Grateful Praise
Growing up in my family, we would spend each Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve at my Grammy’s house with all of my uncles, aunts, and cousins on my mom’s side. On Christmas Eve, we all crammed in 3 or 4 pews at the local Baptist church for the candlelight service, but on Thanksgiving, we struggled to develop any sort of spiritual traditions.
There was the traditional watching of the Lions football game (which we watched on mute during the meal), and then taking a break until the start of the Cowboys game (I didn’t even really know there was a big parade until much later) to dig into all the pies.
A couple of times my older cousins wrote out verses about being thankful on cards at each place and we read them before eating, but for whatever reason that never caught on.
So, a few years ago when my Mom was hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the first, Bonnie and I began to put together the liturgy below as a way to pray together as a family and give thanks on Thanksgiving. Here are a few things we learned:
1. Don’t let the food get cold
The first year we waited until the food was all ready and on the table to pray and it was a disaster. The kids got antsy and kept grabbing food. The adults kept grabbing the food. Then the food we’d been preparing all day got cold. We couldn’t really enter into the prayer because we just wanted to get to the feast.
The next year we took a break about an hour before we ate in a different room where the kids could hang out on the floor and we could pray without feeling rushed.
The 10-15 minute service we developed (based on the Book of Common Prayer’s noonday service with the additional of a few other prayers specifically for Thanksgiving) can be shortened or lengthened to fit the number of kids and level of chaos of any given year.
2. Involve everyone
Praying through a liturgy like the one below let’s everyone participate in a way that doesn’t put anyone on the spot. Everyone can read things in unison. Different people can take turns reading prayers or Scriptures. If your family is comfortable praying spontaneously, you can do that. But if you’re not, or if you need help getting started, the liturgy can help lead you into it.
3. Give thanks for specific provisions from the past year
For a few years, there was a new baby at each Thanksgiving somewhere in our family. So we added a collect giving thanks for this new life that came to us that year. We’ve celebrated graduations and new jobs. We’ve celebrated new in-laws as siblings have gotten married. We’ve celebrated health situations where there’s been healing. This year we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving in a new house that the Lord provided for us.
Sometimes we remember those who have passed away, or who are not with us for others reasons. Or we remember real challenges and griefs that we are going through. In the midst of these, we can still believe in God’s faithfulness, pray for one another, and wait on the Lord to provide.
Giving thanks for these specific provisions of the Lord and asking for his provision in areas of need helps us remember his goodness year after year. It reminds us to tell the stories of God’s activity in our lives. “Wasn’t it last year that God…” “Remember last year when we needed…and now look what God has done!”
4. Remember those who don’t have, and do something to serve them
As we give thanks for what God has done in our lives, we remember God’s love for all people—especially the poor and lonely. Pray for them, and then do something to serve them. A lot of families do something to serve during the holidays, but what would it look like to live a year around lifestyle of generosity for others because of God’s generosity toward us?
Yes, we celebrate from a heart thanksgiving through abundance and enjoying good things. But we also sacrifice from a heart of thanksgiving—knowing that when we give ourselves, our money, and our things to others, that it is the Lord that provides what we need.
Thanksgiving Noon Day Prayer Service
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Leader: O God, make speed to save us.
People: O Lord, make haste to help us.
All together: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
A hymn or song may be sung.
The following Psalm can be said in unison, or alternating between men and women with each verse, or alternating before and after the asterisk.
Psalm 65
1You are to be praised, O God, in Zion; *
to you shall vows be performed in Jerusalem.
2To you that hear prayer shall all flesh come, *
because of their transgressions.
3Our sins are stronger than we are, *
but you will blot them out.
4Happy are they whom you choose
and draw to your courts to dwell there! *
they will be satisfied by the beauty of your house,
by the holiness of your temple.
5Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness,
O God of our salvation, *
O Hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the seas that are far away.
6You make fast the mountains by your power; *
they are girded about with might.
7You still the roaring of the seas, *
the roaring of their waves,
and the clamor of the peoples.
8Those who dwell at the ends of the earth will tremble at your marvelous signs; *
you make the dawn and the dusk to sing for joy.
9You visit the earth and water it abundantly;
you make it very plenteous; *
the river of God is full of water.
10You prepare the grain, *
for so you provide for the earth.
11You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; *
with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase.
12You crown the year with your goodness, *
and your paths overflow with plenty.
13May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing, *
and the hills be clothed with joy.
14May the meadows cover themselves with flocks,
and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; *
let them shout for joy and sing.
All together: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
One or more of the following, or some other suitable passage of Scripture is read.
Deuteronomy 8: 1-3, 6-10, 17-20
Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
6 Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; 8 a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; 9 a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.
10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.
17 You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.
19 If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.20 Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.
Reader The word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
James 1:17-18, 21-27
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Reader The word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Matthew 6:25-33
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Reader The word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
A meditation, thought, remembrance, or some other word may be offered here.
A Litany of Thanksgiving
Leader Let us give thanks to God our Father for all his gifts so freely bestowed upon us.
Leader For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky and sea.
People We thank you, Lord.
Leader For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ,
People We thank you, Lord.
Leader For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our friends,
People We thank you, Lord.
Leader For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve,
People We thank you, Lord.
Leader For health and strength to work, and leisure to rest and play,
People We thank you, Lord.
Leader For the brave and courageous, who are patient in suffering and faithful in adversity,
People We thank you, Lord.
Leader For all valiant seekers after truth, liberty, and justice,
People We thank you, Lord.
Leader For the communion of saints, in all times and places,
People We thank you, Lord.
Leader Above all, we give you thanks for the great mercies and promises given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord;
People To him be praise and glory, with you, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. All Amen.
The Prayers
Leader Lord, have mercy.
People Christ, have mercy.
Leader Lord, have mercy.
All together.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our tresspasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Leader Lord, hear our prayer;
People And let our cry come to you.
Leader Let us pray.
The leader or others then pray one or more of the following prayers or other suitable prayers.
For the Gift of a Child
Heavenly Father, you sent; your own Son into this world. We thank you for the life of this child, N., entrusted to our care. Help us to remember that we are all your children, and so to love and nurture N., that N. may attain to that full stature intended for N. in your eternal kingdom; for the sake of your dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Families
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who sets the solitary in families: We commend to your continual care the homes in which your people dwell. Put far from them, we ask you, every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness. Knit together in constant affection those who, in holy wedlock, have been made one flesh. Turn the hearts of the parents to the children, and the hearts of the children to the parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among us all, that we may evermore be kindly affectioned one to another; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Those Who Are Sick
O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to your servant N. the help of your power, that his sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Those Who Have Been Restored to Health
Almighty God and heavenly Father, we give you humble thanks because you have been graciously pleased to deliver from sickness your servant N., in whose behalf we bless and praise your Name. Grant, O gracious Father, that through your help, N., may live in this world according to your will, and also be partaker of everlasting glory in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the Poor and the Neglected
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Spontaneous prayers of thanksgiving or need may be offered.
Closing Prayer
Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Leader Let us bless the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.