I guess it is appropriate for the AMC network to start one of the busiest travel days of the year, kicking off its Thanksgiving Day broadcast schedule at midnight with a viewing of Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. In that 1987 flick, Neal Page, played by Steve Martin, struggles to get home to the family for Thanksgiving Dinner, only to be paired with shower curtain ring salesman Del Griffith (John Candy) for a three-day misadventure.
Many Americans will be traveling to gather with family, friends, and loved ones to give thanks for our many blessings. We pray your holiday travels go smoothly. May the Lord bless your journeys and let us give thanks to the true source of all our gifts.
Our Thanksgiving traditions typically center around the table, featuring turkey, stuffing, gravy, vegetables, and other delicacies, and then completed with delicious pies and other desserts. Our Thanksgiving movements, however, are not limited to sliding chairs beneath the overstuffed smorgasbord of food.
Some of us will physically exert ourselves, participating in an early morning Turkey Trot. Locally, charitable 5K runs will start at 8:30 AM in Massapequa, 9:00 AM at Bethpage State Park, and 9:30 AM in Oyster Bay. Others may decide to assist with feeding those less fortunate than us. A food pantry feeding begins at 9:00 AM at 801 Crooked Hill Road, in Brentwood, that will welcome additional volunteers.
A popular destination for many on Thanksgiving morning will be in front of our televisions. The annual Macy’s Day Parade will be streaming on WNBC between 9:00 AM and 12 Noon, followed by the 2022 National Dog Show from Noon to 2:00 PM. Scheduling of meals and snacks will likely be coordinated with the timing of when the sports arenas move the chains on the field. The Bills/Lions game kicks off on CBS at 12:30 PM. Our New York Giants take the field in Dallas on FOX at 4:30 PM. Finally, the Patriots will follow up Sunday’s last-minute win against our Jets against the Vikings on NBC at 8:20 PM.
If parades, dogs, and football aren’t your thing, there’s plenty of other entertainment for you and your loved ones to enjoy this holiday. Endearing movies will be available as you loosen your belts one notch to provide relief from your overstuffing. Here’s some of the lineup: Elf on TNT at 4:00 PM, Godfather on AMC, National Lampoon’s Vacation on TNT, and The Wizard of Oz on TBS at 6:00 PM, and Back to the Future on Bravo at 7:30 PM.
Wherever you go, please remember to give thanks to God. We invite you to travel to a house of worship on the last day of this Thanksgiving weekend. Good Shepherd welcomes you to join us on Sunday, November 27th for a brief spoken liturgy with Holy Communion at 8:00 AM, a contemporary musical Holy Communion liturgy at 10:15 AM, and a healing worship service at 6:00 PM. Additionally, we will be hosting the annual Plainview-Old Bethpage Christmas Tree lighting at 5:00 PM. We give thanks for you.
Blessings,
Pastor Marc
