NATCHEZ — Filing into the First Presbyterian Church sanctuary to the strains of organ music, Natchez community members congregated for the annual ecumenical community Thanksgiving service.

The service was sponsored by the Natchez Ministerial Alliance.

During the service, an offering was collected for a charitable fund.

“This is an offering that has been designated by the ministerial alliance for emergency needs in the community,” said the Rev. John Larson, president of the ministerial alliance.

After a pledge of allegiance to the American and Christian flags, presented by the Knights of Columbus, the Rev. Melvin Jackson opened the service with a prayer.

Jackson thanked God for being good to the nation, and for the nation itself.

“Bless our mayor and city,” he said. “Bless our entire land and country.”

The Rev. James Brooks agreed, saying those present were thankful for “what (God) has done, what he is doing and what he is going to do.”

The Rev. Robert Perkins delivered the homily.

“Our greatest need is not to be thankful, but to be reminded how to give thanks,” he said.

President George Washington made the first Thanksgiving Day proclamation, and Abraham Lincoln made the second, Perkins said.

“President Bush has also done this, but we don’t need a presidential proclamation to remind of to give thanks to God,” he said.

As Americans, we sometimes forget how blessed we are, he said.

“I want to challenge you to do something we should all do,” Perkins said. “Demonstrate your Thanksgiving.”