Beginning in Thanks to God

It is Thanksgiving weekend for us in Canada. It is good to be thanks-filled as a general rule. As people of faith it is even better to aim our thanks to God. It is a good practice to trace the origin of the things we are thankful for. Spend a minute finish this sentence as many times as you can. Make this our starting prayer this today:

God, we give thanks to you for ____________.

Thanksgiving Invocation prayer

Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season, and for the labours of those who harvest them. Make us faithful stewards of your great bounty, in the provision for our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Call to Worship – Based on Psalm 90

In every generation, the people of God have been
blessed to find their home and resting place in God!
We gather to worship and praise the God of all people.

All creation since time began, have been blessed
to find that the place of their birth is their Creator’s hands.
We gather to worship the God of all creation.

We gather to worship and praise our God, and to
ask God to fill us with the joy of your unfailing love.
May the favour and blessing of God be upon us this day. Amen. (Joan Stott)

Take a minute to be still and silent before this God of blessing. Then move on in song.

Song

Behold the Banquet of Christ
As we gather at your table
As we listen to your word
Help us know oh God your presence
Let our hearts and minds be stirred
Nourish us with sacred story
Till we claim it as our own
Teach us through this holy banquet
How to make loves victory known

Turn our worship into witness
In the sacrament of life
Send us forth to love and serve you
Bringing peace where there is strife
Give us Christ your great compassion
To forgive as you forgave
May we still behold your image
In this world you died to save

Behold, behold the banquet of Christ!
The banquet of Christ

Grant us vision gracious Spirit
Seeking guests to share that feast
Where triumphant love will welcome
Those who had been last and least
There no more will envy blind us
Nor will pride our peace destroy
As we join with saints and angels
To repeat the sounding joy

Behold, behold the banquet of Christ!
The banquet of Christ

Offering

Take a few minutes, while listening through this song, to consider again how God has been good to you. Think beyond just this week. Think about your whole life… Hasn’t God been gracious and kind? In what ways? All good and perfect gifts come from the Father. This should spur us to give back in gracious thanksgiving. God bless you as you give.

Kids Activity (Good for adults too!)

Hey Kids! We have spent some time in this service saying thank you to God who gives us good gifts. It is also good to say thank you to people. Have you ever received a thank you card? It feels really good to have someone take the time to write you a card saying thank you for something you gave them or did. As part of practicing thanksgiving take some time to make a thank you card. You can fold a piece of blank paper in half, draw some pictures, have your adult help you write out your words if you need, and then send it in the mail! This is a great activity for adults to do too! Who can you say thank you to today?

Sermon – Psalm 92

Word of Witness

Song of Response

Great is Thy Faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness oh God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with thee
Thou changest not thy compassions they fail not
As thou hast been thou forever wilt be

Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me

Summer, and winter, and springing, and harvest
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love

Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me

Pardon for sin, and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside

Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me

Benediction

As you go from here, remember the promise of God (from Psalm 91:14-15):

“I will rescue those who love me.

I will protect those who trust my name.

When they call on me, I will answer;

I will be with them in trouble.

I will rescue them and honour them.”

So go from here with joy, confident that the love and mercy of God goes with you.

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise Him above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
AMEN