Our Neighbourhood Thanksgiving

Every year we enjoy gathering with fellow Americans and their families for a Thanksgiving lunch down in Geelong. We always have a great time together and are thankful that the Nelson family opens their home to all of us.

This year we decided to extend our Thanksgiving holiday by having a second feast the following Saturday for our neighbours. We wanted to provide an opportunity to get to know some of the families we didn't already know as well as provide a house/meal where neighbours could get together.

Two weeks prior we printed out invitations and walked up and down our street handing them out. This act in of itself was valuable. We were able to meet four residents that we hadn't previously known. The reactions of people were interesting. Some were genuinely surprised that we were doing something like this. We tend to live in a society now days that guards our homes and we do not often invite each other in. Sadly, the high fences in the Australian suburbs lend to this fortress mentality.

A week before the event our oven broke. We called the realestate agent our landlord uses and they promised to get someone out there soon.

As the day drew near we had a few neighbours RSVP. Due to a small number of neighbours who said they would come we decided to invite one of Brandon's workmates and wife who were really eager to celebrate a Thanksgiving, "like the ones in the movies", they said. We also decided to invite an Indian fellow we met Target and another lady who I have become friends with through the local grocery store.  This was a bit difficult in that I really had no idea how many people would show up. I have learned since moving here that Australians are not  big fans of the RSVP, so who knew how many would really show up.  Was the turkey big enough? Should we set up three tables instead of three? Should we invite others outside the neighbourhood?

Brandon met the Indian while shopping in Target a few weeks ago. He saw Brandon's moustache and started telling him about a village in Indiana where all the men grow similar moustaches. He asked Brandon to send him a few updates about the 'stache which then eventuated into an invitation to Thanksgiving.

My friend from the grocery store works as a cashier there. I try to go through her line whenever I'm there so that we can talk. She and her husband are from India. We talk from time to time about missing home, being away from family and life in general. She asked me about Thanksgiving last year and so I invited her to this year's meal.

Two days before the event our oven was still not in working order. I planned our menu so that everything but the Turkey, stuffing and pies could be eaten cold. So for instance instead of mashed potatoes we might have potato salad. Instead of green bean casserole we might have a cold green bean salad. I was planning on driving all the food over to the church for cooking until our neighbour, volunteered her oven. This was very kind of her and took her up on the offer. A bit humbling for me. Invite the neighbours over for Thanksgiving but then use their oven to cook everything!

The day of, still no oven. Brandon and I started running food over to the neighbours for cooking.

The girls decorated the tables for me with paper leaves in autumn colours.

Brandon set up a curtain outside for our play.

In the end we had three neighbour houses come, one family and two widows. We also had the workmate and wife and the man from Target along with his friend. Sadly the lady from the grocery store was called in to work late at the last minute and she and her daughter could not come. The countries represented were Greece, England, Indian, Australia and American.

Before having dessert our kids and the neighbour boys put on a play explaining why we celebrate Thanksgiving.  I think the Thanksgiving story should fit under the category of a drama but it turned out to be more of a comedy. Gideon was slipping down the Mayflower gangplank, the pilgrims' guns were plastic machine guns, Gideon forgot his one line of "land ho!" and other confusions. It was enjoyed by all and perhaps even educational.

During dessert Brandon read part of Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving day proclamation to our guests. You can read the excerpts below.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God...

...No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. 

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth. 

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

We really enjoyed our neighbourhood Thanksgiving meal. I don't know if you could say it was like the ones in the movies...maybe in 'A Christmas Story' sort of way? When you open your home to people you never know what will happen. An oven may break, guest numbers may be uncertain making the food difficult to plan, the entertainment may not go as smoothly as some would hope and your grocery budget may be blown to bits.  Hospitality is not easy or cheap but as Christians we are called to open our homes to others.

When we open our homes we make ourselves vulnerable to others. Through this we learn to rely on Him for our needs (even how the food will get cooked), we learn to care for those who society forgets (widows, orphans and migrants) and we are reminded that Jesus made himself completely vulnerable on the cross, giving up his rights and ultimately his life, so that we might have forgiveness and eternal life through his sacrifice on the cross.

We also are provided with the opportunity to show Christ's love to others. Something we desire to do on a daily basis.