The Thanksgiving Defender Part 3

As the self appointed Thanksgiving Defender I am committed to keeping the faith filled history of Thanksgiving at the forefront of our minds during this Christian holiday.  During their first winter in the New World, the Mayflower colonists suffered greatly from diseases like scurvy, and lack of food and shelter.  Forty-five of the one hundred and two immigrants died the first winter. The Native people in the area had been very hostile, yet as the late Dr. D. James Kennedy pointed out, most of them off the coast of Cape Cod had died off in a plague that swept through there some years before the Pilgrims came.

The Pilgrims were peaceful people and were able to make friends with the remaining Natives.  One of them they described as “a special instrument sent of God.” His name was Squanto who providentially spoke English. He truly was a God-send. He taught the Pilgrims how to track eels in the wet flats when the tide went out, what berries were edible and most importantly, he taught them how to plant the Natives’ winter staple, corn, which Europeans had known nothing about.” After the harvest came in they celebrated with a feast and gave thanks to God for their bounty.

As you gather tomorrow with your family, be sure to share the story of how God following people in a new world invited their Native neighbors to share in feast in which they gave thanks to God.  

Your pastor and partner in ministry,

Kyle

If you would like to help bag all of those groceries come to the Rose Garden Banquet Hall TONIGHT at 5:30pm.

If you know of anyone who does not have a place to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal, invite them to the Rose Garden Banquet Hall on Thursday. Doors open at 11:30 with a meal served at 12noon. If you would like to volunteer for that day contact First Call For Help at 623-2800.

THIS SUNDAY 5th Sunday. Bring a non perishable food item for C3’s food pantry.  If you want to be baptized or have your child dedicated e-mail me kyle@celebratejesus.org

Come help decorate the church building for Christmas after the 10am service THIS SUNDAY. C3LA, Celebration's Leadership Academy will hold their graduation celebration This Sunday at 2:00 pm in the Pond. All are invited to come out and celebrate this special event with us.