Thanksgiving Worship Liturgy

Image from Illustrated Children’s Ministry, see below to access a copy for use at home.

Image from Illustrated Children’s Ministry, see below to access a copy for use at home.

We have provided this liturgy for you to use on your own, with your family, or with whomever you may gather today. Perhaps you are gathering in person, or perhaps you chose not to gather with others yet may be able to connect briefly online in some way. Whatever your day looks like, we hope that you might take this moment to remember, even as we face many challenges, that we are loved by a great and good God, the Giver of life and hope, and are connected through the mystery and boundless reach of the Holy Spirit.

Included below is the liturgy, a video, songs, and even a coloring activity and opportunity for giving. May God’s goodness fill you with gratitude as you worship and give thanks.

LITURGY

(You may choose to have words in bold said by all)

OPENING WORD

Lord God, Giver of life, breath and spirit, today, we gather around the table. We remember how you gathered together with your friends and disciples around the table, 
We remember, we are grateful!

We remember how you shared in the bread and wine and most importantly your life.
We remember, we are grateful! 

Much has been disrupted in our lives this year, yet we are grateful. We are grateful for your unfailing love and faithfulness, 
We remember, we are grateful! 

And we ask that this beautiful gift of unfailing love and faithfulness might abide in, and through, and with us, in the name of Jesus Christ, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. 
Amen

SCRIPTURE 
Psalm 9:1 - "I will thank you, God, with all my heart. I will talk about all of your wonderful acts.”

HMYN - Play and/or Sing!

“For the Beauty of the Earth”
Suggested link for listening.

For the beauty of the earth, For the glory of the skies, 
For the love which from our birth, Over and around us lies. 
Lord of all, to Thee we raise, 
This our hymn of grateful praise. 

For the beauty of each hour, Of the day and of the night, 
Hill and vale, and tree and flower, Sun and moon, and stars of light. 
Lord of all, to Thee we raise, 
This our hymn of grateful praise. 

For yourself, best gift divine, To the world so freely giv’n
For your love beyond all time, Peace on earth and joy in heav’n
Lord of all, to Thee we raise, 
This our hymn of grateful praise. 

PSALM 100
A Psalm of Thanksgiving

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
    Worship the Lord with gladness.
    Come before him, singing with joy.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
    He made us, and we are his.
    We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
    go into his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good.
    His unfailing love continues forever,
    and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

VIDEO

We asked you, HCC family and friends, to share your response to the sentence, “This year I am grateful for…” There is much this year that has felt challenging, sad, confusing, frustrating, yet as we see all over Scripture, the hard realities of life never come without gifts and graces, moments and realties for which we can give thanks and praise. The following video is a celebration of gratitude. 

READ

Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, encouraging them to give thanks for “everything,” just in case we were getting choosey about what to give thanks for, Paul suggests we try everything…

"Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Ephesians 5:19-20

SHARE THANKS

Share what you are grateful for. Write them down and call a friend to share, or share with those whom you are gathered with. Don’t feel like you have to be choosey, just give thanks to God for anything, for everything! You might want to use the coloring activity included below.

CLOSING PRAYER
(you might choose to use this prayer as your blessing before your Thanksgiving meal together)

God of all goodness, we give you praise and thanks for all the blessings of this life

We are grateful for:

the gift of food,
and the opportunity we have to feed others in your name;

the blessing of shelter,
and the challenge before us to care for the homeless, refuge, and stranger;

the love of friends and family,
and your call to love those who are unloved, lost, or alone;

the fellowship of the church, 
and the presence of Christ in the lives of all humanity; brothers and sisters. 

You have given us much, Holy Lord, and you expect much of us.
Help us to accept your blessings and your challenges with gratitude, 
and may we find that through your grace,
blessings become challenges 
and challenges become blessings.

Amen. 

OPPORTUNITY FOR GIVING

This November, we are offering our thanksgiving support to Covenant World Relief and Development. CWRD is the Evangelical Covenant Church’s response to human suffering and injustice in the world. Gifts can be made online here. Checks dropped off at church must be designated by clearly marking that they are for CWRD. 


COLORING ACTIVITY

Click the image to download and print the pages.

Did you know…

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY
is designated as the Friday following Thanksgiving? This is a day to recognizes the native American heritage, history and contributions. If you would like to learn more about Native Americans and Indigenous People of North America here are a few resources: