Thanksgiving Sunday School Lesson

New Meat In a Good Ol' Town

These are the chronicles of a little girl who moved to a big town. Or perhaps they are the chronicles of a big girl who moved to a little town. My first year here has taught me that Knoxville and I are a lot alike: We are obnoxious in some places and blush when our vulnerabilities are discovered. We understand that art, music, and church are often one and the same. Better yet, we love to argue if such a view is true. Knoxville and I love a Saturday of trippin’ through second-hand stores on Chapman Highway followed by a Sunday curled up with and a microbrew.

It was on such a Sunday when I wondered if it was possible to have over-the-top adventures in this small-yet-large town. Sure, there was the naked breakfast on my balcony with Prince Charming in August. But the chill of December confirmed he was just a desperate frog pretending. The new year brought a righteous soak in the hot springs around the Broadwing Farm Cabins followed by a roll in the mosh pit at a Whitechapel concert. By Spring, Suttree taught me that even flittermice can have a bounty on their head. And early summer in Elkmont brought lessons in voyeur etiquette as the fireflies did their thing.

November’s adventure was a profound lesson in the school of Hard Knox. I had looked forward to Thanksgiving dinner in my new town only to be stood up. Three laps in the pool of self-pity left my car and me lost on Magnolia Avenue. By accident I discovered Chandler’s Deli. Like a few others I found my Thanksgiving meal here, at a table for one. Bright red Kool-Aid sat above the plastic fork on the right, and three creamy sides oozed over the Styrofoam compartments in a dinner plate of chicken.

This was the first piece of fried chicken I had eaten in my life. Momma forbid this delicacy because “it ruins your hips.” Just once, I would ignore her fatwah on fried things because I missed my family, I missed my friends, and I missed my people. I hated being the new meat in town, as it required recognition that I was both stranger and outsider. Embarrassment prevented me from looking anyone in the eye. The girl working herself to death over the fryers couldn’t look up either. Nor could the two hungover fraternity boys sitting in the corner. It was shameful to feel any melancholy: I had a lovely home, a dependable paycheck, and the unearthly pleasure of hot grease rolling out of crackling chicken skin.

To this day I cannot bring myself to tell the truth when asked about my first Thanksgiving in Knoxville, as the words taste so bad. Being alone and being lonely are two very different things, but sometimes they are the same. Perhaps that’s why we don’t talk about them much.

Feast of Tabernacles: Thanksgiving Sunday School Lesson

This lesson introduces students to how the Israelites celebrated Thanksgiving as they celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.  The celebration was written in God’s Law for His people to keep each year as a way to remember His goodness to them.  As His people remember all that He has done for them they are filled with joy and thanksgiving.  This lesson can be adapted to meet different ministry needs.

Bible Story: How Israel Celebrated Thanksgiving: Feast of Tabernacles You Can Help : Please share your feedback and suggestions to improve this children’s Bible lesson. Click here to respond.

Supply List: Pillow cases, objects symbolizing Thanksgiving and what God has done, Bibles, tent or other items to build a ‘booth’, craft sticks,

Learning Goal: Students will learn that as they remember what God has done for them it will cause them to be thankful.

Learning Indicator: Review Questions

Learning Activity #1: Thanksgiving Grab Bag: Have 2 bags in one bag put items that symbolize different things about Thanksgiving (pilgrim, ship, corn, Indian, turkey, etc.).  In the second bag put items that symbolize things that cause us to remember what God has done for us (Cross, Bible, food, toys, clothes, band aid or medicine as a reminder that God heals us, etc.) Use the first bag of symbols of Thanksgiving to introduce why and how America celebrates Thanksgiving to introduce how God’s people Israel celebrated Thanksgiving.  At the end of the lesson use the second bag of items symbolizing things believers need to remember so his/her heart is filled with Thanksgiving for all that God has done.

Learning Activity #2: Depending on size of your class you and your students can construct a ‘tabernacle/booth’ and the lesson can be told inside.  An easy assemble tent could be used.

Test: Review Questions

Memory Verse: Psalm 77:11 “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes I will remember Your miracles of long ago.

Optional : You can use our  Thanksgiving Sunday School crafts to supplement this lesson plan.

Memory Verse Activity: Using craft sticks have students write each word on a stick and create a tent that represents a tabernacle.

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