Prayers of Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving from Advent!

Here are some prayers to share, say, or reflect on today (and in future!).

1

Gracious and loving God, source of every good gift, in the waters of baptism you name us and claim us and make us your very own. Thank you for the gift of faith, and for your relentless love that will not let us go no matter what. Help us to count our many blessings, that we may live lives of praise and thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

2

“Thank you God delicious food that comes from your bounty, that will feed our bodies and give us the energy we need to be more kind and more compassionate.

Thank you for the moon that tugs on the tides and creates the weather, and for the rain that gives the plants water to drink.

Thank you for the earth and all the nutrients in the soil, and all the little bugs that we can’t see that help bring those nutrients to the plants so they can eat.

Thank you for the sun that shines down rays of light onto all the plants so they can grow and be healthy and give us food to eat.

Thank you to all the hands that touched this food. Thank you to the farmers who grew the food, and to the people who work in the store where we buy the food. And thank you those who prepared this meal for us today.”

3

Thank you God for sun and rain

That makes all things grow.

Thank you for the farmers

That work to reap and sow.

Thank you for the mums and dads

That make us lovely food.

Thank you God for everything

Your world is so wonderful.

4

Dear God, Thank you for the clouds in the sky and the grass beneath my feet. Thank you for the community that shelters me from the cold and the food in my stomach that nourishes my body. Thank you for the clothes on my back and the knowledge in my head. Most of all God thank you for your everlasting love, guidance, and understanding. Thank you dear God, thank you.

5

Psalm 145:1-19

I will extol you, my God and King,

    and bless your name forever and ever. 

Every day I will bless you,

    and praise your name forever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

    God’s greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall laud your works to another,

    and shall declare your mighty acts.

On the glorious splendor of your majesty,

    and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,

    and I will declare your greatness.

They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,

    and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and merciful,

    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

The Lord is good to all,

    and God’s compassion is over all that God has made.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,

    and all your faithful shall bless you.

They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,

    and tell of your power,

to make known to all people your mighty deeds,

    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

    and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

God is faithful in God’s words,

    and gracious in all God’s deeds.

The Lord upholds all who are falling,

    and raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you,

    and you give them their food in due season.

You open your hand,

    satisfying the desire of every living thing.

God  is just in all God’s ways,

    and kind in all God’s doings.

The Lord is near to all who call on the Lord,

    to all who call on God in truth.