No Pilgrims

"No Pilgrims":        The earliest Thanksgiving Day in Canada was in 1763 when the people of Halifax proclaimed a day of thanksgiving for the Peace of Paris which gave Canada to Britain. In 1816 a day of thanksgiving was proclaimed in Upper Canada for the end of the war between Great Britain and Napoleon. After Confederation a day of thanksgiving was proclaimed in 1871 in thanks  for the restoration to health  of the Prince of Wales. The first annual Thanksgiving Day was proclaimed in 1879, and since that time it has generally been observed, the dates varying from October to November. In 1921 - 1931 Thanksgiving and Armistice Day were merged. Then, when Armistice Day became Remembrance  Day, Thanksgiving Day  was again observed as an October holiday. It has always been a general thanksgiving and harvest festival, differeing from the Thanksgiving Day of the Unitedf States which commemorates the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers.

John Baillie wrote: "Here, then, is the gist of Christianity for you in a single sentence . . .  At the centre of the Universe there is That which is more like a father's loving heart than like anything else we know."

-- all of the above information comes from an older little book entitled: HOLY DAYS published by the United Church Publishing House,  1941.

People throughout the world seem to observe some form of thanksgiving and harvest festival. Whether we have faith or not -- those celebrations usually include family and friends, good food and rest from the ususal busyness of everyday life, and a sense of gratitude --.

Because we are God's people, we also take time to praise God for God's blessings showered so generously upon our lives in Canada. We believe our gifts come from God!

This Thanksgiving Sunday and Monday -- and every day this fall as you observe the beauty of the changing season -- take time to thank God for another harvest, for peace in this land, for personal health, for friends and family that support us in times of need, for a loving family, for others in this world who work for peace and justice. Pray for these blessings to be given to everyone in this world.   In Jesus' Name, pray this.