AN EARLY THANKSGIVING Psalm 16; Hebrews 10:11-14

November 15, 2009 -- Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost

   At the Epcot Center in Disney World Jenny and I recently had the opportunity to experience what is for me without doubt the best attraction there.  This attraction is called "The American Adventure."  Lasting about 25 minutes, this is a presentation that uses music, robotic figures, and a big screen that shows historical pictures and videos, all of which tell the story and give an overall history of our great nation.

  Two figures in American history have been chosen to narrate and offer commentary throughout this presentation.  They are Ben Franklin and Mark Twain.  Early in the presentation, as these two great figures begin their conversation, Ben Franklin says something that pleases me greatly.  He says, "For me, the ‘American Adventure' truly begins in 1620 with the Pilgrims and their journey to the New World, seeking religious freedom."

   This pleases me greatly because one of the reasons I have felt honored and proud to part of the United Church of Christ is that ours is the denomination that has descended directly from the Pilgrims. Whenever I can--you may notice--I try to mention the fact that we are "The Church of the Pilgrims," and I make that statement most of all at this time of year as we approach the holiday that our nation received from the Pilgrims, the holiday we call "Thanksgiving."

   For many reasons--and certainly with this heritage as one of them--we very much emphasize and celebrate Thanksgiving here at Westerville Community.  We declare not a day but a season of Thanksgiving, and try to make this entire month of November a time to lift up thanksgiving to God.  And so it is that on this middle day of November--even with Thanksgiving Day itself still eleven days away--I have titled my sermon "An Early Thanksgiving."

   The Scripture readings from the Lectionary that we use each Sunday have been chosen not only for American churches, but for Christian churches throughout the world, and so the readings this month are not specifically intended to be related to America's Thanksgiving celebration.  And yet, because thankfulness is so fundamental to our faith, the Scripture lessons during these weeks have much to say about this very important topic.

   Today's Psalm talks about putting our ultimate trust and security in God--not in any other thing in this world and certainly not in any false god.  Then, this Psalm promises, we will be shown the path of life, and in God's presence we will find fullness of joy.  The New Testament lesson today is from Hebrews and very clearly states that no other sacrifices or rituals can save us.  Only the ultimate gift of God through Christ brings perfect blessing for all time.

   On this "Early Thanksgiving Sunday," our lessons from Scripture are that we have already received the ultimate gift from God--and that in worship of God and thanksgiving to God we are led on the path of life that brings fullness of joy.

   Knowing that we wanted to see "The American Adventure" most of all, Jenny and I went straight there as soon as it opened.  We beat the crowds and were able to go right in to watch and enjoyed it immensely.  Later in the day we knew that we wanted to see it again and so we returned.  This time, however, we arrived in the midst of the large crowds of people who by that time were also there and wanted to see it as well.

   Big crowds are part of daily life at Disney World, and they are prepared for them.  Not only is there room to wait, but things to do or see while waiting for their different attractions.  The American Adventure building houses not only the theatre for the show but also a great foyer within the building.  On the walls of this foyer are paintings and also renditions of great quotations from America's story.  All these can be viewed by people while they wait their turn to go into the theatre itself.

   I returned, eager to experience that moving presentation of "The American Adventure" once again, and particularly to hear again those words of Franklin: "The American Adventure truly begins in 1620 with the Pilgrims and their journey to the New World, seeking religious freedom."  "Yes," I knew I would soon be thinking once again, "That's us!  That's who we are!"

   As we waited for the doors into the theatre to open we walked about the foyer, reading the quotations and looking at the great paintings on display.  One of those paintings particularly caught my attention.  It showed the Pilgrims being assisted by the Native American tribe in that area in which they had made land and were trying to live.  These natives were teaching them to plant crops that would grow well in that soil.  The palm of one of the Natives was open and holding kernels of corn that he was showing to them.  The title of the painting was "Seeds of Hope" and I was reminded of the fact that the Pilgrims would never have survived that first year and never lived to celebrate that first Thanksgiving without that assistance.

   We moved along and on another wall of the foyer I read one of the many quotations on display there.  It was a statement by Althea Gibson, who in the 1950's had become America's first great African-American tennis player, winning both the U.S. Open and Wimbledon.  After retiring from tennis, she then went on to become a professional golfer.  The words of Althea Gibson quoted here were these: "No matter what accomplishment you make, somebody helps you."

   "No matter what accomplishment you make, somebody helps you."  This great and successful athlete realized how true that had been for her.  It was true as well for the Pilgrims, whose religious courage would launch the American experience in ways they could not imagine.  They accomplished so much--but only because "somebody helped them."  And so also is this true for each of us, no matter what we have done or are doing now or may ever do.  "Somebody helps us."

   Often I meet and talk with people who are going through very trying times.  The challenges or difficulties they are facing are very real, and they may list many or all of those as they tell me what they are going through at this time.

   I know people are going to make it through such times when they tell me not only about the trials and troubles, but also about how much they have for which they are grateful--when they tell me also about how many people there are who have helped them or who are helping them now.  People who are thankful will find the path of life and make it through whatever they may have to face.

   We are often tempted to think of ourselves or even of what we are part of as self-made.  I even like to think that our church's heritage is so exceptional because we are the ones descended from those Pilgrims who most of all began "The American Adventure."  And yet those Pilgrims--like everyone else--needed the blessings that God provided for them through others--needed the "Seeds of Hope" that the Natives who had been living there willingly offered them.

   We come to understand that even when we have troubles or challenges, even more so we have great reason for thanksgiving.  And when we realize and celebrate this we are most blessed of all.  We are shown the path of life that will lead us through any challenge or trouble because we are open to receiving all of God's gifts.

   Even before any of us were born, God had already put into place countless people and possibilities that would bring blessing to us.  Right now--in ways that we do not yet know--God is doing the same.  And so we live this day and this season as we know we are called to live every day.  We live joyously, in thanksgiving and in hope--because we recognize the universal truth--that no matter what accomplishment we make, "somebody helps us."

Rev. Harold Steindam
Westerville Community UCC
November 15, 2009
Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost