Events 2010
Thanksgiving Day Celebrated in Amsterdam
November 29, 2010
Thanksgiving Day Celebrated in Amsterdam
Consul General Julie Ruterbories delivered remarks at the annual Thanksgiving Day interfaith service organized by the U.S. Consulate General on November 25, Thanksgiving Day, and hosted by the English Reformed Church in the beautiful Begijnhof, Amsterdam. Representatives from the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths participated in the service. Each offered a reading from their tradition and reflected on the meaning of Thanksgiving.
In honor of International Adoption Month, a beautiful quilt entitled “Celebrating International Adoption” was on display in the church. The quilt was made in a joint collaboration between the families who attended the Consulate General’s June ice cream social celebrating adoptions earlier this year and the quilters at the American Protestant Church of The Hague (APCH). Each family, whether Americans who’ve adopted children overseas or Dutch parents who’ve adopted American children, was given a square at the social to decorate and the quilters at the APCH sewed the quilt together and put on the final touches. Looking at the quilt, it is clear that the families are thankful for each other and this theme of united families seemed a perfect fit with Thanksgiving.
Organist Richard Zook skillfully played special music on the organ and the Senior Choir of the British School of Amsterdam, directed by Gillian Cowie and accompanied by Margaret Kennedy, were a highlight as they performed two magnificent songs. The U.S.A. Girl Scouts Troop Overseas Amsterdam was well represented by Eden Tweedie who passed out the programs, read the poem Thanksgiving Delights by Joanna Fuchs during the service and collected the offering. This year’s collection was donated to the Salvation Army in Amsterdam’s City Center to support their work to help those in need in the heart of Amsterdam. The Salvation Army and the U.S. Consulate General together provide assistance to destitute American citizens in Holland. In addition, the Salvation Army assists in a variety of ways to include providing child protection, shelters, soup kitchens, and prisoner rehabilitation. Please visit www.legerdesheils.nl for more information.