"THE THIN THREAD OF THnNKS"

From Gilbert Chesterton ' s autobiography - a c<:~.tching phrase. More than alliteration here and more than a catchy phrase - a philosophy if not a gospel . Chesterton confesses that as a youth he was muddled and confused. (And how confusing and muddled and unhappy youth can be). But declares that he hung on to what little religion and faith he had. Held on "by one thin thread of thanks". Refused to whine or complain - held on to tenuous thread of thanks until it led him into wider and deeper realm of living and satisfaction.

Yes , more than alliteration. Goes on to say "If I had my time over again there is one doc­trine I would teach, that is, the idea of taking things for gratitude and not for granted."

Thursduy is Tll;;tnksf.!'iVing D y and ..n.ITI.ericans world over will celebrate. 1'lill think perhaps of ' rly Pilgrims ~ho had settled on bleak New Eng­

land coast. 'lill see them on way to ~eet ing House to thank God for all His mercies and sustaining grace and kindly providence.

Had been a difficult year. Many privations. Some disposed to return to ~ngland. vas proposed that a Day of Penitence be held. An old colonist gifted with commonsense remarked that it was high time that they remembered all God ' s mercies to them . In spite of all things - adversity and d n­ger, they had many things to be thankful for -homes, growing strength, civil · nd religious lib­erty, and above all - the great salvation Christ had won for them. Proposed that instead of fast they should have a feast. And so it was. Like Chesterton they followed "the one thin thre d of thanks".

For Bread and Beauty fiWare there are many dis­quieting facts to be faced. Mood of futility and sense

of desptiir hovers over our world. eed perhaps to be perturbed; need to have day of mourning and fasting. Yet, like the good colonial brother who proposed a feast for a fast, I believe there is a need and a duty for us to follow thin thread of thankfulness.

God be thanked for the eternal diss tisf c­tion that keeps hume:m race forever on m rch. We thank God for thoughts of a Job, music of a Beet­hoven, for all the saints who from their labors rest. for unknown and known w rriors of church, for those who suffered and bled and died that we might have freedom and liberty in which stand; God be thanked for the growing desire in hearts of men for warless world and kingdom of beauty and goodness. "Fool~"

For God and Faith I f ollow thin thread of thanks and I would be sin-

cerely grateful for God and for faith. For the conviction that there is a divine purpose undergirding life and a divine Person guiding life. That behind all the tears and pain of out time is a wise and loving God.

Thank ful that I believe this is God's uni­iverse. A world in which only goodness has any permdnence - in which evil is self-defeating. A world in which though winter comes, spring can never be far behind. Fundamentally a good world because belongs to a good and wise God.

Someone has said that wb.en Benjamin Frank­lin sent his kite into sky and drew sparks from the string, he was first man in history to get "good news out of bad weather". We are thankful for a faith that helps us to do that - to get good news out of bad weather, hope out of dis­couragement, optimism out of human defeats. We can do this because we can distinguish between the temporary storm and thunders, and the perman­ent atmosphere. That is, we can distinguish be­tween the temporary storms of man's finite life and the infinite, eternal background of God's purpose and universe. On God's side, we know we are on the winning side - side of truth.

So we follow the thin thread of thanks and re lize how blessed we are. Thus once more are we constrained to ~uote from two hymns our fath­ers used to sing - poor from poetic standpoint, but rich in faith, appreciation, gratitude. They were led by thin thread of thanks until they could sing:

hen upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed; · hen you dre discouraged, thinking till is lost; Count your many blessings, ndffie them one by one; illd it will surprise you whdt the Lord hath done.

l.ly father is rich in houses and ldnds, He holdeth the wealth of the world in

His hdnds; Of rubies and diamonds, of silver and gold His coffers are full, he has riches untold. I'm a child of a King, a child of a King. ··ith Jesus my Saviour, I'm a child of a King.

-2-

Following that thin thread, first of all we might thank God for bread. Abundant harvests. God and the good earth have not failed us. No need to fear want and famine in America. No need for our children to be under-nourished. nough for all in this country. Enough for whole world. Problem is that of sharing.

But by and large, America is willing share. Americans respond to cry of human need. Ilost gen­erous people in world. I love this America of the open hand and open heart. So, we thank God for our harvests cind crops. And we thank God because there is a willingness to share. stream of par-cels going out from every post office in land.

Still following the thin thread, we thank God not only for bread for the body but also for food for the soul . .if' or rrtan not live by bread only. How grateful dre we? Nobody ever earned a sunset. Rolling sea, birds and flowers, moon and stars, are op en to a ll - without money and without price.

Flower in a cra nnie d wall; wild geese flying h i gh; sunny flavor of orange joice; sea waves breaking on a beach; ripene d fields of ha rvest; ruby redness of currant jelly on hot brown toast; fulling of an apple and finding of a l aw; four speckled eggs within a nest; baby with outstretch­ed ar ms; netal led notes of a violin. God for-give us for being so blind and ungrateful.

Alld for 1-"an For desp ite his warring madness -potentially he is a son of God. Man, capable of fear, hatred, war

and jealousy, but also dreaming of a better ~nd more beautiful world, and declaring that men will not always hate and fight. Man still with a faith in a more decent world - a world of love

nd peace. Uan who wants a better world and who one day will have it.

So God be thanked for man himself. For all the miracle and wonder and joy of a newborn babe. Thank God for all true lovers of evry age. For ceaseles s wonder of faces. For blessing of an understanding friendship. For practical kind­ness and neighborliness in time of need. Thanks be to God for trusting faith of our children.

FOOL

o can go on singing vhen millions ~re in te rs?

~ hoc n live in sniling faith ' iith millions ton by fe rs?

ho can say that life is sweet with millions robbed of bread and meat?

Yet I shall go on singing, Though foolish I may be; Yet I shall hope with sturdy faith A better world to see; Still I shall claim that life is good , And chant my creed of brotherhood.

Thomas Curtis Cldrk

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Fmm 7hankful Hearts For the beauty of the earth,

For the glory of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies;

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

This our grateful psalm of praise.

For the wonder of each hour

Of the day and of the night:

Hill and vale, and tree and flower,

Sun and moon and stars of light;

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

This our grateful psalm of praise.

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child;

Friends on earth, and friends above

Pleasures pure and undefiled ;

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

This our grateful psalm of praise.

For Thy Church that evermore

Lifts her holy hands above ,

Offering up on every shore

Her pure sacrifice of love;

Lord of all, to Thee we raise

This our grateful psalm of praise .

A.P .H. No. 811 4 l itho in U.S.A .

[;JoodHess U11ceasi "9

FREMONT STRF.~T ~ETHODIST CRlmCH Gloversvill e , New York

November 21, 1948

ORDER OF MORNING WORSHIP

ORGAN PRELUDE - "A. D. 1620" MacDowell CALL 'l'O WORSHIP - By the minister HTII~J'.T 545 - "Come, ye thankful people" SURS UM CORDA:

St. George's

Minister: People:

Minister:

The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit. Lift up your hearts.

People: Minister:'

People:

We lift them up unto the Lord. Let us give thanks unto the Lord. It is meet and right so to do.

DOXOLOGY - To be sung by all

* RESPONSIVE READING - Special Reading - page 641 GLORI.h PATRI :: APOSTLES' CREED SCRIPTtmE LESSON - Psalm 150 SOLO - "I ~Jill Sing of Thy Great Mercies" Mendelssohn

Miss Marilyn Olson PASTO&'\.L PRJ,.YER :: LORD'S PRAYER OFFERTORY AN THEM - "Praise the Lord" PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFEHINGS

DEDICATION ..Q.E MEMORIAL PLAQUE

Turner

To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of Mary A. Venner, Minister's Assistant 18 97 to 1933.

HYl•il-J 20 - "We gather together" Netherland Folk Song SERMm! - "THE THIN THREl,D .QE THANI(Sn HY111N 4 96 - "God of our fathers" BENEDICTION :: CHORAL J.:MEN ORGAN POSTLUDE - "Ode to Thanksgi ving 11

Rev. Fred Clarke, Minister

National Hymn Danish

Beethoven

Miss Gloria Iacone , Minister of Music Mrs. Harvey Connor, Mini s t er's Assistant

Mrs. Keith Giffor d. Church Secretary Mr. Lewi.:; C Ulli:l:i_.ae;, Sexton

10:30 10:30 ll:45 6:00

CALENDAR FOR TODAY

Morning fforship and sermon.

\ \

Children's Division of the Church School. Youth and Adult Divisions of the Church School. Youth Fellowship. Worship leader, Betty Ardiz­zone; discussion leader, :'1lr. Clarke. Union Evening Service at Trinity Church with the Rev. Chester C. Hustead as the preacher.

Altar flowers today are given by Miss Iv:argaret J. Per­ry in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Perry and her brother, Bertram Perry.

THROUGH THE WEEK AT FREMONT

MON. 11:00 Weekday School; grades 10 to 12. 6: 30 Cordial class meets with Milton Loucks -

covered dish supper. 7:30 Boy Scouts meet at the church.

TUF.S. 7:30 Fremont Choir r Ghearsal. 8:00 Financ e Committee meets at the church.

TH.o" NKSGIVDJG DAY - 10:00 O'CLOCK The Annual Union Thanksgi ving Service under the a us.pi­ces of the Gloversvill e Council of Churches, will be held at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Law­r ence La.rrowe as th e prea cher. The special offering will be given to th e Starving Children of the World.

COMING - VERY I:rviPOHT;,NT The Fall Festi vul of Fellowship in Service under the auspic es of Bishop Oxnam and the district sup erintend­ents of the Troy Conference, and for all the pastors and laity of the Methodist churches in this locality, will be hold at Fremont, Tuesday, November 30th with dinner at 6:30 served by the w.s .c.s .• Res ervations should be made immediat ely v:ri th tho church offiC'e -tickets one dollar and a quartor.

F-REMON T fu.,S NOVV i1.DOPTED SEVEH GER1Arill FAMILIES