In the New Apostolic Church, Thanksgiving Day is a Sunday for believers to reflect on their lives, express gratitude to God, and praise His majesty. This is celebrated with a special divine service on the first Sunday of October every year. On this occasion, the Deputy District Rector for Accra East, Karel Ben Sekyi De-Heer, led this special divine service at the Osu Congregation.

The service began with the heartfelt hymn, "Now, thank we all our God", setting the tone for a spirit-filled gathering. The text word used was, Genesis 8:22: “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.”

Beginning the sermon, the Deputy District Rector De-Heer elaborated that everything that we have and everything we are, is thanks to God. “For this, we gather to praise, glorify, and thank Him in the spirit of humility and thankfulness both as individuals and as a congregation offering the rewards of our hands to Him.”

Expanding the theme of the service, the Deputy District Rector illustrated God's unwavering provision and design for His creation.

• From the beginning, God created Adam and Eve, placed them in the Garden of Eden, provided and gave them dominion over all His creation.
• The stories of Cain and Abel, Noah's ark and Towel of Babel demonstrated God's acceptance of humble offerings and His love.
• After the flood, Noah offered burnt offerings on an altar pleasing to God, prompting God to promise never to destroy the earth with a flood again. This covenant, sealed with the rainbow, assured humanity of God's love, mercy, and promise for the continuity of His creation while the earth remains.

Continuing the sermon, the Deputy District Rector drew parallels between Noah’s time and the present day. Just as Noah preached repentance before the flood, today we’re also being warned of Christ’s return.

Emphasizing the importance of repentance, belief, and obedience to secure fellowship with God through Christ, he added;

• Noah’s Ark’s deliverance symbolizes baptism, and represents a covenant with God
• Today’s Church has been called out of sin to obey God’s Will. Through Jesus, a covenant of God’s mercy has been established, ensuring salvation for us.

In conclusion, Deputy District Rector De-Heer said, “Just as Noah and his family found refuge in the ark, we also have found salvation, and our fellowship with God reconciled through Christ's death in exchange for our sins. Let’s always remain obedient and attentive to God’s voice, and bring offerings pleasing to Him likened to that of Abel and Noah.”

The Deputy District Rector was supported by Congregational Rector Kwapong, Deputy Congregation Rector Mingle and Community Evangelist Boakye.