Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with
singing!
For all the times we laughed till our
sides ached;
for all the times we were troubled,
and friends we didn't even know
we had sprang up from nowhere
and ministered to us;
for all the times we could have chosen
evil over good, but didn't;
for all the times we could have been
hurt, but weren't;
for all the times we could have died
suddenly and unprepared, but
didn't;
and for what would have awaited us
even if we did;
O Lord, we thank you.
Know that the Lord is God!
It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
For the sheer wonder of our creation,
preservation, and redemption;
for the privilege of prayer, the gift of
the Spirit, and the gifts of the
Spirit;
for the everlasting arms beneath us,
the watchful eye above us,
the friends around us,
and the trust within us;
O Lord, we thank you.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise! Give thanks to him, bless his name!
For our churches, and all things good
and godly they have done and
been;
for all their saints whom we have laid
to rest,
and for their little children who shall
one day lay our bodies to rest and
carry on in our stead;
O Lord, we thank you.
For the Lord is good.
For seedtime and harvest and food
enough;
for every good night's sleep and
every good day's work,
every good friend and every grand
sunset;
for warm memories of the past, and
the promise of an eternal
tomorrow;
for eyes to see beauty,
ears to hear a bird's songs,
hands to hold someone else's hands,
and for someone else's hands to hold;
O Lord, we thank you.
His steadfast love endures for ever and his faithfulness to all generations.
For all persons whose love for us is
unconditional,
and in whose presence we can drop
all pretense, be ourselves, and
know that we shall be accepted;
for the one who calls us long distance,
and the one who calls us darling,
and the one who calls us Dad or
Mom,
and for the one who shall one day
call us into eternity;
O Lord, we thank you.
What shall I render unto the Lord for all his bounty unto me?
I will offer unto him the sacrifice of
thanksgiving. Amen.
Scripture in this prayer is from Psalm 100, Revised Standard Version.