CLOSING CEREMONY

Cubmaster’s Minutes

What Thanksgiving Really Means

Viking Council

Thanksgiving will be here pretty soon. It's a great time of the year -- big turkey dinner, football games, visits with friends and relatives. Just about everybody loves Thanksgiving.

This year let's think a bit about what the holiday really means. It means giving thanks, of course, and it started with the Pilgrims thanking God for bountiful harvest more than 300 years ago.

As we enjoy this Thanksgiving, let us give thanks to God for the bounty we enjoy. We all have something to be thankful for; even if we don't have everything we might want. Let's remember that - and God - as we observe Thanksgiving.

 Thanksgiving Symbols

Viking Council

An article in a 1968 newspaper quoted Dr. David L. McKenna, then President of Seattle Pacific College, as saying that Thanksgiving should have a symbol as Christmas and Easter do. He then went on to suggest that five grains of corn be the symbol of Thanksgiving.

(Place five grains of corn on a dish)

When the Pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving they placed five grains of corn at each place at the table. This was a reminder that all our abundance is given by God, and also a reminder of the time when food was so scarce that only five grains were available as the ration of each person.

Those 5 grains were:

Gratitude -            For the necessities of life.

Praise -                  To our God for His good gifts.

Courage -              To carry on under many types of difficulties.

Sharing -               With those less fortunate than ourselves.

Dependence -        On each other and our God for His care.

In the manner of the grateful Pilgrims, with their ration of five grains of corn, let us remember the source of all our blessings and be mindful of those who are hungry tonight and resolve that somehow we will do something about it

Reasons To Be Thankful

SCC Council

If you can see, if you can walk,

If you can hear when others talk,

If you have food, enough to eat,

But skip expensive cuts of meat,

If you've a coat for when it's cold,

Though maybe out of style or old,

If you have friends, the kind who care,

If you have health, though only fair,

And have some cash, but not a bank full,

You've got ample reason to be thankful.

A Boy – a Cubmaster’s Minute

Heart of America Council

He is a person who is going to carry on what you have started.  He is to sit right where you are sitting, and attend, when you are gone, to those things you think are so important.  You may adopt all the policies you please, but how they will be carried out depends on him.  Even if you have leagues and treaties, he will have to manage them.  He will assume control of our cities, states and nation.  He is going to move in and take over your churches, schools, universities, and corporations.  All your work is going to be judged and praised or condemned by him. Your reputation and your future are in his hands.  All your work is far him, and the fate of the nation and of humanity lies in his hands. It is well that we pay him some attention.

Thanksgiving Closing Ceremony

Goldenrod District, Mid-America Council

Scene: Pilgrims are sitting around a table.

Leader:  We have a lot be thankful for at this time of the year.  We work and for this we see all the good things that come of it.  Let us all share something good with each other at this time.

Cub 1:    Do the very best you can and leave the rest to God.

Cub 2:    Life is hard by the yard, but by the inch, life is a cinch.

Cub 3:    A clean conscience is a soft pillow.

Cub 4:    We can do anything we want if we stick to it long enough.

Cub 5:    There is no failure except to give up.

Cub 6:    Our country, right or wrong.  When right, to be kept right.  When wrong, to be made right.

Leader:  We certainly all have a LOT to be thankful for.

America The Beautiful

Heart of America Council

Cubmaster: This evening we have shared our respect for our great country. We have seen some of the glory that is the United States. The most fitting end to our meeting is to sing "America the Beautiful".  In this great song we sing of the glory of our great land, but the last two lines of every verse have an acknowledgement of God who guides us all. Just to recall the last two lines of the first verse. "America, America, God shed his grace on thee. And crown they good with brotherhood, From sea to shining sea."

Everyone please stand and join me in singing "America the Beautiful."

Give Thanks

Southern NJ Council

I would give thanks for many things

On this Thanksgiving Day.

Thanks for all the blessings

Life brings each day along the way.

I would give thanks for life and health,

For home, for food, and you,

All that I count my greatest wealth

Family and friendship true.

I give thanks for my native land,

For freedom on this day;

Where we worship and understand

Our privilege to pray.

I would give thanks for many things

And do the best I can,

To be worthy of all life brings

And serve my fellow man.

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