The Bethlen Home Messenger, 1991-1992 (1-4. szám)
1992-09-01 / 4. szám
JVcthrit^ One of the most popular holidays when families get together is Thanksgiving. This is also a time to renew ourselves and give “Thanks” to our God for all the good things that He has bestowed upon us during the year. This is also a time to share ourfriendships with friends and strangers and learn the true meaning of “giving”. Below are several poems which should bring back fond memories of when your family gathered together during this special holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone . . . THANKSGIVING by Esther F. Thom The turkey is roasted; The cranberry’s sweet; The table is laden With good things to eat, The family is seated, Each one in his place; Heads bow for the blessing, For silence and grace. There’s fellowship, laughter, And hearts are so gay; There’s gratitude, gladness, On Thanksgiving Day. THANK YOU FATHER by Bill Carr In humbleness, we thank you, Father, For the goodness You have shown, For the blessings and compassion, For comfort when we walk alone. Thank You for our daily bounty, For the love we share each day. Thank You for the right to worship, Each in our own chosen way. (jive % // Thank You for your hand that guides us, Right from wrong, in all we do. May we grow in understanding, Always grateful .. . thanking You. Cfyaplmn’s (Horner by Rev. Joseph Posta Dear Christian friends, In her Thanksgiving essay entitled “Feast of Friendship”, Pamela Kennedy includes this paragraph: “Massasoit Recalled how the Pilgrims had been so cruelly tested. They build - and watch theirfirst structure go down in flames. They planted - and saw their first crops come up shriveled and small. Yet, they plodded on. Bitter winter storms and starvation cut their numbers in half. Children were orphaned; babes died in their mothers arms. Yet, the survivors endured with courage, praying daily to their God and drawing ever closer to one another. The Wampanoag chief admired their tenacity. Their strong determination, and their calm, quiet faith in the God they served.” It helps for us to remember periodically the difficult circumstances surrounding the first Thanksgiving. Very few of us have been faced with a life as challenging as theirs. Yet, despite the challenges and the great deal of sorrow, the Pilgrims saw fit to give thanks to God. It was in the gift of life itself-the opportunity offered in each new day - thatthe Pilgrims found theirjoy. Thus, they felt greatly blessed by our Creator. On any given day of the year, we have those in our community family who are faced with challenge and sorrow and we have those who are able to celebrate joy. Whatever it is we are feeling, may we still stop and give thanks... "How good it is to give thanks to you, O Lord ... becauseof what you havedone, Isingforjoy” (Psalm.92:1,4.). 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 ourpraise 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 the 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 Saviour. 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, O Lord, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . Amen.
