Grateful
Father, mother, daughter, son,
Neighbor, friend, and friendless;
All together everyone, let grateful days be endless.
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Thanksgiving Song
Thanksgiving Eve Worship November 27, 2013
First Lutheran Church Saint James, MN
Gathering Music, Welcome
Call to Gratefulness [1]
God the Father, grateful for each hand we hold,
gathered round this table,
hear us as we give you thanks.
God the Son, grateful for this sheltered place
with light in every window,
hear us as we give you thanks.
God the Spirit, grateful for what’s understood,
and all that is forgiven,
hear us as we give you thanks.
Father, mother, daughter, son,
neighbor, friend and friendless;
All together everyone,
let grateful days be endless.
Anthem Thanksgiving Song
Thanksgiving Singers
Thanksgiving with God’s Children
Song Evangelical Lutheran Worship 689
Praise and Thanksgiving
Psalm 107:1-9
Psalm 107 is a psalm of thanksgiving, perhaps first used by groups of pilgrims who came to Jerusalem to celebrate religious festivals. These verses give thanks especially for God’s protection, help and provision in times of danger.
1 Ogive thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is good;
for God’s mercy endures for ever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim
that God redeemed them
from the hand of the foe,
3 gathering them in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
they found no path to a city
where they might dwell.
5 They were hungry and thirsty;
their spirits languished
within them.
6 Then in their trouble they cried to the Lord,
and you delivered them from their distress;
7 You led them on a straight path
to go to a city
where they might dwell.
8 Let them give thanks to you, Lord, for your steadfast love,
and your wonderful works
for all people.
9 For you satisfy the thirsty soul,
and fill the hungry with good things.
2 Corinthians 8:1-7
In a world where compassion burns out and people may limit their concern to problems in their own backyard, Paul urges the church in Corinth to support the people in Macedonia. He recounts how the Macedonians themselves gave unreservedly in times of trial and trouble.
1 We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia; 2 for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means, 4 begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints – 5 and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us, 6 so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you. 7 Now as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you – so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.
The Word of God, for the people of God.
Thanks be to God!
Colossians 3:15-17
All who have received God’s gift of life in Jesus are covered with the character of Christ. God’s people are known for grateful spirits and thankful lives.
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
The Word of God, for the people of God.
Thanks be to God!
Sermon I Saw What I Saw
Leah Nelsen
Song I Saw What I Saw
Litany of Thanksgiving
Gracious and giving God, we have bountiful wonders for which to offer you praise and thanksgiving on this day. Hear our praises for all your good gifts.
For all that you so generously provide,
we thank you, Lord.
For every day and season,
we thank you, Lord.
For holding us in your heart and your hands,
we thank you, Lord.
For sustaining us with each breath,
we thank you, Lord.
For embracing us within our faults,
we thank you, Lord.
For every chance to give and to return what is yours,
we thank you, Lord.
For the beauty of this earth,
we thank you, Lord.
For all the trials you help us bear,
we thank you, Lord.
For those you always send to walk with us on the way,
we thank you, Lord.
For the dear ones you share with us – family, friends and neighbors,
we thank you, Lord.
For inviting us to trust in you for every need,
we thank you, Lord.
For the gift of faith,
we thank you, Lord.
For the promise of eternal life,
we thank you, Lord.
For the blessings we remember before you now in silence... For these good gifts,
we thank you, Lord.
Have mercy upon us, O Lord,
give us grateful hearts.
Offering Thanksgiving Medley
Karla Beck & Sandra Sunde
Prayer
Most gracious God, you crown the year with your goodness.
We praise you that you have ever fulfilled your promise that,
while earth remains, seedtime and harvest shall not cease.
We bless you for the order and constancy of nature,
for the beauty of earth and sky and sea,
for the providence that year by year supplies our need.
We thank you for your blessing on the work of those
who plowed the soil and sowed the seed,
and have now gathered in the fruits of the earth.
And with our thanksgiving for these blessings, accept our praise,
O God, for the eternal riches of your grace in Christ our Lord;
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be all glory and honor and worship, forever and ever.
Amen.
Lord’s Prayer, Blessing
May the Lord of all creation shower his blessings and favor upon you.
Amen!
May the Lord of the harvest grace your Thanksgiving table with his presence and fill
your loved ones with peace.
Amen!
May almighty God, Father, + Son and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
Amen!
Song Evangelical Lutheran Worship 840
Now Thank We All Our God
Sending
Go with thankful hearts. Go with thankful lives.
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Sending Music
THANKS, THANKS AND THANKS to all who have a part in this evening’s service – to Leah Nelsen for preaching, to choir members, to directors, to musicians, to Liz Reckow for recording and to our welcoming ushers. We do give thanks!
THIS EVENING’S OFFERING will be given to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and the local food shelf. You are also invited to bring non-perishable food items during Advent and help fill the manger with hope and help.
6
[1] Adapted from lyrics of Thanksgiving Song, Mary Chapin Carpenter.