St. Margaret's Sermon Archive
Thanksgiving - Caron Gwynn 11/23/06
“In the name of the one God, creator, redeemer and sanctifier” Amen.
I am sure most of us know who Bill Gates is. He is the CEO of Microsoft and is considered one of the wealthiest men in American History. In 1997, his wealth spiraled to be worth $35 billion. Craig Larson shares this account about Bill Gates, from a 1997 article he saw in Fortune magazine. According to Carey Goldberg in the New York Times, in February of 1997 Mr. Gates addressed 1500 people during the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual convention. A medical doctor with a Ph.D. in philosophy, Dr. John Cantwell posed a question to Mr. Gates after his speech. Dr. Cantwell asked Bill Gates “if he were blind, would he trade all of his billions to have his sight restored?” Bill Gate’s response provided some insight of what he valued the most. Mr. Gates indicated he would indeed trade all his money for his sight. He willingly offered his email address to Dr. Cantwell for further discussion. (adapted and copied, Larson, Engaging Illustrations, p. 290) Mr. Gates sees his health as a blessing in his life and this is more important to him than his wealth.
The point is Larson writes “if we have nothing else, if we have our sight, our hearing, our mobility, our hands and fingers—our health, we have much to be grateful for, because they are a priceless gift from God.” (adapted and copied, Larson, Engaging Illustrations, p. 290)
Today is Thanksgiving Day. American history records that in 1621 the Plymouth colonists celebrated their first harvest with their invited guest the Wampanoag Native People. Wampanoag means Eastern People or People of the First Light. However, this event actually was known among the colonists as a “harvest celebration in 1621.” This gathering was mistakenly noted as “The First Thanksgiving” by Alexander Young in his Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers (1841) in a footnote on page 231.
However, the truth is that both the colonists and the Native People already maintained traditional practices of giving thanks to our creator long before the time of their joint gathering for the first time for a shared meal. Their designated time of giving thanks was not called “Thanksgiving” by either culture.
One of the three holy days regularly observed by the Plymouth colony founders was called the Day of Thanksgiving and Praise. They held services in the colony churches “for continuance of spiritual & civil liberties, a good harvest notwithstanding a threatening drought, & for health.” The colonist maintained a strong belief that God was the sole source for everything and their personal relationship with God and with the community was to be upheld at all times. The colonists prayed with expectant hope that fasting, prayer, and repentance would produce solid reconciliation with God for any unfortunate experiences. They openly demonstrated expressions of gratitude with praise and thanksgiving because all fortunate events required this action as part of their lifestyle. (copied and adapted from internet; www.plimoth.org/learn/history/
thanksgiving/fastandthanks.asp; Travers)
The annual spring Fast Days and autumn thanksgiving was apart of the norm established by the colonial government at the end of the 17th century. Many churches included a feast of some kind following the service. In 1863, Lincoln established the first National Thanksgiving Day as we celebrate today. (copied and adapted from internet; www.plimoth.org/learn/history/
thanksgiving/fastandthanks.asp; Travers)
A regular practice of sacred ceremonies to give thanks for bountiful harvests was very much a way of life for the Wampanoag Native People. The ceremonies were expressions of personal and daily reminders rendered for thanksgiving to the Creator for all gifts meaning the animals and plants provided. The act of giving away material things were signs of respect and caring for others. Remembrances to all participants that material objects are only secondary to the spiritual life were strongly upheld among the Wampanoag Native People. (copied and adapted from internet; www.plimoth.org/learn/ history/thanksgiving/thanksgiving.asp, Eldredge )
All people are cared for and loved by God regardless of their cultural diversity. This is the beauty and uniqueness of God as the creator of the universe. The immeasurable love that God has for us provides freedom from anxieties and worries established in our covenant with God. Thus, Matthew informs us God knows all of the things we are in need of and that God is the main source of those provisions. God values us. We are blessed everyday with this promise that offers us hope as one of God’s own creation. Joel the prophet reminds the people of God that through all of the hard times, for instance the locust plague, God is present without a doubt to restore the situation. God holds our hand during the rough times. Today is a day to give thanks for the rough times as well and praise God for the strength provided to us because we are liberated through the promises of God.
The Day of Thanksgiving is a time to draw near and make God a priority in our lives. We are the priority of our Creator every day. As God provides for us, we as a faith community are expected to share with others in the community as St. Margaret’s graciously does through the ministry of Charlie’s Place for example. Everyday is a day to give thanks for the fruits of the earth, serve as stewards of the bounty given, and serve as a provider to those in need.
Let us pray:
Almighty God…we humbly thank you for all of your goodness and loving kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by your Son Jesus Christ; for the means of grace and for the hope of glory...through your Son Jesus Christ to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit be honor and glory throughout all ages. AMEN. (BCP, p. 101)
I am sure most of us know who Bill Gates is. He is the CEO of Microsoft and is considered one of the wealthiest men in American History. In 1997, his wealth spiraled to be worth $35 billion. Craig Larson shares this account about Bill Gates, from a 1997 article he saw in Fortune magazine. According to Carey Goldberg in the New York Times, in February of 1997 Mr. Gates addressed 1500 people during the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual convention. A medical doctor with a Ph.D. in philosophy, Dr. John Cantwell posed a question to Mr. Gates after his speech. Dr. Cantwell asked Bill Gates “if he were blind, would he trade all of his billions to have his sight restored?” Bill Gate’s response provided some insight of what he valued the most. Mr. Gates indicated he would indeed trade all his money for his sight. He willingly offered his email address to Dr. Cantwell for further discussion. (adapted and copied, Larson, Engaging Illustrations, p. 290) Mr. Gates sees his health as a blessing in his life and this is more important to him than his wealth.
The point is Larson writes “if we have nothing else, if we have our sight, our hearing, our mobility, our hands and fingers—our health, we have much to be grateful for, because they are a priceless gift from God.” (adapted and copied, Larson, Engaging Illustrations, p. 290)
Today is Thanksgiving Day. American history records that in 1621 the Plymouth colonists celebrated their first harvest with their invited guest the Wampanoag Native People. Wampanoag means Eastern People or People of the First Light. However, this event actually was known among the colonists as a “harvest celebration in 1621.” This gathering was mistakenly noted as “The First Thanksgiving” by Alexander Young in his Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers (1841) in a footnote on page 231.
However, the truth is that both the colonists and the Native People already maintained traditional practices of giving thanks to our creator long before the time of their joint gathering for the first time for a shared meal. Their designated time of giving thanks was not called “Thanksgiving” by either culture.
One of the three holy days regularly observed by the Plymouth colony founders was called the Day of Thanksgiving and Praise. They held services in the colony churches “for continuance of spiritual & civil liberties, a good harvest notwithstanding a threatening drought, & for health.” The colonist maintained a strong belief that God was the sole source for everything and their personal relationship with God and with the community was to be upheld at all times. The colonists prayed with expectant hope that fasting, prayer, and repentance would produce solid reconciliation with God for any unfortunate experiences. They openly demonstrated expressions of gratitude with praise and thanksgiving because all fortunate events required this action as part of their lifestyle. (copied and adapted from internet; www.plimoth.org/learn/history/
thanksgiving/fastandthanks.asp; Travers)
The annual spring Fast Days and autumn thanksgiving was apart of the norm established by the colonial government at the end of the 17th century. Many churches included a feast of some kind following the service. In 1863, Lincoln established the first National Thanksgiving Day as we celebrate today. (copied and adapted from internet; www.plimoth.org/learn/history/
thanksgiving/fastandthanks.asp; Travers)
A regular practice of sacred ceremonies to give thanks for bountiful harvests was very much a way of life for the Wampanoag Native People. The ceremonies were expressions of personal and daily reminders rendered for thanksgiving to the Creator for all gifts meaning the animals and plants provided. The act of giving away material things were signs of respect and caring for others. Remembrances to all participants that material objects are only secondary to the spiritual life were strongly upheld among the Wampanoag Native People. (copied and adapted from internet; www.plimoth.org/learn/ history/thanksgiving/thanksgiving.asp, Eldredge )
All people are cared for and loved by God regardless of their cultural diversity. This is the beauty and uniqueness of God as the creator of the universe. The immeasurable love that God has for us provides freedom from anxieties and worries established in our covenant with God. Thus, Matthew informs us God knows all of the things we are in need of and that God is the main source of those provisions. God values us. We are blessed everyday with this promise that offers us hope as one of God’s own creation. Joel the prophet reminds the people of God that through all of the hard times, for instance the locust plague, God is present without a doubt to restore the situation. God holds our hand during the rough times. Today is a day to give thanks for the rough times as well and praise God for the strength provided to us because we are liberated through the promises of God.
The Day of Thanksgiving is a time to draw near and make God a priority in our lives. We are the priority of our Creator every day. As God provides for us, we as a faith community are expected to share with others in the community as St. Margaret’s graciously does through the ministry of Charlie’s Place for example. Everyday is a day to give thanks for the fruits of the earth, serve as stewards of the bounty given, and serve as a provider to those in need.
Let us pray:
Almighty God…we humbly thank you for all of your goodness and loving kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by your Son Jesus Christ; for the means of grace and for the hope of glory...through your Son Jesus Christ to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit be honor and glory throughout all ages. AMEN. (BCP, p. 101)