19Nov 07
Gratefully Remembering – Part 1
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The Thanksgiving season demands a twofold response from us Americans. First, a response of gratefulness; Gratefulness to what God has given us and what he has done in and through this nation, the United States of America. The second response is remembering. Remembering what God did in our past, His Providential Hand working in the lives of individuals, and what those individuals had to go through to make what we have to day possible.
Let us now enter into the spirit of the thanksgiving season by gratefully remembering what our forefathers accomplished, endured, and sacrificed.
During the early 1600′s, Living in small villages about the borders of Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire, England, was a small band of Christian reformers. The majority of them were yeoman; owners of small parcels of land which they diligently farmed and worked on. To the world at large they were insignificant. But God was preparing them to be the foundation blocks which future generations would build upon.
They had a true desire to, live their lives biblically and godly, follow Christ commands, and have true unity one with another. These desires implanted in them by God, caused them to separate from Englands state church. For it was downright impossible to fulfill their desires and still attend a church which they perceived was full of evil and hypocrisy. This resulted in much persecution. For you see, the King did not perceive their action from the same perspective. Consequently he utilized harsh measures to try forcing them into obedience to his laws.
These Christian reformers, also called separatist (because of their separating from the state Church), and later called Pilgrims, were divided into two different assemblies, each shepherded by a different Pastor. One, as time went on, fell apart and never recovered. The other, however, Pastored by John Robinson, continued on, meeting in Elder William Brewster House every Sunday for worship.
This went on for years until persecution reached such levels that William Brewster lost his house, and the other Separatists were being watched incessantly. Consequently, they resolved to leave their native country as soon as possible and head to the Netherlands. Where they aniticipated, according to what they heard, a land in which there was religious freedom.
See this article, including Part 2 of 2, and more in Project: Remember.
Matthew! I appreciate the time you spent compliling this report. I know it took a while, but it was time well spent. Thank you for encouraging us to remember the ancient landmarks and to give honor where honor is due. You said it well, “Let us now enter into the spirit of the thanksgiving season by gratefully remembering what our forefathers accomplished, endured, and sacrificed.”
[...] two glass bowls situated on the table. On each plate were 5 kernels of corn (popcorn kernels) in commemoration of the hardship of the Pilgrims in 1620. After hearing the poem, “Five Kernels of Corn by Hezekiah Butterworth,” we were told [...]