4 • The Beacon October 29 , 2020
Church display encourages people to give thanks
By Josie Sellers
TheCoshoctonBeaconToday . com
What are you thankful for ? This is the question Emmanuel Lutheran Church is encouraging people to think about with its fall lawn display .
“ We do lawn visuals that communicate a message ,” Pastor Bryan Kittner said . “ It just depends on the season . At Christmas we hope to do a message about hope .”
Three giant pumpkins bare the message , “ Give thanks ,” and they are flanked by a wooden scarecrow and two praying scarecrows made of straw .
“ My wife Dana came up with the idea ,” Kittner said . “ I got the wood , and her and our daughter Sarah drew it out . One of our church members , Eric Turner , cut it out and made a way to fasten it together . My daughter Liz and our family then painted it . Eric and his wife April made the praying scarecrows , and Roger Ridenour got a donation of pumpkins from Darr Farms .”
The pumpkins are scattered in front of the display , and people are welcome to stop by and take one as long as they are there . They also are encouraged to write what they are thankful for on the back of the display .
Pastor Bryan Kittner is pictured writing what he is thankful for on the back of his church ’ s fall lawn display .
“ We were trying to make it interactive ,” Kittner said . “ They could take a picture of themselves here too and post it to Facebook and share with us what they are thankful for . We have so much to be thankful for . We really do .”
Kittner encourages people to pause and reflect on their blessings and even find a way to give back to others .
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Josie Sellers
is located at 1500 Pleasant Valley Drive in Coshocton . For more on the church , visit www . emmanuelcoshocton . org . A grant from Thrivent Financial Services made the fall display possible .
Donation
Darr Farms donated pumpkins which are scattered in front of the display . People are encouraged to stop by and take one as long as they are there