EVENING OF THANKSGIVING

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, MY CANADIAN FRIENDS!

BONNE ACTION DE GRÂCE, MES AMIS CANADIENS!

Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

(Book of Common Prayer/Book of Divine Worship)

A THOUGHT FOR THANKSGIVING DAY

From The Reverend Canon F. Hugh Magee:

Here's a thought for Thanksgiving Day.

"I'm currently reading 'Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln". I recently came across a quotation that impressed me and it seems to me not unrelevant to our cause [Defeating the Anglican Covenant].

It comes, not from Lincoln, but from Frances Seward, the wife of William Seward, Lincoln's Secretary of State (who, incidentally, first proposed that the last Thursday of November be set aside as a Thanksgiving Day, to be nationally observed).

The background to this quotation, which belongs to the days leading up to the Civil War, is with reference to a proposal that a constitutional amendment be introduced that if adopted would uphold the Fugitive Slave Law of 1793 -- it was felt by some that the adoption of such a constitutional amendment would placate the South and help to avoid a Civil War. Here's what she said:

"Compromises based on the idea that the preservation of the Union is more important than the liberty of nearly 4,000,000 human beings cannot be right. The alteration of the Constitution to perpetuate slavery -- the enforcement of a law to recapture the poor, suffering fugitive ... these compromises cannot be approved by God or supported by good men ...."

I invite you to reflect on this quotation and apply it to our present situation with regard to the proposed Anglican Covenant, which to my mind amounts to a similar attempt to preserve unity at the cost of liberty.

In that spirit I wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving Day.

HUGH

Unity at what cost? In this instance, I believe we must count the cost.

Hugh lives in Scotland and is a fellow member of the No Anglican Covenant Coalition. When I asked his permission to use his words as well as those of Frances Seward, I offered to say a Scotsman sent them to me if he did not want his name published. Hugh responded:

June --

By all means use the quotation and identify me as the source if you like.

Although I am indeed a Scotsman, I'm also English (I was born in London). As a matter of fact, I'm also a fifth generation Pittsburgher -- the Magees emigrated to Pittsburgh in the 18th century!

HUGH

There you have it. Hugh is Scottish, English, and a Pittsburgher.