Thanksgiving 2012

~ Harvest Table ~

December 4, 1619 ~ Berkeley Plantation, Virginia 

"Wee ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon

 in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of 

Thanksgiving to Almighty God."

"THE FIRST THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION: June 20, 1676: "The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive dispensations in and by the present War with the Heathern Natives of this land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgements he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; reserving many of our Towns from Desolation Threatened, and attempted by the Enemy, and giving us especially of late with many of our Confederates many signal Advantages against them, without such Disadvantage of ourselves as formerly we have been sensible of, if it be the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed. It certainly bespeaks our positive Thankfulness, when our Enemies are in any measure disappointed or destroyed; and fearing the Lord should take notice under so many Intimations of his returning mercy, we should be found an Insensible people, as not standing before Him with thanksgiving, as well as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing Afflictions." 

Blessings ~ Thanksgiving ~ Almighty God ~