Pastor's Message for November, 2006
Pastor's Message for November, 2006
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Thanksgiving Trivia ~ How much you (don't) know about our Thanksgiving holiday.
When was the first Thanksgiving celebration held? The Plymouth Pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving celebration in the fall of 1621 What was the reason for holding a Thanksgiving celebration? On December 11, 1620 the first Pilgrims (or Puritans, as they were initially known) landed at Plymouth Rock. By the fall of 1621, of the hundred or so passengers who had sailed on the Mayflower, only half were still alive. (Of these, only four were adult women and almost forty percent were children.) The survivors, thankful to be still alive, decided to give a feast. What was the name of the Wampanoag chief that was invited to the first Thanksgiving feast? His name was Massasoit. Some ninety Wampanoag tribesmen were present at the feast. What was the name of the Pilgrim leader who invited the neighboring Wampanoag to the first Thanksgiving? It was Governor William Bradford who invited them. The reason they were invited is because they were the ones who taught the Pilgrims to cultivate the land, thus making it possible for them to survive. How long did the first Thanksgiving celebration last? It lasted three days (the celebration consisted of games as well as food). Which president proclaimed the first "National Day of Thanksgiving"? George Washington (in 1789 and then again in 1795). Even though Thanksgiving was observed most years, it was not an official holiday. What is the name of the woman credited with making Thanksgiving a national holiday? Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor. She began her Thanksgiving campaign in 1827. Which president made Washington's "National Day of Thanksgiving" a national holiday? On October 3, 1863 Abraham Lincoln issued a "Thanksgiving Proclamation" that made the last Thursday in November a national holiday. (Before that, the president had to make an annual proclamation naming the day when Thanksgiving was going to be held.) What happened in 1941? Congress passed an official proclamation naming Thanksgiving a legal holiday to be observed, from that date forward, on the fourth Thursday in November. and last but not least... Who wanted to make the turkey the national bird of the United States of America? Benjamin Franklin, but he was opposed by Thomas Jefferson. Legend has it that Franklin then named the male turkey a "tom turkey" to spite Jefferson. (The female is called a "hen turkey" and the baby a "poult.") Taken from “Guide to Chicago” by Virginia Soto. Dear Friends ~ I hope you are as excited about Thanksgiving as I am. I hope you are also making plans now to spend time with family and celebrate through meal and fellowship. A couple of Sundays ago, I preached on Abram and how he was “Blessed by God to be a Blessing.” In that service we spent a few minutes counting our blessings. I was amazed that in both services when I asked the congregation to close their eyes and count five blessings on your fingers, people immediately moved into a state of prayer. Truly, when we understand how blessed we are by God, our Creator, Redeemer, Provider and Sustainer, we come to understand how Thankful we should be. Thankfulness if often the first step toward authentic prayer. May your Thanksgiving this year be a blessing to you and to those with whom you spend it with. Afterthought ~ This Thanksgiving, what can you do to be a blessing for someone who is Suffering in some way? For someone who is Hungry or for someone who is Alone and/or Afraid or losing Hope? 
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