First time events can be memorable and significant in ways that tell us about life at that time. What was it like the first Thanksgiving in 1621 “exactly 400 years ago”? Did they really have turkey, potatoes, corn, gravy, and pumpkin pie? William Bradford was the Governor who recorded the event in his Of Plymouth Plantation; it is fascinating.
“They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty. For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercised in fishing, about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion. All summer there was no want; and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And beside waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. Besides they had about a peck of meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to that portion. Which made many afterwards write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England, which were not feigned but true reports.”
A pilgrim named Edward Winslow was one wrote a letter back to England after that first “Thanksgiving”. It is found in the record of Mourt’s Relation.
“Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a more special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruit of our labours. They four in one day killed as much fowl as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their great king, Massasoit with some 90 men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted. And they went out and killed five deer which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our Governor and upon the Captain and others.”
Keep in mind the winter of 1620 was one of suffering and death due to lack of shelter. Forty-five of the Mayflower’s 102 passengers died. The following year was much better as described above. It was a time to thank God for sure.
Likewise our first Thanksgiving at Discovery was probably after we launched in 1980. If our memory serves us right our small band of “Pilgrims” met in the old two room school house in Arletta. It was rustic and the roof leaked. But we were thankful for an inexpensive place to worship. A potluck was planned after church to celebrate. However a storm came in, the power went off, and we watched in amazement as trees across the street fell one after another. But we were all safe and thankful.
Now forty years later we celebrated our first Thanksgiving in our new building. The Multi Purpose Room (MPR) was packed with people around beautifully decorated tables. We thank God for His grace in bringing us thus far across what seems like an ocean of time. Let us all be thankful this Thanksgiving for what God has done. At our home we will also read from Bradford’s record of that first event. It can also be found online at http://www.histarch.illinois.edu/plymouth/bradford.html .
The holiday is also a good time to think on the “Who” of Thanksgiving. Click here for why? https://albertmohler.com/the-briefing
Our first Thanksgiving in the Multipurpose Room of our new church building.
Have a truly Thankful Thanksgiving
Pastor Mark Redeployed
PS In our Parenting Class Sunday 11/28 (in the MPR room) we will discuss the four videos we’ve seen and do Q & A. See you at 9:50.