Thanksgiving, Nov. 22, 2017 (full size gallery)
A beautiful fall day preceding the service though which the wind picked up and the temperatures dropped as we reached service time at 4:30pm. The bulletin is here and sermon is here. The bulletin provided a capsule summary of thanksgiving. We had a small but very amiable congregation of 15. They enjoyed singing the more popular Thanksgiving hymns "We Gather Together" (H 433), "Come, ye thankful people, come" (H 290) and a new one "We plow the fields" (H 291).
Thanksgiving has been involved in the remembrance of several types of events
1. days of fasting during difficult or pivotal moments and days of feasting and celebration to thank God in times of plenty
2. commemorating fall harvest
3. connection to war – days of gratitude
4. Lincoln brought many of these themes and those that involved families – “Abraham Lincoln, at the height of the Civil War, issued a proclamation 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.”
The sermon added a more intangible focus – recognize the blessings you have even in the midst of strife. "So today, no matter where you are in your life, comfortable and secure, or wandering in some wilderness, consider your blessings." and to recognized future blessing when "we will abide with one another in that blessed abundant place of joy and thanksgiving in God’s presence forever."
Here is the last verse of "O Jesus, crowned with all renown" H 292 (40 seconds):