Have you ever thought of yourself as a “pilgrim”?  Probably not.  (Unless you’ve dressed up like one to help serve a Thanksgiving dinner!)

We in the United Church of Christ take great pride in tracing our heritage back to those who first pilgrims who landed on Plymouth Rock.  William Bradford first used that word to refer to that band of European separatists but the word didn’t become a popular reference for them until 100 years or so after their landing.  

Today, we think of the word “pilgrim” as one of those old-timey words that you really only hear in the middle of November every year.  I think, though, that it is a word worthy of recovering. 

A pilgrim is someone, anyone, who is on a journey.  Usually, it is a faith journey of some kind.  On a deeper level, a pilgrim is someone who is searching for a more authentic life and a transformative encounter with God.  

If we’re honest, then, we are all pilgrims.  We all share a “pilgrimage” together.  It is a journey that is not always easy, but is lightened when it is shared.

There are a lot of reasons why this coming holiday season may be a difficult one for some.  Beyond the headlines, there are those who have lost loved ones since last Thanksgiving.  It is important to remember that it was also the headlines and the loss of loved ones that weighed heavy on the hearts of those original Plymouth pilgrims, too.

Emily Dickinson once wrote that “To have been made alive is so chief a thing, all else inevitably adds.”  That is a wonderful thought to keep in mind this Thanksgiving; especially if you are passing through an unlit part of your pilgrimage right now.  

Faith is central to Thanksgiving.  It is by definition.  We “give thanks” to God.  But here’s the thing:  As much as we are to bring gratitude for our blessings, it is essential that we also bring our brokenness and woundedness to this holiday, too. 

Why?  Because it is only in that honesty of spirit that you can discover a renewal of your heart and spirit.  It is only in that authenticity of heart that you will discover that your pilgrimage-path becomes, unexpectedly, illuminated once again.

It is good to pilgrimage together here at First Congregational Church and I wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving.

See you in church,

–Rev. Dominic