L: For growing up and growing old; for wisdom deepened by experience; for rest in leisure; and for time made precious by its passing:
P: Thank you, God.
L: For the things that we sometimes think are products of our own efforts; for food and clothes; for homes and cars; for the many conveniences that we enjoy:
P: Thank you, God.
L: For your help, O God, in times of doubt and sorrow; for healing our diseases; for preserving us in temptation and danger:
P: Thank you, God.
L: For your guidance and strength in times of challenge; for giving us your vision of wholeness, freedom and peace for all people:
P: Thank you, God.
L: For the Church into which we have been called; for the good news we receive by Word and Sacrament; for our life together in Jesus Christ:
P: Thank you, God.
L: For your Holy Spirit, who guides our steps and brings us gifts of faith and love; who prompts our grateful worship:
P: Thank you, God.
L: For the special blessings of our lives: P: (as individuals name these blessings, the congregation will respond: “Thank you, God.”)
L: 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:
P: We thank you, O God.
L: People of God, rejoice and give thanks! For God is very good!
P: Thank you, God, for your everlasting love! Thank you for giving us grateful hearts. Thank you for being our God! Amen!
SCATTERING HYMN “Let All Things Now Living” Hymnal #717
BENEDICTION
ORGAN POSTLUDE “Trumpet Voluntary” Young
* * * * * * *
Thank you to the participants in this evening’s service:
All of you for coming
Members of the choirs of both churches
Rev. Carol Asher, interim Pastor,
Community Thanksgiving Service
November 22, 2011 7:00 PM
Order of Worship for Thanksgiving
TIME FOR CENTERING (that time between getting here and being here)
Thanksgiving proclamation by Abraham Lincoln, 1863
“It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens in every part of the
ORGAN PRELUDE “Land of Rest
WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP (responsively):
L: We dwell in a land God has loaned to us. Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth.
P: We come with gladness to worship God. We enter God’s presence with joyous song.
L: The first fruits of our labor belong to God. Rejoice in the privilege of sharing God’s bounty.
P: God has made us, and we belong to God. We are the sheep of God’s pasture.
L: The God of peace greets us in this time of worship. Enter with thanksgiving and heartfelt praise.
P: We thank God for steadfast love to sustain us. We praise God for faithfulness to all generations.
*GATHERING HYMN “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come” Hymnal #718
*UNISON PRAYER:
Our baskets are full, gracious God, with the bounty you have provided. Our hearts are full of thanksgiving and praise. We are eager to meet you here, to learn from you, to be changed by you, to become more fully the people you intend for us to be. Help us to be aware of your blessings. Show us how to do the work you have planned for us. Equip us as your faithful stewards. Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC “Give Thanks And Praise” Handel/Kihlken
LESSON FROM THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES
Deuteronomy 26 (selected verses)
LESSON FROM THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE Luke 17:11-19
REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD “Seeds of Thankfulness”
OFFERING
GATHERING OF GIFTS
(All tonight’s offerings will be given to the local food pantry, along with the many food items collected )
OFFERTORY “Give Thanks” Smith
*OFFERING RESPONSE (by all the people)
“We give thee but thine own, whate’er the gift may be,
All that we have is thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from thee.”
*DEDICATION PRAYER
LITANY OF THANKSGIVING
L: People of God, rejoice and give thanks! For God is good and faithful!
P: Yes! We ARE people of God! And we do give thanks and praise, for God's love is forever!
L: For the good world; for things great and small, beautiful and awesome; for seen and unseen splendors:
P: Thank you, God.
L: For human life; for talking and moving and thinking together; for common hopes and hardships shared from birth until our dying:
P: Thank you, God.
L: For work to do and strength to work; for the comradeship of labor; for exchanges of good humor and encouragement:
P: Thank you, God.
L: For family; for living together and eating together; for family amusements and pleasures; for mutual forgiveness and burdens shared:
P: Thank you, God.
L: For the honesty and encouragement and joy of true friendships:
P: Thank you, God.
L: For children; for their energy and curiosity; for their brave play and their startling frankness; for their sudden sympathies:
P: Thank you, God.
L: For the young; for their high hopes; for their irreverence toward worn-out values; their search for freedom; for their solemn vows:
P: Thank you, God.