“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
– I Thess.5:18
On the eve of a most reflective and glorious day, I can say nothing more than the president who granted this Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy:
Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things.
They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.
And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln
William H. Seward,
Secretary of State
As His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver reminded us this past Sunday during his homily, Thanksgiving Day is the only National Holiday that is centered on God. We will do well to be grateful. Un unappreciative heart is a dark, cold place.
St. Gregory the Wonderworker says that “Ingratitude is despicable…the most despicable thing of all. For someone who has experienced something good not to try to return the favor, even if he can manage no more than verbal thanks, he must plainly be obtuse and insensitive to his benefits, or thoughtless.”
We have much for which to be grateful. I pray you enjoy the day most splendidly.
With Love and Gratitude in Christ,
Fr. Anthony Savas
ALSO PLEASE REMEMBER:
His Eminence Metropolitan Isaiah and Dn. Paul Zaharas will be here for the Feast of the Conception of the Theotokos. This is one of the feasts of St. Anna, so it is a Feast Day of our parish. Please come and participate! These services remind us what a blessing it is to have THE mother of the Theotokos as our matron saint and intercessor before Christ.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8TH, 7:00 PM, GREAT VESPERS WITH ARTOCLASIA (BLESSING OF SWEET BREADS)
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9TH, 9:30 AM ORTHROS, 10:30 AM DIVINE LITURGY
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11TH, 9:15 AM ORTHROS, 10:15 HIERARCHICAL DIVINE LITURGY
2016 STEWARDSHIP: PLEASE COMPLETE YOUR PLEDGE FOR THIS YEAR.
2017 STEWARDSHIP: PLEASE PICK UP, PRAY ABOUT, FILL IN, AND SEND BACK YOUR PLEDGE CARDS. WE WILL BLESS OUR STEWARDSHIP OFFERING UPON THE ALTAR ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4TH DURING THE DIVINE LITURGY.
I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS FESTIVE DISPLAY OF FALL COLORS.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!