Vol 94 Issue 04

The Protestant Reformed Churches annually observe the “National Thanksgiving Day” with a special worship service. They have bound themselves to do so by Article 67 of the Church Order, which states: “The churches shall observe, in addition to the Sunday, also [a list of eight days, and] the National Thanksgiving Day.” The observance of special days has a Reformed tradition which can be traced back to the church order adopted by the great Synod of Dordt, 1618-19. We realize that there are differences within the Reformed camp on this matter. Even sister churches of the PRC do not observe all...

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 136:1 Long before Thanksgiving was observed as an annual event in North America, the Israelites of old gave thanks to God after bringing in the harvest. “Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine” (Deut. 16:13). The feast of tabernacles pointed forward to the day when God will tabernacle with men in the new heavens and the new earth. Evidently, the picture of the harvest pointed the Old Testament saints to...