lead pastor has asked me to incorporate once again about the celebration of Día de los Muertos, a tradition that is likely already familiar to many of you but perhaps unfamiliar for the new members. This is a wonderful way for new members to learn more about our identity and heritage as a community at Ascension.
On the Day of the Dead, observed on November 2nd across Latin American countries, families go to cemeteries to care for and decorate the final resting places of their family members. They bring towels, water, paint, candles, and vibrant flowers to honor and clean the graves. In El Salvador and many other parts of Latin America, the heart of the celebration centers directly within the cemetery itself.
In Mexico, the celebration often begins inside the home. Families lovingly prepare an altar known as La Ofrenda (Altar). In La Ofrenda, they place photographs of their loved ones alongside their favorite foods, drinks, and traditional candies. A signature element of these decorations is the bright, fragrant flower known as Cempasúchil or the Flor de Muerto (Flower of the Dead), more commonly known here as the marigold. The Flor de Muerte is placed on La Ofrenda to guide, illuminate and welcome the souls of loved ones who return from the afterlife during the Day of the Dead. If you’ve seen the movie Coco, you saw that most of the flowers used are Flor de muerto.
Within our Latino ministry, La Ofrenda remains an indispensable tradition. We always create an Ofrenda and invite families to bring photographs, cherished objects, favorite foods, and flowers to place upon it. During worship, we speak their names aloud, we give thanks to God for the earthly lives He granted them and trusting that they now rest in the eternal home He has prepared. As Jesus tells us in John 14:2, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”
In my own family, we joyfully continue the tradition of creating our offering each year. We thank God for life itself, for the precious lives He gave to our loved ones, and for all the wonderful, unforgettable moments we shared with them during their time on earth. At the same time, we give thanks as a family for all the blessings God continues to provide in our daily lives. ¿Y tú, por qué le das gracias a Dios hoy?
Pastor Edwin
