Thanksgiving Sunday
2 March 2014
Thanksgiving to God:
This morning we celebrate and give thanks to God for His many bountiful blessings given to us as individuals and 'Our Redeemer' congregation. As we near Lent, Easter and the cross, we again also praise Almighty God for offering His greatest gift of salvation to the world through Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection.
On a historical note, it is interesting to reflect on the hand of God and the Thanksgiving accorded to God by settlers seeking a new religious beginning in the New World and South Australia.
'Plymouth' crops up in both.
In 1621 after landing at Plymouth, Massachusetts, the Plymouth colonists and Wamapanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest celebration to give thanks to God for His bounty and blessings. 'Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens', a forerunner of the Thanksgiving held in 1623. Earlier in 1619, settlers landed at Berkley Hundred along the James River, Virginia (Jamestown), whereby 'the day of our ship's arrival shall be yearly kept as a day of thanksgiving' - celebrating the first Thanksgiving Day in the colony.
For more than two centuries, days of Thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn't until 1863 during the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving to be held each November.
In 1838 emigrants with Pastor Kavel set sail from Hamburg and embarked at Plymouth, England destined for (later named) Klemzig, South Australia. Pastor Kavel conducted a Thanksgiving service at Port Adelaide on Sunday 25th November 1838, basing his address on Matthew 9 v 18-26 .The service was held in the building used by the Church of England at the old port - this was probably the old customs shed.
¯ THIS MORNING'S MUSIC OF PRAISE:
153, 222, Ps. 422 (Canticle of Daniel), 814 -
(For the Fruits of His Creation - Choir), 316, 361, 811.
FIRST BIBLE READING:
Deuteronomy 8: 7-18
'Do not forget the Lord who gave you the land'
For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land - a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.
Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
He led you through the vast and dreadful wilderness, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you.
You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me."
But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
SECOND BIBLE READING:
2 Corinthians 9: 6-15
'Sowing generously'
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
"They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever."
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
GOSPEL READING:
Luke 17: 11-19
'The thankful leper'
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him - and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
Bible readings for Sunday 9th March 2014:
Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7,
Romans 5:12-19,
Matthew 4:1-11
Announcements:
1. This week in the Lord's Service - 2nd - 9th March:
Parents please note: No Sunday School this morning - next on Sunday 16th March.
Wednesday - 4.30 pm - Confirmation class.
Saturday - 10.00 am - 11.00 am - 'Sing - along' time for those who wish to learn songs for the Sunday.
Saturday - 11.00 am to 12 noon - Choir practice.
Next Sunday - 9.30 am - Public Divine service - (with Holy Communion).
2. Baptism of Emily and Ava:
Next Sunday, we welcome Emily, daughter of Allison and Liam Cooke and Ava, daughter of Naomi and Nathan Jackson, through baptism into God's Holy Family.
3. Geelong Lutheran College:
Geelong Lutheran College is holding Twilight Tours of its facilities at 5.30 pm, 6.00 pm, 6.30 pm and 7.00 pm on Thursday 20th March as well as an Open
Morning led by students between 9.30 am and 12noon on Friday 21st March. For further Information,
please see note board near kitchen.
4. 'God's Gift of Forgiveness' booklet:
As announced last Sunday, the 2014 daily devotional resource booklet 'God's Gift of Forgiveness' for Lent and Easter is now available from member's church
boxes to take home. Any donation to assist with their cost would be most welcome and may be passed onto Treasurer Phil. Also available from the hall table
are some free previous Lenten devotion booklets which members are most welcome also to take home.
5. Free Suicide Prevention Workshop:
Wesley Life-force will be conducting a Suicide Prevention Workshop at Mercure Geelong Hotel –Otway Room, Cnr Gheringhap & Myers St, Geelong
on Tuesday 11th March 2014, from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm. There is no charge to attend the workshop
The training is open to community members aged over 18 years. Please see notice board near kitchen.
Coming up for your diary:
Thursday 13th March - 10.30 am - Ladies F'ship.
Friday 14th March - 9.30 am - Worship Team.
Tuesday 18th March - 12.30 pm - Kaffeestunde.
Tuesday 1st April - 7.30 pm - Deacons.
Tuesday 29th April - 7.00 pm - Combined meeting of Church Council, Deacons. Worship Team and other interested members, (including those persons
involved and interested in our Youth Ministry) revision for future spiritual direction of 'Our Redeemer'.