The Bethlen Home Messenger, 2002 (1-4. szám)
2002-11-01 / 4. szám
dlfyapiam's Corner by Rev. Dr. Joseph Posta TO HONOR THE PILGRIMS! One of our most loved holidays is Thanksgiving. This is the time of year when everyone becomes grateful and appreciative of the heritage of our family and our country. The first Thanksgiving proclamation was issued by Abraham Lincoln on October 13, 1863. This officially named the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving Day also reminds us of the people who first held the celebration in this country. These people were known as the Pilgrims, and they came to this country in 1621. One year after their arrival on the Mayflower, they founded a colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Despite the hardships of the first year, which included numerous deaths from disease and insufficient food, the settlers had planted and harvested enough food to sustain themselves the following year. They then decided to set aside a special time to give "Thanks" to God for their safety and their new home. As Thanksgiving Day approaches this year, let us give Thanks to God for all the blessings that He has bestowed upon us this year, as the Pilgrims and Indians once did. THANKSGIVING PRAYER: Our heavenly Father, who blessed us so greatly with earthly gifts, bless us also with spiritual enrichment that shall cause us to be more like Thee. We lift our hearts in gratitude for Thy great kindness and tender mercies. We are grateful for the Thanksgiving season of the year when we come with gratitude for bountiful harvests. Give us such a spirit of thankfulness that every day and every season, and all Thy continuing gifts may be occasions for thanksgiving, and all the year be blessed with an ever-continuing gratitude. As Thy mercies are new every morning, so may our praise rise to Thee each day and hour. Most humbly do we thank Thee, O Lord, for Thy mercies of every kind, and Thy loving care over all Thy creatures. We bless Thee for the gift of life, for Thy protection round about us, for Thy guiding hand upon us, and the many tokens of Thy love, especially for the saving knowledge of Thy dear Son, our Savior. We are reminded, our Father, that every good gift comes from Thee. Also, we pray for the needy and distressed. May we, Thy children, have the discerning eye to see our brothers' needs and the helping hand to lift the fallen and bind up the broken-hearted. May this day and all days be a true thanksgiving unto Thee, 0 Lord, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ...Amen. Dear Friends, Do you know that it was around the 4th-5th century when December 25 was first used to celebrate Christmas? At that time there were six Advent Sundays before Christmas, but as time went on, two Advent Sundays were taken away. Now that we are in the Advent Season of 2002, we may ask ourselves: What is the meaning of our Advent waiting? During this season we remember the first coming of Christ, and we also remember the promise of His second coming. Without Christ, Christmas is a holiday of amusement and pleasure, but with Christ it is a holiday of hope, knowing that the Word became flesh in the form of a Child. We as believers should remember not only the first coming of Christ, but also His promise that he will come back again some day. (John 14:3) The real meaning of Advent is more than waiting. It is also a period of preparation to receive the Lord. So, we should repeat our preparations yearly, and be ready for the Son of Man each year. (Luke 12:40) God is gracious to us. He gave us another year, another opportunity to receive Jesus the Christ, without whom there is no Christmas. As we invite you to share our joy and happiness within our Bethlen Home, we also wish you a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! Yours in God's service, December, 2002 Rev. Dr. Joseph Posta
