Pilgrim Thanksgiving

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

On Sept. 6, 1620, 102 Pilgrims boarded the Mayflower and set sail for America, searching for a place to worship God, to practice their faith, and to live at peace with all people in good conscience.  Here is a small glimpse of the great cost they were willing to endure for their beliefs:

In 1614, nearly 6 years before the Mayflower voyage, the Pilgrims had tried to escape the religious persecution they suffered in their native land of England.  Different attempts while seeking refuge failed, causing many of their congregation to be imprisoned.  Without wavering in faith, by the grace of God, the Pilgrims managed to flee as refugees to the Netherlands, finding shelter and more tolerant neighbors for a time. 

By Aug. 5, 1620, the Pilgrims had secured 2 ships, the Speedwell & the Mayflower, for a planned voyage to America, only to discover on Aug. 8, 1620, that the Speedwell proved to be not seaworthy, leaving the Mayflower as their only means of transport to America.

As the day of the Pilgrims’ departure arrived, they left their homes and sold almost all of their possessions, having only 2 months of traveling supplies, committing themselves in this journey toward religious freedom.  On Sept. 6, 1620, 102 passengers boarded the Mayflower, a 100-foot vessel, for the challenging 65-day voyage to America.  Among their numbers were 50 men, 19 women, and 33 young people including children.  Of the 102 passengers, only 41 were Pilgrims, with the majority being “strangers” to their beliefs, crew members, merchants, craftsmen, and orphans.  One can only imagine the plight of such crowded and unsanitary conditions which the Pilgrims endured. 

Many of the crew harassed the Pilgrims.  One even mocked that he would sew them up in burial cloths and throw them overboard, only to be himself stricken dead by a fever within a few hours of his boast.  A costly lesson in religious tolerance, such harassment by that poor man did not pay well!

Their voyage was plagued by violent storms, one of which snapped the main beam that supported the sail, crippling the Mayflower for a period of time.  In the Providence of God, a large screw from an apple cider press in cargo was used to secure the mast, safely enough to complete their journey.  Included amid their misery was the reality of thirst and hunger, thirst by the lack of good drinking water and hunger caused by the lack of edible food.  The hardship of the Pilgrims was increased by the loss of 2 passengers, but they were encouraged by the blessed arrival of a baby girl en route.  It was indeed a boost to their morale when, on Nov. 9, 1620, land was seen from a distance, inspiring the passengers to rejoice and offer prayers of thanksgiving to Almighty God. 

Two days later, on Nov. 11, 1620, after being stricken by storms and blown off course, the Pilgrims providentially landed 200+ miles north of the Hudson River at a place they called Plymouth, near present-day Cape Cod, Massachusetts.  Upon their arrival, 41 male passengers, 2 of which were indentured servants, signed the Mayflower Compact, the first document in America to establish self-governance, which read as follows:

“In the Name of God, amen, we whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign lord King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the faith, etc., having undertaken, for the glory of God and the advancements of the Christian faith, and the honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and one another, combine ourselves together in a civil body politic for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience…in witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape Cod on the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord King James…

Knowing that winter weather would soon be upon them, the Pilgrims found a clearing with an abundant supply of drinking water and built a makeshift stockade to defend themselves against hostile natives.  On Nov. 21, 1620, the settlers elected a governor, John Carver, who would eventually be among the 47 who died of sickness and starvation that first winter.  Counted among the dead were 29 men, 14 mothers and 4 children.  In order to conceal this loss of life from hostile neighbors, they buried the remains of their loved ones in unmarked graves by night.  By the spring of 1621, their governor had passed on to his heavenly reward, and William Bradford became the new governor.

During that spring, in April, 1621, some of the harsh realities they endured were erased by the unexpected visit from Samoset, a native American.  Samoset, being a young man from the region now known as southern Maine, came out of the woods near the Pilgrims’ settlement and greeted them in English, a skill he had learned from English-speaking sailors who had fished the coastline of Maine.  On the Sunday following Samoset’s first visit, he returned to trade with the Pilgrims, but was graciously declined for the Pilgrims remembered “to keep the Sabbath day holy”, a day they set aside to worship God altogether.  So, with patience, Samoset waited until the following day to share his desire to trade.  It was through the genuine kindness of this dear native American that the Pilgrims were introduced to Squanto, a fellow native who, being more fluent in the English language, was better equipped to teach the Pilgrims life-sustaining skills needed to survive.  By the summer of 1621, a drought weighed heavily upon them, so severe that a day of fasting & prayer was proclaimed.  To the amazement of their native American neighbors, God answered their prayers with an abundance of rain, strengthening their faith and saving their crops, a testimony of the providential goodness of God.

Thanksgiving Day! 

In the autumn of 1621, Gov. Bradford proclaimed a day of public Thanksgiving, inviting 90 natives along with all 50 survivors of that first year in America.  The first Thanksgiving was a 3-day event.  Elder William Brewster opened the celebration in prayer, acknowledging God’s protection and Providence.  Edward Winslow spoke:

““Our harvest being gotten in, …so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors…by the goodness of God, we are so far from want…”

In attendance were Chief Massasoit along with 90 other native Americans, bringing 5 deer, enough venison to feed the gathering for a week.  The Pilgrims, in the spirit of thankfulness, provided wild turkeys, turnips, cabbage, carrots, onions, parsnips, cucumbers, radishes, along with other harvested provisions.  This 3-day celebration of thankfulness included rejoicing, fellowship, accounts of God’s faithfulness, and athletic events to encourage friendship. 

Nearly 168 years after this first Thanksgiving, on Oct. 3, 1789, our first American President George Washington proclaimed:

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor, and whereas both houses of Congress have by their joint committee requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity to peaceably establish a form of government for their safety and happiness, now therefore I recommend and assign the twenty-sixth day of November next to be devoted by the people of these states to service that Great and Glorious Being, who is the Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or ever will be, that we may all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks…and also that we may then unite and most humbly offer our prayers and supplications to the Great Lord and Ruler of nations and to beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions…to render our national government a blessing to all the people…to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations…to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue…and generally to grant unto all mankind the temporal prosperity that He alone knows to be best.”

Whether struggling, discouraged, or feeling misunderstood, the Pilgrims persevered and found solace in what is believed to be their favorite Biblical verse, Hebrews 11:13:

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

Isaiah 41:10 encourages us:

“Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God.  I will strengthen thee.  Yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Philippians 4:6 promises further:

“Be careful for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.”

“Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8) 

How could anyone entertain cancelling Thanksgiving? 

Covid what?  My Pilgrim hat!

The Chaplaincy of Chapel 111

111 S. Second St., Hughesville, PA  17737

www.chapel111.com   Email: info@chapel111.com