Liturgy For Thanksgiving Day

The following liturgy may be used in small or large family celebrations, especially when the worshiping community itself does not gather on Thanksgiving Day.

Gathering

Leader: Today is a special day in the life of our nation and in the life of our home. We gather together to give thanks to the Almighty for the blessings he has granted us and those whom we love.

Hymn: "?Come, Ye Thankful People, Come?" Leader: Let us pray. Father, we acknowledge your goodness to us and to all humankind. Receive our words of praise to your glory, and bless this food. May it strengthen our bodies and nourish our spirits. Keep us, Lord, mindful of the needs of others, through Jesus our Lord. Response: Amen. (Here the meal may be eaten.)

Readings and Prayers after the Meal

Reader 1: A reading from the Old Testament:

"?I will extol you, my God, O king; And I will bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you, And I will praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise your works to another, And shall declare your mighty acts. I will meditate on the glorious splendor of your majesty, And on your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of your awesome acts, And I will declare your greatness. They shall utter the memory of your great goodness, And shall sing of your righteousness … My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, And all flesh shall bless his holy name Forever and ever?" (Ps. 145:1–7, 21). This is the word of the Lord. Response: Thanks be to God.

Reader 2: A reading from Paul's letter to the Romans:

"?Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become his counselor? Or who has first given to him And it shall be repaid to him? For of him and through him and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.?" (11:33–36). This is the word of the Lord. Response: Thanks be to God.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving

Leader: Let us offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God for his blessings on us this past year. In the prayer I will pause so that you may be able to offer sentence prayers of thanksgiving from your own experience.

Let us pray. Almighty God and Father, we most humbly offer you our prayers of praise and thanksgiving. We most especially thank you for the gifts and benefits of this past year. (Here may be added personal prayers of the people.) Help us, Lord, to be ever mindful of the needs of others, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.