Call to Worship (based on Psalm 126)

L: When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
P: Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."
L: The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
P: Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like the watercourses in the Negeb. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
L: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

Call to Worship (baed on Psalm 100)

L: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.
P: Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
L: 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.
P: Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.
L: For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Come let us worship our Lord!

You may also consider the following Psalms for a call to worship: Psalms 33, 45, 66, 67, 92, 111, 136, 126.

A Thanksgiving Prayer

For the haunting rhythm of our universe,
we thank you, Creator and Lord.
For the still-reaching reachers of our world,
we thank you, Creator and Lord.

For giving us a history and a destiny,
we thank you, Redeemer and Lord.
For becoming yourself, a man among men,
we thank you, Redeemer and Lord.

For drawing us into the mystery of life and love,
we thank you, Spirit and Lord.
For touching us with stars and blades of grass,
we thank you, Spirit and Lord.
Amen.

A SIMPLE PRAYER OF THANKFULNESS 
by Keren Michael Stein

What is my prayer of thankfulness?

I thank You, Lord . . .

For having a warm place to stay.
For having enough food to eat.
For having an abundance of clothing.
For giving me friends.
For giving me kind words to say.
For peace in the knowledge I belong to you.
For loving me unconditionally.
For your patience with me.
For the assurance that I'm going to heaven.
For the courage to not look at things as they are, but instead to look at things from God's perspective.
For your assurance that I can give all my cares and burdens to you.
For always being there to hear my prayers.
For answering some I haven't even said yet.
For making my cup to runneth over with joy when there's absolutely no natural reason for it.

Thank you, Lord.  Amen.

A Child's Thanksgiving Prayer

(may be prayed by the entire congregation)

On Thanksgiving Day,
I thank God for my family and my sister.
I thank God for the rain and the sun.
I thank God for my Teddy Bear.
I thank God for my teachers and for my friends.
I thank you, God, for life and love.

On Thanksgiving Day,
I pray to God for all the poor people
who are hungry today because
they have no food, no home, no family
and no friends. They are all alone.
Only God remembers the poor.

On Thanksgiving Day,
I pray for the children who are hungry,
who have no parents, and no loving church.
I pray that God will spend Thanksgiving with them.
Please God visit me and love me;
I am not poor, but I love you too.

Closing Prayer (in unison):

How good it is to join in prayers of thanksgiving and songs of praise!  You have been good to us, gracious God!  For sunshine and rain, for the labors of all who harvest the grain, we pour out our gratitude.  You have dealt wondrously with us so that we have more than we need.  Dwell with us now that we may not only be inspired to share but also prompted to work for a more just world in which all your children have enough to eat and reasons for joy.  Amen.

 

Sending Forth

Source of all creation, all love, all true joy,
accept our prayer of sincere thankfulness.
Bless us as we go forth to minister to a dying world; and keep each of us ever thankful
for all the blessings of joy;
teach us to be content in all situations,
even amidst challenges that come our way;
through him who is the greatest gift and blessing of all, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.