November 2022

               As Congregationalists our denomination is directly descended from those who came to this country on the Mayflower. I thought that since Thanksgiving, a holiday that we attribute to those from which we descend, it would be good to look at this tradition.

               In September 1620 the Mayflower left Plymouth, England with 102 passengers seeking a new home where they could freely practice their faith. The journey lasted sixty-six days until they dropped anchor off the coast of Cape Cod. Incidentally, they were headed much farther south, towards Virginia but weather pushed them to the New England coast.

               After a brutal first winter spent on board ship they disembarked and started to build their community. In November 1621 after the first corn harvest Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited their Native American allies. This three day feast is remembered as the first Thanksgiving. Turkey may very well have been on the menu but so were lobster, seal and swan. In 1623 a second Thanksgiving celebrated the end of a drought. This Thanksgiving feast became a yearly event.

               George Washington issued a proclamation of a national celebration of Thanksgiving to celebrate the successful end to the War of Independence and God’s blessing on our new nation. Abraham Lincoln in 1863 during our Civil War scheduled Thanksgiving for the last Thursday in November entreating all Americans to ask God to “commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation.”

               For the majority of our countries history, from the Pilgrims to Washington and Lincoln and beyond Thanksgiving has been a day to thank God for his divine interest in our wellbeing and to ask for his continued blessings and preservation.

               In today’s climate Thanksgiving has become a day for family and friends to feast. It has come to revolve around turkey and for many, football. This is not necessarily all bad. Time with family and friends we may not see often is always a good thing. I myself have spent time watching football after stuffing myself with more food than I should have eaten.

               As Christians in direct line with those who celebrated the first Thanksgiving, I ask us to remember God in our celebrations. Let us remember to thank him for past blessings and to ask for continuation of his blessing. As we eat let us remember those who may not have enough food and those who may be alone. As we give thanksgiving to what God has blessed us with, let us take a moment to commit to living our Christian ideals and reaching out to those in need.

Happy Thanksgiving

God bless you

Pastor Jim