MIDLAND PARK CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH

THANKSGIVING DAY SERVICE

November 24, 2016 ~ 10:00 AM

Welcome to Midland Park Christian Reformed Church. On this day we gather to praise God for the abundance of his blessings. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his holy name (Psalm 100:4). We are grateful for all visitors who have joined us today.

Prelude:

Variations on “Let All Things Now Living” Schulz

Welcome and Opening Prayer

Choral Call to Worship: Senior Choir

Come with Glad Thanksgiving Johann Cruger

*Opening Hymn of Thanksgiving: PH 453

Let All Things Now Living

*The Lord’s Greeting

*Song of Praise: CH 171

Come into His Presence

LITANY OF THANKSGIVING

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, Father, for your beautiful creation.

For human life;
for talking and moving and thinking together;
for common hopes and hardships shared from birth until our dying;

Thank you, Father, for each other.

For work to do and strength to work;
for the comradeship of labor;
for exchanges of good humor and encouragement;

Thank you, Father, for teaching us to develop our gifts.

For marriage;
for the mystery and joy of flesh made one;
for mutual forgiveness and burdens shared;
for secrets kept in love;

Thank you, Father, for leading us to our spouses.

For family;
for living together and eating together;
for family amusements and family pleasures;

Thank you, Father, for the ones we love.

For children;
for their energy and curiosity;
for their brave play and startling frankness;
for their sudden sympathies;

Thank you, Father, for their childlike faith.

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, Father, for strong bodies and strong ideals.

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, Father, for being there with us every step of the way.

For your help in times of doubt and sorrow;
for healing our diseases;
for preserving us in temptation and danger;

Thank you, Father, for comforting us with your Holy Spirit.

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;

Thank-you, Father, for our church here in Midland Park.

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;

Thank-you, Father, for showing us your Spirit at work among us.

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 and Triune God, for all your goodness to us.

Give thanks to the Lord, who is good.

God’s love is everlasting.

Ministry of Music: Senior Choir

Now Thank We All Our God (A Hymn Concertato) arr. Hal Hopson

Congregation joins in on verse 3:

All praise and thanks to God, the Father now be given,

The Son, and him who reigns with them in highest heaven.

The one eternal God, whom heaven and earth adore;

For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

“Give thanks to the Lord…tell of all His wonderful acts”. (Psalm 105:1-2)

Personal Testimonies of God’s Blessings

*Hymn of Preparation: PH 456

God, We Sing Your Glorious Praises

Prayer for the Spirit’s Leading

Scripture Reading: I Chronicles 16: 1-16 (p. 649)

MEDITATION:

Long, Long Ago in a Place Far Away…Thanksgiving Day

*Song of Response: PH 237

We Praise You, O God

Pastoral Prayer

Offering: Local Food Banks

(As the offering is received, please sign the Friendship Booklet)

Offertory:

Thanks Be to Thee Handel

Offertory Prayer

*Benediction

*Doxology: PH 637

Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

*Postlude: Voluntary on “We Gather Together” Young

*Please stand as you are able

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Minister: Pastor Rod Gorter

Organist: Carolyn Steen

Music: Senior Choir – Mark Schipper, director

Carolyn Steen, accompanist

Trumpet: Chuck D’Orazio

Litany: Corey Abma

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