THANKSGIVING

On August 5, 1620 the Pilgrims left England on their first attempt for America aboard the Speedwell and the Mayflower.   The Speedwell leaked, so they returned to Dartmouth, England for repairs.  

            They made a second attempt on August 21, 1620, but after 300 miles had to return again because the Speedwell leaked again.  It was deemed unusable and 11 of its passengers boarded the Mayflower.

            On September 6, 1620, carrying 102 passengers (73 males and 29 females) the 90-foot-long Mayflower departed on its 66-day journey of 2,750 miles.

            They encountered storms so rough that the beam supporting the main mast cracked.  One youth, John Howland, was swept overboard by a freezing wave and rescued.  His descendants include Ralph Waldo Emerson, Humphrey Bogart, Franklin D. Roosevelt and George W. Bush. During the Pilgrims’ voyage, one crew member and one passenger died and a mother gave birth to a child named Oceanus.

            They intended to land in Virginia and join the Jamestown Colony, where the king-appointed Governor was Sir George Yeardley. 

            The stormy weather, though, had blown the Mayflower 500 miles off-course.  When they finally sighted land on November 9,1620, William Brewster led them in a prayer of thanksgiving from Psalm 100.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 98:4-6 tells us to sing for Joy and to sing praises to the Lord! Why should we be joyful at this tme of the year. For He is our God. There are many false gods which people worship, but we worship the one true God who in Genesis 1:1 (in the beginning) created heaven and earth, the universe, everything that now exists, and us. He made us, He gave us life and watches over us.

What does Thanksgiving day mean to you? Family celebrations, turkey and other foods seem to rule, but we need to remember our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who gave His life for us. Family time is important but let us never forget our Lord and what He has done for us., this is why the pilgrims knelt down and thanked the Lord for His blessings. So let us never forget to praise and worship Him, for He is our life and length of days.

Psalm 100; Make a joyful noise to the Lord, Serve the Lord with gladness, realize that the Lord is good, be thankful for His blessings; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.

Have a wonderful THANKFUL Thanksgiving!