Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving….
Biden – thanksgiving proclamation 2021
Blessings from ……
Blessed: a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness, involving God’s favor upon a person.
Regan – thanksgiving proclamation 1987
Psalm 35
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Abraham Lincoln
Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God…..
…. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People…….
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Oct 1789
President George Washington
By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor…..
….. Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be– That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks–for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation–for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war–for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed–for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government….
…… to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord–To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and us–and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
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Nov, 1783
Gov. of Massachusetts – John Hancock at end of war w/ British
Pg 106 ( myth of separation )
….impressed therefore with an exalted sense of the blessings by which we are surrounded, and our entire dependence on that Almighty being from whose goodness and bounty they are derived….
…. to be religiously observed as a day of thanksgiving and prayer… fill the world with His glory.
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1621
At Plymouth
Year later after arrival – in maybe Oct 1621 – after their 1st harvest the celebration with the Indians (commemorated by our Modern Thanksgiving )
Modern GOOGLE BIAS – “thanking the Indians….”
Edward Winslow Letter: ( Dec. 1621)
( …. “Loving, and old Friend; although I received no letter from you by this ship, yet forasmuch as I know you expect the performance of my promise, which was, to write unto you truly and faithfully of all things. I have therefore at this time sent unto you accordingly. Referring you for further satisfaction to our more large relations. You shall understand, that in this little time, that a few of us have been here, )
we have built seven dwelling-houses, and four for the use of the plantation, and have made preparation for divers others. We set the last spring some twenty acres of Indian corn, and sowed some six acres of barley and peas, and according to the manner of the Indians, we manured our ground with herrings or rather shads, which we have in great abundance, and take with great ease at our doors. Our corn did prove well, and God be praised, we had a good increase of Indian corn,
and our barley indifferent good, but our peas not worth the gathering, for we feared they were too late sown, they came up very well, and blossomed, but the sun parched them in the blossom; our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a more special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruit of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the company almost a week, at which time amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain, and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty. We have found the Indians very faithful in their covenant of peace with us; very loving and ready to pleasure us: we often go to them, and they come to us; some of us have been fifty miles by land in the country with them; the occasions and relations whereof you shall understand by our general and more full declaration of such things as are worth the noting, yea, it hath pleased God so to possess the Indians with a fear of us, and love unto us, that not only the greatest king amongst them called Massasoit, but also all the princes and peoples round about us, have either made suit unto us, or been glad of any occasion to make peace with us, ….
–Edward Winslow, December, 1621
http://mayflowerhistory.com/letter-winslow-1621
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So when was the First Thanksgiving ??
English Ruler Rivalry 1500’s into 1600’s
Protestant vs. Catholic
Pure vs Polluted
Reform or Separate
Henry VIII – break w/ Pope in pursuit of male heir / multiple wives….
Jewish roots?
Off the boat……
Make haste from Babylon
Chapter 4
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William Bradford :
PSALM 107 ( Journey of Israelites to Sinai )
Psalm 107
1
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3
those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south…..
23
….. Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24
They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25
For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
26
They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
27
They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
28
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
29
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
30
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
31
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
32
Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders….,
Puritans / Separatists GOING BACK TO OLD TESTAMENT
Writtings by Maimonides (1138—1204) – verses led to Jewish rite of Thanksgiving.
FOUR Occassions when Birkat Hagomel was compulsory :
1. Healing of a sickness
2. The release of a prisoner
3. The End of a Voyage
4. The Arrival of Travelers at Their destination
A public confession of the Goodness and Majesty of God.
Mayflower Compact;
“ Birkat Hagomel “
Ceremony of thanksgiving
Blessed are You, Lord our God, ruler of the world, who rewards the undeserving with goodness, and who has rewarded me with goodness.
May he who rewarded you with all goodness reward you with all goodness for ever.