From the Pastor:

 

GIVING THANKS

 

There are three (3) special gifts (among many others I would admit) that God has given to human beings. They are: 1) the ability to laugh, 2) to make music and 3) to give thanks. The three, I would propose, are related. If one is thankful one might very well have smile on his or her face which might very well also result in some singing.

 

The custom of Thanksgiving goes all the way back to the Old Testament There and then Thanksgiving was called Sukkoth (Succoth) which was an annual observance in the fall of the year after the crops had been gathered and which also reminded the Israelites of their successful journey through the arid desert like Sinai wilderness into the Promised Land, a land flowing with "milk and honey".

 

Our American custom of Thanksgiving goes all the way back to the French and Spanish giving thanks in St. Augustine, Florida already in 1565. The English did in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607, and of course the Pilgrims really established the day of Thanksgiving near Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts: date 1921.

 

Our Presidents from time to time called for a Day of Thanksgiving. President Lincoln called for such a National Day in 1863. President Roosevelt in 1941 established it permanently on 4th Thursday of November. As you can see, Thanksgiving has a long standing American tradition which has a firm Biblical foundation. Even before we had presidents the Continental Congress called for Days of Thanksgiving.

 

Now for that smile: when one expresses gratitude that person's life becomes enriched. Interesting: you give thanks for the good things of life and you end up with some more good. We can call it "good humor." In other words, giving thanks actually gives more for which to be thankful back to the person giving thanks. Wonderful.

 

Which reminds me of Uncle Remus, that wonderful man from the 1946 film "Song of the South". Uncle Remus sings" Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, zip-a-dee-ay--my, oh my, --what a wonderful day! Plenty of sunshine headin' my way..... Mr. Blue Bird on my shoulder; it's the truth; it's 'actch'll; everything is satisfactch'll." Uncle Remus is full of good humor. And he sings, and the children begin to sing with him.

 

There you have it: thanksgiving, good humor, singing.

 

"Come, Ye Thankful People, Come; Raise the song of harvest home. All be safely gathered in, Ere the winter storms begin; God, our maker, doth provide, For our wants to be supplied. Come to God's own temple, come; Raise the song of harvest home."  

 

Pastor David M. Albertin

Welcome to

New Tracy, IN

8705 S 100 E

 SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE @ 9:00 AM.

THANKSGIVING DAY WORSHIP @ 9:00 AM.