This past July, a propane gas explosion destroyed the Rapho Township municipal building and caused major damage to several homes nearby the site on Colebrook Road in Manheim. Miraculously, no one was injured in the blast.

Margie Peters, who co-pastors Hernley Mennonite Church in Manheim with her husband, Jay, remembers thinking the day showcased the grace of God.

"We live about a mile down the street from the township building, and I thought, 'Isn't it just amazing nobody was hurt and nobody was killed?'" she recalled. "I was so thankful, and I know all of us were being thankful in our own private ways, but I kept thinking, 'Somebody needs to give the community a way to come together and give praise and thanksgiving to God for all He does.'"

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, Margie realized now is the perfect time for that. She invites the community to Hernley Mennonite Church, 746 Lebanon Road, Manheim, on Sunday, Nov. 19, for a special gathering to reflect on the love and care of God. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m.

"The evening will be kind of like a church service with music opportunities to praise and worship God," Margie stated. "It will be a chance to praise the sovereign being who watches over us."

Four months after the explosion, rebuilding efforts are still underway in Rapho Township, Margie shared. "Some people have not been able to move back into their homes," she said. "Despite there being no injuries or deaths, this is still affecting people's lives going forward."

She noted that the doors are open to anyone who wants to attend the Thanksgiving gathering. "There are people who go to church regularly, people who believe but don't attend church and people who don't know for sure if they believe, but something like this (the explosion) gets their attention," she explained. "We want anyone who wants to thank God to come to this."

The event will have four focal points, Margie noted: God's protection, God's provision, God's giving direction and His healing touch.

The trombone choir from Lititz Moravian Church will accompany a pianist during the service, and Margie is hoping to feature testimonials from people who experienced the explosion in July. A focus hymn will be "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come."

"This service is giving people a chance to expand on the Thanksgiving season," she stated. "I love turkey and stuffing. I love to cook, and I love to have people over to my house, but sometimes our focus gets on the trappings and wrappings of the holiday, and we kind of give God a little nod and go on with our festivities. This is giving people a chance to join others and focus on giving thanks to God."