As I was doing a bit of research on the Thanksgiving holiday for this month’s article, I came across the proclamation of the First Continental Congress, issued on November 1, 1777 — the first national proclamation for a Thanksgiving Day. In it, the Continental Congress called upon the governing bodies of the United States to set aside Thursday, December 18, 1777, as a day of thanksgiving and praise. This proclamation reflects the very themes we’ve just considered. Throughout our nation’s history, the date of Thanksgiving has shifted, but even in the earliest days of our republic there was a clear and unmistakable call for the people to acknowledge their dependence upon God and His gracious provision.



