"In everything give thanks......." 1 Thess 5:18

Our journal and glimpses of an active, contented life in country Australia

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving Day

Dear Friends, Thinking of you as you celebrate your Thanksgiving Day.  
Some of our American friends find it curious that we do not celebrate at the same time, but the day commemorates a particular event in history, not applicable to Australia
Thanksgiving Day is a joyous family festival celebrated with lot of enthusiasm in US, Canada and several other countries. Thanksgiving Day Festival commemorates the feast held by the Pilgrim colonists and members of the Wampanoag people at Plymouth in 1621. On this day people express gratitude to God for his blessings and give thanks to dear ones for their love & support. Feasting with family is an integral & most delightful part of Thanksgiving Day celebrations.

  


We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
Amen
--Traditional Thanksgiving Hymn
(A translation by Theodore Baker: 1851-1934)

With Love and Blessings,
Jan

8 comments:

Sandy said...

Thank you for these wonderful wishes
for Thanksgiving, Jan! Now I'm off
to start getting things in order so
I can begin my baking.
Love & Prayers,
Sandy

Barbara said...

Amen Jan that is beautiful, thank you for the glad tidings. I hope you have a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving, and lots of food, friends and family. Hugs Barbara

Jocelyn said...

Thank you - I thank God for you! =)

Sharon said...

Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest.

Whatever the history or origin it is a wonderful time to reflect on all the many things we each have reason to be thankful for.

Joan Hall said...

Lovely post, Jan. Thank you for sharing the beautiful hymn.

Blessings,
Joan

Karen said...

How very nice, Jan! I am thankful for you, my sister-in-Christ!

Retirement... said...

It's so nice of you to remember us in the States on Thanksgiving! I found your blog by accident...gosh I don't remember how! Lol - I've been here on the computer for so long while my husband watches Monday Night Football!

Well, I enjoyed seeing your Australian retirement. Come see me at RetirementRainbow.blogspot.com

Best Wishes! Kathy

CoffeeQueen said...

I love the Thanksgiving Hymn Jan. We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in England either. But I work with an American lady, so have learnt quite a lot from her about the tradition. She even brought me some pumpkin pie the other day!