Staff Writer

Thanksgiving church services and a number of organization- and church-sponsored dinners will be held this week to mark Thanksgiving.

Jeffrey Staples, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Delhi, will preside over the Delhi Clergy Association's Community Thanksgiving Service at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Delhi Assembly of God.

Staples said he will talk about balancing thanks and maintaining a sense of humility at Thanksgiving.

"I'll be talking about how, along with our thanksgiving, there's a side helping of humility that goes along with it," said Staples of his message, titled "The Indispensible Side Dish."

The association will also sponsor the 14th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving Day, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Delhi Fire Department.

The public can attend free of charge.

The Oneonta Interfaith Committee will also hold its annual community Thanksgiving service Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street.

The main address will be given by the Rev. Eileen Cornwell of Elm Park Methodist Church. Combined choirs from a number of organizations will sing during the service.

Cornwell said she didn't want to give away too much of her sermon but noted that it will be connecting the sense of being thankful with being generous.

Pastor Roger Yoder of the Hartwick United Methodist Church will also speak at the church during a special Thanksgiving service at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome.

What started 14 years ago as a small project to help those in need during holiday time has become an annual tradition that helped feed 216 families this year.

Food baskets for 216 families have been prepared through the Thanksgiving Food Project, offered by the Family Service Association in collaboration with St. James' Episcopal Church, Community Connections County Food Bank, Catholic Charities of Delaware and Otsego Counties, Living Water Faith Fellowship, service groups, college students and area residents.

Other scheduled holiday events:

• St. Mary's Parish will hold its traditional Thanksgiving dinner for the community Thursday at the Parish Center in Oneonta, at the intersection of Walnut and Elm streets.

Serving will be from noon to 2 p.m. Deliveries and rides can be arranged. For reservations or to request a ride or delivery, call Rita at 278-5839, Atoinette at 746-6776 or Aileen at 433-1571.

• The Davenport United Methodist Church will sponsor the sixth annual Thanksgiving dinner for the community and surrounding area at 12:30 Thursday at the Davenport United Methodist Church.

The dinner is free and transportation to and from the church is being offered. Reservations will be appreciated. Call Sue Peet at 278-6311.

• A free Thanksgiving Day dinner will be held at 1 p.m. at the Sidney Congregational Church. For reservations or to find out how to help, call the church office at 563-1329 or call Lew Peck at 369-7404.

• The Schoharie County Office for the Aging Thanksgiving Day dinner will be held at the Coby Room Center — the former Office for the Aging meal site — at 122 E. Main St. in Cobleskill.

Transportation to and from the dinner and home-delivered meals for those unable to attend will be available.

For more information or to make dinner reservations, call (518) 234-4219 or (518) 234-4491.