Dear Friends, Thinking of you as you celebrate your Thanksgiving Day.
Some of our American friends find it curious that we do not celebrate at the same time, but the day commemorates a particular event in history, not applicable to Australia
Thanksgiving Day is a joyous family festival celebrated with lot of enthusiasm in US, Canada and several other countries. Thanksgiving Day Festival commemorates the feast held by the Pilgrim colonists and members of the Wampanoag people at Plymouth in 1621. On this day people express gratitude to God for his blessings and give thanks to dear ones for their love & support. Feasting with family is an integral & most delightful part of Thanksgiving Day celebrations.
We Gather Together
We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.
Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!
We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
Amen
--Traditional Thanksgiving Hymn
(A translation by Theodore Baker: 1851-1934)
It was nice to receive a couple of pics by email this week. They were from one of the homes when we did the Australiana program and the Activity Officer brought out their lagerphone and joined in the entertainment with us. They are a great crowd there.
This week we sang three times and were invited to do more Christmas Carols at the Homes, including one where the residents will have glowsticks. We are now setting up the programs for all the December events, the most we do all year.
One thing that has been on my mind this week was an online friend challenging me to 'lighten up' and enjoy the Magic of Santa Claus over the festive season. I forget my exact words, but was saying we don't choose Santa Claus songs or promote Santa Claus.
We strive to be "in the world but not of it" and as the article says, this is also a rock solid God-truth that is coming straight out of our Bible, and as many of you do, we find our joy, peace and comfort in Him.
Yesterday we both went with Val to hear speakers from ICEJ. Their website is here. The venue was a small village about 85 kms from home, so we had some lovely conversation on the trip as well. Unfortunately Val's hubby had a commitment to finish a carpentry project he was working on for the pre-school at church and could not come along.
I had heard one of the speakers before and was keen to hear her again. I did not know anything about International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, and the speakers lead a group there each year for The Feast of Tabernacles, Bruce spoke on the importance of Israel, and Merrilyn on the tour the group did through Poland, Israel and Turkey. She brought to life the horrors of the concentration camps and death camps, the places they visited in Israel and they also went to Gallipoli which is of great interest to Australians. I knew quite a few people in attendance as I had met them at the retreat and other days I have attended.
There were a number of banners and wallhangings at this small venue, and one particularly caught my attention. It had a map of Australia with the Holy Spirit dove over it and the figure 400 up the top, which must have been purchased as a panel. There was an explanatory scroll beside it, and I learned about an event that took place over 400 years ago.
Let the heavens, the earth, the waters with all their
creatures and all those here present witness that I,
Captain Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, in the name of
Jesus Christ, hoist this emblem of the Holy Cross
on which Jesus Christ's person was crucified and
whereon He gave His life for the ransom and
remedy of the human race. On this day of
Pentecost, 14 May 1606, I take possession of all
this part of the South as far as the pole in the name
of Jesus, which from now on shall be called the
Southern land Austrialia of the Holy Spirit and this
always and forever to the end that to all natives, in
all the said lands, the holy, sacred Evangel may be
preached zealously and openly.
I found a pic online, though the actual one was much more vibrant.
I was quite moved by this and went over to the bookstall and purchased "Discovering Australia's Christian Heritage", which included a mention of this. I haven't read it all yet, but see that the author wishes to place a copy in every school in Australia, with the proceeds of sales and possible donations.
Church was special to us both today, and I will finish with the closing hymn.
Let us encourage one another.
With love and blessings,
Jan
It's Friday night and its been a busy week. I do hope to get around friends' posts soon! Today was quite warm at 29C, and muggy after a heavy shower of rain last night.
We sang four times this week, and fitted in tennis and exercise as well. We had friends call in and also visited neighbours who had been to see Celtic Woman in Brisbane, as they wanted to show us a DVD.
It was poignant on Thursday as our exercise teacher shared that her Mum was having a biopsy for breast cancer right then. We hugged and cried together in the kitchen afterwards and our leader Val lead some prayers. Then Val and I went over to the church meeting house to sort out some things for the Know Your Bible Group end of term and remembered to have a minutes silence for Rembrance Day at 11am, and shared a prayer time.
ANZAC Day in April is the big Remembrance Day in Australia, that everyone gets involved in, and Remembrance Day is fairly low key, with mainly official ceremonies.
I am going to a Ladies Conference with Val tomorrow, and I am looking forward to a it. There will be four sessions and morning and afternoon tea and lunch. The sessions include "Sharing My life with Women at the Well", "Knowing God and Loving Others ", "Being Free to be Yourself" etc.
Here is the website.
The will have a bookshop available also..... I usually have to order online, so it will be nice to see the items and I will get a few gifts.
I have also been working on Christmas gifts when I have been sitting around at home. I have bought a set each of bath sheet, hand towel and washer (flannel? facecloth?) in different colours for my main family gifts, and I am doing a knitted heritage edge on them. Here is a pic of the first edge I did a few years ago. I am happy to share the pattern if anyone wants it. This pattern is popular here particualrly on hand towells for sale that members donate to trading tables to raise money for their small groups etc.
News this week is that my youngest grandaughter has completed her certificate in travel at the information centre in her country town, in conjunction with her Higher School Certiificate, and has obtained a position at an Information Centre in a Sydney suburb, starting December 6, so she is well on her way.
Grand and my daughter at the Ceremony.
Here is a simple restful version of I come to the Garden Alone from youtube. This is one of the gospel numbers we did this morning, I find it restful and touching.
Outside my window... It is dark, 9.15pm, and no moon, but it has been a very pleasant, sunny day, calm max 27C and about 19C now
I am thinking... that a lot has happened since I posted last week. We have had quite a few people drop in, and expected visitors for lunch last Saturday, another sister and hubby and a grandson. Afer that I attended an fashion parade - afternoon tea at a church hall which was a fundraiser for the child they support overseas.
I am thankful for... family and friends. I am also thankful to have news from daughter, that things are moving for her.
From the kitchen... the last thing was my cup of Milo. Must mention that Barry roasted a chicken in the camp oven (outdoor) last Saturday, and it was so tender and moist.
I am wearing...a summer nightie
I am creating... hand knit items and crochet for Missions without borders. Finally I am really happy with the face on the teddy bears, and I have eight waiting for their faces and fill, and I learnt a new way to crochet scarves at the Care and Share this morning.
I am going... just usual things this week.... bible study, exercise.
I am reading...Insight into Forgiveness by R kallmier and S Jacobs, and starting the eight session Christ Empowered Living handbook and DVD by Selwyn Hughes.
I am hoping...that our friend that we left our harmony pedal with this afternoon will come up with a solution as to why it is faulty. Barry tested it and it is OK for about half an hour then stops. We had a nice visit with them too.
I am hearing... Barry playing a youtube
Around the house... tidier than usual. My Peace Lily is doing well. It was drooping most of the time and since I have been sitting it in an additional bowl of water, it has been happy.
One of my favorite things...Springtime, it is so pleasant not to have to think of heating or cooling. and the birds seem even more joyous than usual.
A few plans for the rest of the week.... we are visiting a friend who was here yesterday so excited about her Wii exercise program. We are going out on Thursday for lunch. They live 27kms out of town.
Here is a picture for thought I am sharing... a Jacaranda tree I snapped as I walked through town to meet our walking group this morning. They can be glimpsed all through town at present, in parks and also private gardens.
We sat and enjoyed a Celtic Woman DVD this morning after I got back from Care and Share. Here is a song for you, the last number on our DVD, though it is at a different venue. Our neighbours have gone to Brisbane to see Celtic Woman this week, and have invited us over to see new DVDs when they get home next week.
I thank Peggy for the headings, and click here to see more journals.