CELEBRATING THANKSGIVING DAY

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Masters of Ceremony
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The Thanksgiving Story / Bulletin Board
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Dramatization: TERRI and the TURKEY
Tom, the Turkey _____________________________
Grandpa:
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Grandma:
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Dad:
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Mom:
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Mike:
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Terri:
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Pig:
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Prayer of Saint Francis
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Song / Gospel
( OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART )
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Why am I Grateful for?
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Thanksgiving Dinner Prayer
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Video Yearbook ( How Deep Is Your Love Bee Gees, suggested 50 POINTS)
The Whole Class:
Creativity (40pts.) _____
Following Instructions
pts.) _____

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THE HISTORY OF THANKSGIVING

http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving

Most stories of Thanksgiving history start with the harvest celebration

of the pilgrims and the Native Americans that took place in the autumn
of 1621. Although they did have a three-day feast in celebration of a
good harvest, and the local natives did participate, this "first
thanksgiving" was not a holiday, simply a gathering. There is little
evidence that this feast of thanks led directly to our modern
Thanksgiving Day holiday. Thanksgiving can, however, be traced back
to 1863 when Pres. Lincoln became the first president to proclaim
Thanksgiving Day. The holiday has been a fixture of late November
ever since.
However, since most school children are taught that the first
Thanksgiving was held in 1621 with the Pilgrims and Indians, let us
take a closer look at just what took place leading up to that event, and
then what happened in the centuries afterward that finally gave us our
modern Thanksgiving.

The Pilgrims who sailed to this country aboard the Mayflower were
originally members of the English Separatist Church (a Puritan sect).
They had earlier fled their home in England and sailed to Holland (The
Netherlands) to escape religious persecution. There, they enjoyed
more religious tolerance, but they eventually became disenchanted
with the Dutch way of life, thinking it ungodly. Seeking a better life, the
Separatists negotiated with a London stock company to finance a

pilgrimage to America. Most of those making the trip aboard the

Mayflower were non-Separatists, but were hired to protect the
company's interests. Only about one-third of the original colonists were
Separatists.
The Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620.
Their first winter was devastating. At the beginning of the following fall,
they had lost 46 of the original 102 who sailed on the Mayflower. But
the harvest of 1621 was a bountiful one. And the remaining colonists
decided to celebrate with a feast - including 91 natives who had helped
the Pilgrims survive their first year. It is believed that the Pilgrims would
not have made it through the year without the help of the natives. The
feast was more of a traditional English harvest festival than a true
"thanksgiving" observance. It lasted three days.
Governor William Bradford sent "four men fowling" after wild ducks and
geese. It is not certain that wild turkey was part of their feast. However,
it is certain that they had venison. The term "turkey" was used by the
Pilgrims to mean any sort of wild fowl.
Another modern staple at almost every
Thanksgiving table is pumpkin pie. But it
is unlikely that the first feast included that
treat. The supply of flour had been long
diminished, so there was no bread or
pastries of any kind. However, they did
eat boiled pumpkin, and they produced a
type of fried bread from their corn crop.
There was also no milk, cider, potatoes,
or butter. There was no domestic cattle for dairy products, and the
newly-discovered potato was still considered by many Europeans to be
poisonous. But the feast did include fish, berries, watercress, lobster,
dried fruit, clams, venison, and plums.
This "thanksgiving" feast was not repeated the following year. Many
years passed before the event was repeated. It wasn't until June of
1676 that another Day of thanksgiving was proclaimed. On June 20 of
that year the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, held a
meeting to determine how best to express thanks for the good fortune
that had seen their community securely established. By unanimous
vote they instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as
a day of thanksgiving. It is notable that this thanksgiving celebration
probably did not include Native Americans, as the celebration was
meant partly to be in recognition of the colonists' recent victory over the
"heathen natives,". By then, it had become apparent to the settlers that

the natives were a hindrance to their quest for more land, so the good
will they shared at the first feast had long been lost. A hundred years
later, in October of 1777 all 13 colonies joined in a thanksgiving
celebration. It also commemorated the patriotic victory over the British
at
Saratoga.
But
it
was
a
one-time
affair.

George Washington proclaimed a

National Day of Thanksgiving in
1789,
although
some
were
opposed to it. There was discord
among the colonies, many feeling
the hardships of a few pilgrims did
not warrant a national holiday. And
later, President Thomas Jefferson opposed the idea of having a day of
thanksgiving.
It was Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, whose efforts
eventually led to what we recognize as Thanksgiving. Hale wrote many
editorials championing her cause in her Boston Ladies' Magazine, and
later, in Godey's Lady's Book. Finally, after a 40-year campaign of
writing editorials and letters to governors and presidents, Hale's
obsession became a reality when, in 1863, President Lincoln
proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of
Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving was proclaimed by every president after Lincoln. The
date was changed a couple of times, most recently by Franklin
Roosevelt, who set it up one week to the next-to-last Thursday in order
to create a longer Christmas shopping season. Public uproar against
this decision caused the president to move Thanksgiving back to its
original date two years later. And in 1941, Thanksgiving was finally
sanctioned by Congress as a legal holiday, as the fourth Thursday in
November.

- See more at:

http://wilstar.com/holidays/thankstr.htm#sthash.V1iXSGaK.dpuf

DRAMATIZATION
Terri and the Turkey
By Wade Bradford
(The author grants permission for anyone to use this short play for educational and/or amateur purposes.)

Stage Right: The humble home of Grandpa and Grandpa.

Stage Left: The animal pen.
Narrator: Thanksgiving. A time of joy and celebration. Of food, relaxation, and
family. A day beloved by everyone. Everyone that is except Tom Turkey!
(A Turkey named Tom walks on stage left, flapping his wings.)

Tom: Gobble, gobble!

(On stage right, Grandma and Grandpa enter. Tom listens to them as they speak.)

GRANDMA: I mashed the potatoes, I crammed the cranberries, I yammed the

yams, and now its time for you to do what you always do on Thanksgiving Day.
GRANDPA: Watch football?
GRANDMA: No! Its time to prepare the turkey.
TOM: Prepare? That doesnt sound so bad.
GRANDMA: Prepare? Thats such hard work! I have to pluck the feathers.

TOM: Ow!
GRANDPA: And pull out the innards.
TOM: Eek!
GRANDPA: And toss him in the oven.
TOM: Oh my!
GRANDMA: But dont forget. First you must chop off his head.
TOM: (Grabs his neck, fearful.) And all this time I thought I was going to be the
guest of honor. (PIG enters.) Ive got to get out of here! These people are going to
eat me!
PIG: Oink, oink. Welcome to my world, buddy.
GRANDPA: Well, I guess I better get busy.
(A happy couple, Mom and Dad, enter.)

MOM and DAD: Hi Grandpa!

MOM: Happy Thanksgiving.
DAD: Is there anything we can do to help?
GRANDPA: Im glad you asked that. Go out back and chop off the turkeys
head.
DAD: Oh. I was hoping you would have me set the table.
GRANDPA: Too bad. Get chopping!
MOM: Be brave dear.
DAD: But honey, you know the sight of blood makes me queasy.
MOM: Im needed in the kitchen.
DAD: Well, sometimes a man has to do what a man has to do-(A son ( Mike) and a daughter (Terri) enter.)

DAD: Make his kids do the work.

MIKE: Hey Dad, is dinner ready yet?
DAD: Son, this is a very special Thanksgiving because Im giving you a very
special responsibility. I need you to chop off the turkeys head.
SON: Gross!
DAD: And while youre at it, pluck the feathers, take out the innards, and give it
to Grandma to put in the oven.
MIKE: But but but
DAD: Have fun, son.
(The Mike turns to Terri, who has been engrossed in a book.)
MIKE: Terri! Hey bookworm! Did you hear what Dad just said to me?
TERRI: No, I was too busy reading my history book.
MIKE: You mean you didnt hear a single word Dad said?
TERRI: No. What did he say?
MIKE: He wants you to kill the turkey.
(He pushes her toward the animal pen, then exits. Note: All of the other human
characters have cleared the stage too.)
TERRI: Well, I guess if we want a turkey dinner, someone has to do it.
(She picks up a prop ax)

TERRI: (Approaching Tom) Sorry, Mr. Turkey. The time has come.
TOM: I I I feel faint!
(The turkey starts to sway back and forth. He falls to the ground.)

TERRI: Oh no! I think hes having a heart attack!

GRANDMA: (Entering.) Whos having a heart attack?

TERRI: (Checking the turkeys pulse.) He doesnt have a pulse.

GRANDPA: (Entering.) I dont have a pulse?
TERRI: Not you, Grandpa. The turkey!
(DAD and MOM enter.)

DAD: Terri, what are you doing?

TERRI: CPR. I learned it in health class.
MOM: Shes such a good student.
MIKE: (Entering.) What the heck is going on?
TERRI: I think its working. Live, Mr. Turkey! Live!!!
(Terri pretends to use a defibrillator.)

TOM: (Coming back to life.) Gobble gobble!

MOM: You did it honey!
DAD: You saved his life.
TERRI: Yep. Now I guess I better cut off his head.
GRANDMA: Now wait, child. It just doesnt seem right.
TERRI: You know, according to my history book, presidents such as Harry
Truman and John Kennedy have spared the lives of their turkeys. And since
1989, the white house has been granting a presidential pardon to each live
turkey that is presented to the president. Maybe this year we could do the same
kind of thing.

GRANDMA: I think thats a lovely idea. After all, one of the many things we
should be thankful for is simply how many families have been able to have
wonderful Thanksgiving dinners all because of this noble bird. Besides we have
many other delicious foods we can eat. Yams, cranberries, freshly made bread,
and mashed potatoes.

GRANDPA: Thats right, Grandma. Now, whos up for some pork chops?
PIG: (Feeling faint.) I gotta get out of here!
The End.
http://plays.about.com/od/oneactplaysandscenes/a/turkey.htm

THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Open the eyes of my heart

By Michael W. Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=wutmEjdbedE
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart

I want to see You

I want to see You
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up

Shinin' in the light of Your glory

Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy
(Repeat two more times)

Holy, holy, holy

We cry holy, holy, holy
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to see you
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to see you
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy,
I want to see you
(Repeat five more times)
Read
more: http://artists.letssingit.com/michaelw-smith-lyrics-open-the-eyes-of-myheart-rlmk29r#ixzz3nWQm3ypX

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THANKSGIVING DINNER PRAYER

We Give Thanks
Our Father in Heaven,
We give thanks for the pleasure
Of gathering together for this occasion.
We give thanks for this food
Prepared by loving hands.
We give thanks for life,
The freedom to enjoy it all
And all other blessings.
As we partake of this food,
We pray for health and strength
To carry on and try to live as You would have us.
This we ask in the name of Christ,
Our Heavenly Father.
Harry Jewell
Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/10-great-thanksgiving-prayers/#ixzz3negIAJXE

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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