This service is full of worshiper participation, including lay readers, instrumentalists, lots of congregational singing, and the opportunity for congregants to write their own prayers of thanksgiving. Each bulletin includes one or two slips of paper printed with the words “I am thankful for . . .” Worshipers are invited to complete the sentence. These slips are gathered as a second offering, organized to avoid too much duplication, and then brought to the pastor, who incorporates them into the congregational prayer.
Prelude: A Thanksgiving Prelude for Flute and Organ (Callahan)
[During the prelude, please write something for which you are thankful on the slips of paper provided. These will be collected during the offering and become part of our Thanksgiving Prayer later in the service.]
Hymn: “We Praise You, O God” PsH 237, CH 68, TH 97
“Sing a New Song to God” SNC 33
Call to Worship: Psalm 100 (The Worship Sourcebook 1.2.15)
Hymn of Praise: “Let All Things Now Living” PsH 453, PH 554, TH 125
“Cantemos al Senor/O Sing unto the Lord” SNC 40
Prayer of Adoration: The Worship Sourcebook C.1.4.2
We Receive God’s Greeting and Greet One Another
Hymn: “For the Beauty of the Earth” PsH 432:1, CH 182/793, PH 473, SFL 89, SWM 54, TH 116
Moment for reflecting on individuals for whom you are thankful
Hymn: “For the Beauty of the Earth” PsH 432:3, 4
Children’s Time
Offerings: Including food brought by the congregants and the slips of paper with their prayers.
Offertory: “Give Thanks” (Bock) trombone duet
Poem: “Radical Gratitude” (Mary Jo Leddy, from Radical Gratitude, Orbis Books, 2002)
Song: “In the Lord I’ll Be Ever Thankful” SNC 220
Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 136:1-3, 26
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.
Hymn: “Give Thanks to God, for Good Is He” PsH 182
New Testament Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Message: “Radical Gratitude”
Song of Response: “My Tribute” Hymns for the Family of God 365
Psalm 136: “We Give Thanks unto You” SNC 26
Thanksgiving Prayers
Song of Response: “Praise and Thanksgiving” PsH 631, SFL 83, SWM 43
God’s Blessing
Hymn: “Now Thank We All Our God” PsH 454, CH 788, PH 555, SFL 33, SNC 228, SWM 230, TH 98
Postlude: “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (Burkhardt)