THANKSGIVING
MMVIII

Let us pray

MOST gracious God, by whose knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew; We yield thee unfeigned thanks and praise for the return of seed-time and harvest, for the increase of the ground and the gathering in of the fruits thereof, and for all the other blessings of thy merciful providence bestowed upon this nation and people. And, we beseech thee, give us a just sense of these great mercies; such as may appear in our lives by an humble, holy, and obedient walking before thee all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all glory and honour, world without end. Amen.

[1928BCP]


Thanksgiving in Camp, Sketched Thursday 28 November, 1861.

... in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.


Philippians iv. 4

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Scripture selection from Paul's Epistle to the Philippians reminds us that we ought to give thanks always. Yet, since God gave the law to Israel in the Wilderness, there have been special holydays of celebration. We, as a nation, have set aside the last Thursday of November to be a national day of Thanksgiving--a holyday dedicated to God and a nation encouraged to turn toward God Almighty in appreciation for his gifts. The thanksgivings of the faithful ascend as a pleasing, sweet-smelling sacrifice of praise from a people made righteous through faith.

We habitually give thanks for good harvests, this bountiful land, and our good fortunes - which is the right thing to do. Even in lean times we must never fail to acknowledge God's good gifts and in particular the gift of his Son for the salvation of the elect. That is our bounden duty. It does not depend on our feelings or particular situation in life.

We may look to our Lord as revealed in Scriptures for our example:

  • Food - Our Lord gave thanks to his Father for the food he received at each and every meal [Matthew 15:36].
  • Wine - Our Lord gave thanks to his Father for the wine that he shared with his disciples in the Last Supper - telling them it was his Blood shed for the remission of sins for many [Matthew 26:27]
  • Knowledge - Our Lord thanked his Father that he had revealed the truth and saving knowledge to the "babes" which are Christ's own, but also that his Father had hidden that same truth from the "wise and prudent" (who would suffer a fate on Judgement Day even worse than that of the Sodomites) because God saw it as the right thing to do in his sovereign will. [Matthew 11:25-26]
  • Ability - Our Lord gave thanks that his Father had given him the power to raise Lazarus from the dead, as a sign that he was the Christ sent into the world. [John 11:41]

Let us consider our Lord's thanksgivings in terms of the collect that introduced this lesson. It calls us to thank our heavenly Father for the fruits of the earth, as well as all other blessings. It beseeches the Father to give us a knowledge of him, and by his good grace, the ability to live out our lives in sober, holy, and humble obedience to his will.

Now, as Paul has encouraged us above to make our supplications, I bid your prayers this coming Thanksgiving Day for God's good gifts and for his provision of the needs of our land:

Let us pray:

Almighty Lord and everlasting God, whose good and perfect gifts have so enriched our lives, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to watch over this land. Provide thy people with the necessities of life, direct our magistrates in Right ways, lead us to good works and brotherly love, and confirm and strengthen our faith by thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Deo vindice
The Reverend Mark Carroll,
Colonel Ben Caudill Camp
Sunday before Thanksgiving, MMVIII