Notable Facts:
● First Thanksgiving – 1621
● Became a US national holiday in 1863 (during the Civil War)
● Sarah Josepha Hale, author of Mary had a Little Lamb, campaigned for 36 years to establish a national Thanksgiving holiday
● Occurs every 4th Thursday in November
Thanksgiving, a holiday synonymous with football and turkey, has its humble roots planted on the eastern shores of the U.S. In 1620, a group of Pilgrims sailed from England to the New World in search of a better life. The first winter proved to be treacherous, plaguing the travelers with disease and death. When temperatures rose, the remaining settlers departed their ship. Miraculously, they were warmly greeted by two English-speaking natives,
representatives from the Wampanoag tribe. Being taught local agricultural practices, the Pilgrims achieved early, meager successes in raising crops and obtaining food. To extend gratitude toward their newly-made friends and to celebrate a successful harvest, Governor William Bradford proposed a feast in which both Native Americans and Pilgrims would take part in a three-day event.
The caring hearts of Joe & Iman brought the sentiment of gratitude to the English Service last Sunday, by hosting a turkey feast in the East. The message, not being lost on parties and food, still rang true. We celebrate to show gratitude for the things that have been given to us from a bountiful Creator. Having a relationship with Christ adds a much deeper dimension to this holiday,providing purpose beyond gratitude.
Lunch was filled with joy and laughter, buttressed by stand-in Pilgrims, Native Americans and even a turkey leg. Following Dylan’s prayer, the meal started off with a birthday song to Cindy. From turkey to apple pie, fellowship, friends and family, this was a genuine Thanksgiving that has filled the hearts of our English Ministry congregation.
你不能不知道的真相：
●感恩節始於1621年。
●於1863年美國南北戰爭期間訂定為美國國定假日。
●經典童謠「瑪莉有隻小綿羊」的作者莎拉.J.海爾為推動感恩節成為國定假日，奔走36個年頭。
●感恩節落在11月的第4個星期四。
感恩節，幾乎等同於足球與火雞的節日，起源於1620年美國東岸，那時一群英格蘭清教徒來到新世界找尋更美好的生活。迎接他們的第一個冬季天氣變幻莫測，這群旅人飽受疾病與死亡的折磨。那些倖存的開拓者搶在天氣回溫時揚起帆來，而且奇蹟似地，遇到兩個會講英文的美國原住民，萬帕諾亞格（Wampanoag）部落的族人接待他們，教導他們當地的農作方式，這群清教徒才得以享受微薄的成果，獲得農作物與糧食。為了感謝新認識的朋友，歡慶收成的喜悅，那時的行政長官，威廉‧布萊德福提議舉辦一場美國原住民和清教徒共同參與的三天慶典。
英語小組的夫婦Joe和Iman夫妻兩人的愛心，預備了感恩節火雞大餐，讓相聚在東方的國際小組成員滿懷感謝的心情。在盛宴佳餚中，歡慶感恩節的真正原因並沒有被遺忘。我們慶祝是要表達對造物主賜下一切豐盛的感謝。 主耶穌與我們的關係連結賦予了這個節日更深的意涵，也有更勝於表達感謝的目的。
感恩節的故事由來讓充滿喜樂笑聲的午餐慶會更加顯得有意義。Dylan帶領我們禱告之後，盛宴就在為小組員Cindy的慶生歌聲中展開。除了火雞、蘋果派，環繞著我們的還有團契、朋友與家人，真實豐盛的感恩填滿了英語事工每個人的心。
