One hundred and two people sailed seven weeks across the Atlantic aboard the Mayflower in 1620.  Half of them were Separatists, wanting to separate from the Church of England, declaring that Christ was their head, not the English King.  We call these Separatists Pilgrims.

The ship, due to weather and the sickness of passengers, landed north of the intended destination of Virginia, therefore the passengers would not be under English rule.  Thus, on November 11, 1620 the men on board signed the Mayflower Compact, declaring that whatever laws they drew up would be obeyed by all those who had signed the document.  This was the beginning of the democracy that would characterize the United States of America.  The Compact would give birth to The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

The day the Compact was signed, 16 men got on board a boat to carry them from the Mayflower to the inner shore of Cape Cod.  Thus, they finally touched ground in the New World.  They had sailed 3000 miles across the ocean and were now 500 miles from the nearest English settlement.

They gazed at a barren land filled with scrub pines with no friends, relatives or pubs to welcome them.  Within a month, half of their numbers would die from the hardships.  Nevertheless, they knelt on the beach and thanked God for his deliverance.

The pattern was set for a new nation to be democratic, and to be a nation of thanksgiving.  Thus, we have a national holiday where we are to set aside time to say thanks to God Almighty who created us and will sustain us.

Sunday I’m preaching on “Thank God” from Psalm 31:14-24.  We’ll talk about “Thank God for Being God,” verses 14-18; “Thank God for Beig Good,” verses 19-22; and “Love God,” verses 23-24.  Please come and give thanks with us!

Love,

Jim Meek