November 17, 2023

Dear Road Church Friends,

This Sunday is the beginning of Thanksgiving Week. Our Nation looks back to the Mayflower Pilgrims who celebrated the completion of their first year in the New World with a three-day harvest celebration. A contemporary record of it can be found in the Journal of William Breadford, governor of Plymouth Plantation. 

They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty. For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercised in fishing, about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion. All the summer there was no want; and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first.  And besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison.

Thanksgiving Days were observed intermittently in the 13 Colonies until President Lincoln issued the first National Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1863. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Sara Josepha Hale Thanksgiving Day has been a National holiday ever since.

The spirit of thanksgiving is at the heart of Judaism and Christianity. Since the days of Moses the Jews celebrated their own annual Thanksgiving Day as Deuteronomy makes clear.

When you settle in the Land of Promise, set aside one tenth of all that your fields, orchards and vineyards produce each year, then go to the place where the Lord is worshipped, and there in God’s presence make a feast of thanksgiving. If the place of worship is far from your home, turn your produce into money, and when you get to the place of celebration. Purchase beef, lamb, wine, beer, bread, cakes, dates, figs and whatever else you wish to eat and enjoy.

Do not forget to include the priests who live among you and have no property of their own. And share what you have with foreigners who live in the land, and the widows and orphans who live in your towns. Invite them to dine with you and give them all that they need. Do this, and the Lord will bless you in everything you do.

And the Apostle Paul wrote, “See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15-19

Gather with us Sunday when we refresh the spirit of thanksgiving in our heart and soul.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all,

Pastor Norm

The YouTube version of this service: https://www.youtube.com/live/XS-HFSUjNYY?si=YkBvAQEzQE89NmWl