To all ye Pilgrims, Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, squashes and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience; now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday November ye 29th of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty three, and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Plymouth rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.
-Proclamation made by Governor Bradford in 1623, 3 years after the Pilgrims settled at Plymouth.
Have you ever heard someone say that they have no reason to be thankful? Do you have anything to be thankful for? Before you say, “No!” Think about all the things and all the people in your life—Think about your relationship with God and what it means for you. You might take time this next week as we celebrate Thanksgiving as a nation to list what you are thankful for—to remind yourself. The list doesn’t have to be only the most profound and life-changing things–if you’re thankful for the sunshine, then give thanks for that!
Psalm 100 is a psalm of thanksgiving; it is a psalm in which the psalmist gives us reasons to be thankful. And let us take notice that the psalmist calls us to be thankful — it is a directive from God that we be thankful. Why? Because when we are filled with joy from God’s blessing and offer up thanks to God, He is magnified — He is seen more clearly — He is glorified for Who He is—And we live fuller and more satisfied lives. “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.” Shout for joy to Yahweh all the earth.
Join us this week at Sedona United Methodist Church as we give our great God our thanks for the blessings He provides and the Rev. Fred Mast brings a very special Thanksgiving message entitled, “The Gift of Gratitude”. Sunday mornings we enter the spirit of worship at 9:30 a.m. featuring meaningful times of prayer, joyous music, and life messages that will help move you closer in your relationship with Christ. Our worship is upbeat and lively, and spirit filled!
Immediately following worship, you are encouraged and invited to stay and join us in our Fellowship Hall for the friendliest and best fellowship time anywhere—“SPECIAL” this week featuring our “Pre-Thanksgiving Feast” with turkey, all the fixins’, and of course delicious pies!!! All are welcome to join us in this special annual celebration.
We offer so many great missions, ministries and study opportunities at Sedona UMC—Visit our website at us on www.sedonaumc.org and “Like” us on Facebook. We would love to pray for you! —Prayer requests may be submitted online or by calling us at 928-282-1780. We are conveniently located at 110 Indian Cliffs Road off the Back O’Beyond roundabout on Route 179 in Sedona. All are welcome at Sedona UMC—We look forward to seeing you!—Come and grow with us!
