Savoring God's Good Gifts: a Thanksgiving Service

Rev. Bob Drenten

ORDER OF WORSHIP

Prelude
Welcome
Greeting
Call to Worship —Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name!
Songs of Thanksgiving
“Give Thanks”
“For the Beauty of the Earth”
Savoring What’s Around Us: “The Beauty of the Earth”
Scripture Reading: Psalm 33
Meditation
Prayer
“For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies. Christ, our Lord, to you we raise this, our hymn of grateful praise.” For the rain, the harvest, the flowers, the mountains, the birds, the leaves; for paychecks, clothing, shelter,
and tasty food, Lord, we say thank you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
For the Beauty of the Earth Slideshow
Savoring Moments: “The Wonder of Each Hour”
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:8–20
Meditation
Prayer
“For the wonder of each hour of the day and of the night, . . . Christ, our Lord, to you we raise this, our hymn of grateful praise.” We thank you for the experiences you’ve given us over the past year. Some have brought us joy. Some have opened our eyes to a new dimension of life. Some have been tough, but through them we have experienced your care— we learned something; we’ve grown. Some of these moments have quietly nurtured us; they’ve been like daily bread to us.
Thank you, Lord, for all these moments—for being present with us, speaking, and providing each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Savoring Loved Ones: “The Joy of Human Love”
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:15–23
Meditation
Prayer
“For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild,
Christ, our Lord, to you we raise this, our hymn of grateful praise.”
Lord, we thank you for each one mentioned, for your work in their lives, and for the blessing they’ve been to us. Thank you for each one in this church. Help us to see in each other your provision and your love.
Amen.
Response
“Now Thank We All Our God”
Savoring Christ: “Best Gift Divine”
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:6–15
Meditation
Prayer
“For yourself, best gift divine, to the world so freely given, agent of God’s grand design: peace on earth and joy in heaven. Christ, our Lord, to you we raise this, our hymn of grateful praise.”
Lord, we’ve thanked you for blessings in the world around us and for the richness of moments and experiences. We’ve thanked you for the blessing of people—all wonderful gifts. But we’ve reserved our most heartfelt gratitude for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. Words cannot fully express our thanks. We love you, Lord.
Amen.
Offering Our Thanks
Invite everyone who is able to bring forward expressions of their thanks, both financial gifts and leaves. Those who wish to remain seated may send their gifts up with someone else.
Closing Prayer
Song of Thanksgiving
“Ten Thousand Reasons”
Blessing
Doxology
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Moment of Silence