Pulpit & P
ew
A better Thanksgiving
Those whom we call the Pilgrims were English working-class people who wanted to worship God the way they understood the Bible said was right. It was AD 1603 when James VI of Scotland became James I of England upon the death of his distant cousin Queen Elizabeth. To unite his kingdom, he made mandatory the regular attendance and financial support of the English State Church. While the Pilgrims could accept this, if necessary, he went beyond to forbid any other worship. Those not in compliance were declared traitors to the Crown, subject to fines, imprisonment, tortur, e and death. After several years, these separatists fled to Leiden, Holland, for more than a decade, but concerned for their children exposed to Holland’s loose morals, they returned to England in early 1620 to find the situation had grown even worse.
That summer, the Merchants Adventurers company contracted 120 English people (separatists and others) to form a colony. Their destination was modern-day Manhattan, NY, claimed by both the Dutch and English as “Northern Virginia.” Two ships were commissioned, but after the Speedwell proved unseaworthy, in September, they loaded the Mayflower with 102 passengers, animals, and property. Crammed in a 60 x 25 “twen deck” area with a fivefoot ceiling, they sailed off with buckets for water and sewage, and prayer to God for protection. After a month at sea, a violent storm cracked the main mast, meaning certain doom, but Divine Providence and a “giant iron screw” from Holland kept them afloat. After 66 days, they finally reached Cape Cod facing cold Massachusetts winter. Late in December, they chose a site and in the snow, built 11 houses by March. Half of them perished from cold and sickness after living nearly six months on the Mayflower.
The survivors labored until September 1621, and reaped a good harvest. 51 Pilgrims held a 3-day feast of thanksgiving to God, joined by the great Wapanoag Chief Massasoit and 90 braves, who arrived with venison of 5 freshly killed deer. Like Abraham they had journeyed by faith, not knowing their earthly destination (Hebrews 11:8). But by faith in Jesus they knew their ultimate heavenly destination (John 3:16), and in spite of their troubles gave thanks to God for his goodness (1 Thessalonians 5:18). As we feed our faces this holiday season, watching our screens in our snug homes, let’s first give thanks to God. Jesus died for us, and by faith in Him we may have eternal life, as do the Pilgrims. And our God provides for us daily. Thank you, Lord!
— Dr. Tom Phelan, Chaplain
