A Walk To Church On Thanksgiving Day

There was always a special service in our Carmen United Church on Thanksgiving. We as a family walked to church together  on this day. We were a large family by today's standards but back in the forties we were about average . Getting ready for church was quite an undertaking as we had to measure up to our Mom's inspection before getting out the door. Polished shoes for the boys and best clothes for all ,we must have been quite a sight as we walked up the lane.

We lived in a house ,last on the lane and as we walked up the narrow pathway we passed most of our relatives who also lived close by. Nearly all of our extended family also attended our church. As we crossed the railway tracks we were in a different place. Our town was divided by two sets of railway tracks. One was the mainline CNR which was so busy during the war carrying material and men to other places in Canada and the smaller rail line owned by the coal company. These tracks often became a barrier when the trains stopped, blocking our free passage so we had to wait or crawl under to get home.

Mom usually walked with the girls but as we approached the church she gave us final instructions, specially to we boys about our behaviour. We could hear the church bell ringing, warning us that service was to begin in fifteen minutes. We hurried along an approached the steps forming a line as we entered the church chamber. The organist was playing the pipe organ and we filed down the right side and with the help of the usher filled the fourth and part of the fifth pews. We always sat in the same place. Mom quickly shuffled us around so she could keep an eye on us during the service.

On this Sunday the church was decorated with flowers and coloured leaves. There was a special feeling and every seat was filled. Our beloved old minister J W O'Brien cleared his throat and began the service. After the extremely long prayer and children's hymn the young ones filed out. This year I was able to remain because I was 11 years old. The rest of the service was pretty boring with the minister having a terrible time with his voice and he kept reaching down to find his glass of water. He prayed for everyone in several ways, spoke kindly about everything and told us how thankful we should be for all the blessings bestowed upon us by a caring God. I was impressed but my head was full of thoughts about all the people I knew who did not have much to be thankful for.

Service was over and we filed out with the adults thanking the minister for a wonderful service and we children were given a kind pat on the head much as you pat your favourite pet. What I was looking forward to was the Thanksgiving dinner with roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, turnip and carrots and Mom's apple pie or sweet squares.

As we cleared the church we boys bolted from the area and never stopped until we reached home. As we entered our house we were transformed into another world by the wonderful smells of Thanksgiving Dinner. I still have this memory and it is replicated every year when we get together to keep the tradition alive. What a wonderful feeling.