Community Thanksgiving service to be held Nov. 20 at Lilly Ridge


Halbert Smith

Halbert Smith, pastor of Gainesville Church of Christ and president of the Ozark County Ministerial Alliance, will deliver the message at the Ozark County Community Thanksgiving Service to be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, at Lilly Ridge General Baptist Church off Highway 160 east of Gainesville. 

Everyone is invited. The ministerial alliance is asking area churches to cancel their own Wednesday night services and encourage their members to attend the community Thanksgiving service, Smith said. 

Special music will be presented by the Ozark County Community Choir and other performers, prayers will be offered and Scripture will be read, he said. 

The collection taken at the annual Thanksgiving gathering is the primary fundraiser for the ministerial alliance, which provides assistance to families who find themselves in “short-gap / emergency need,” Smith said, adding that the alliance also helps with finding temporary shelter, paying emergency utility bills, helping provide transportation to medical appointments “and other benevolent needs in the community,” he said.

Refreshments and fellowship will be shared after the service. 

His sermon will be focused on thankfulness, Smith said, adding, “We want to express our thanks. We want to motivate us all to be thankful to God for everything He’s provided for us and done for us.” 

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423