In 1789, President George Washington deemed November 26th a day of “sincere and humble thanks,” though the practice of yearly gratitude had existed in some states since the 1600s. In 1863, in the midst of the bloody Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national day. In the next installment of our Sounds of the Season series, Amanda Greene of Wilmington Faith and Values explores this practice with one Wilmington pastor.
[Prayer beginning]
As the leader of Wilmington’s historic St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church, when heads bow at his family’s Thanksgiving table, the expectation is that Pastor William Johnson will give the prayer.
Johnson says this year he’s remembering people his family and community have lost over the years and feeling thankful for the presence of loved ones around him this season. And he says he’s more thankful than ever for the learning to appreciate the details of life.
WilmingtonFAVS.com