A Thanksgiving Litany

A Thanksgiving Litany

By Dr. Blair Thompson-White

When I pause and reflect on all that God is doing in and through our congregation, I can't help but say, "Glory be!" and give God thanks for the privilege of serving as your pastor.

I hope you will take a few minutes this week of Thanksgiving to give God thanks for our church and pray for our people and ministries, that we may continue to be faithful in our life together and our witness of God's grace and love in the world. 

Below is a prayer that touched my heart from the Common Prayer book. May you and your family and friends feel God's presence and grace surrounding you in love.

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Give thanks to the Lord who is good.

God’s love is everlasting.

Come, let us praise God joyfully.

Let us come to God with thanksgiving.

For the good world;

for things great and small,

beautiful and awesome;

for seen and unseen splendors;

Thank you, God.

For human life;

for talking and moving and thinking together;

for common hopes and hardships shared from birth until our dying;

Thank you, God.

For work to do and strength to work;

for the comradeship of labor;

for exchanges of good humor and encouragement;

Thank you, God.

For marriage;

for the mystery and joy of flesh made one;

for mutual forgiveness and burdens shared;

for confidences kept in love;

Thank you, God.

For family;

for living together and eating together;

for family amusements and family pleasures;

Thank you, God.

For children;

for their energy and curiosity;

for their brave play and startling frankness;

for their sudden sympathies;

Thank you, God.

For the young;

for their high hopes;

for their irreverence toward worn-out values;

for their search for freedom;

for their solemn vows;

Thank you, God.

For growing up and growing old;

for wisdom deepened by experience;

for rest in leisure;

and for time made precious by its passing;

Thank you, God.

For your help in times of doubt and sorrow;

for healing our diseases;

for preserving us in temptation and danger;

Thank you, God.

For the church into which we have been called;

for the good news we receive by Word and Sacrament;

for our life together in the Lord;

We praise you, God.

For your Holy Spirit,

who guides our steps and brings us gifts of faith and love;

who prays in us and prompts our grateful worship;

We praise you, God.

Above all, O God, for your Son Jesus Christ,

who lived and died and lives again for our salvation;

for our hope in him;

and for the joy of serving him;

We thank and praise you, Eternal God,

for your everlasting love. Amen. 

~ from the Book of Common Worship, 1993.