Lectionary Readings
Deuteronomy 8:7–18
The Lord is bringing you into a good land; do not forget your God.
Psalm 65
Praise God, who answers prayer, sends rain, and blesses the earth.
2 Corinthians 9:6–15
God loves a cheerful giver; thanks be to God for the gift of grace.
Luke 17:11–19
Jesus heals ten people with leprosy; only one returns to give thanks.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
Our God is bringing us to a good land,
with flowing streams, valleys and hills,
wheat and barley, olive trees and honey.
We will eat our fill and bless the Lord our God,
who has given us all good gifts.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the grace that is at work in us
through the gift of our baptism—
the sign of your threefold name,
the communion of your faithful people,
the promise of your glorious realm.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
let your grace and peace grow in us,
until we gather at your heavenly throne
to give you thanks and praise forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
They say God loves a cheerful giver.
We know it is easier to be a cheerful recipient.
It is harder to imitate the generosity of God.
Let us pray to God who can help us let go.
God of the harvest, God of the gleaners,
we are quick to thank you
for the abundance of our lives.
We proclaim ourselves blessed when we have enough—
enough food on the table, enough money to spend,
enough people to share our days with,
enough space to live comfortably.
We are deeply grateful,
but we think of these blessings as our own.
We do not consider that we might
share these blessings with others.
Forgive us for our stinginess.
Forgive us for thinking of ourselves
as better than those who have less.
Teach us that the truest thanks we can give you
is to share our abundance
with other beloved children of God.
Lifting water from the font:
One of the indescribable gifts of God
is the forgiveness that never ends.
In gratitude, we will share.
In gratitude, we will praise.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Sovereign God, let your Word rule in our hearts
and your Spirit govern our lives
until at last we see the fulfillment
of your realm of justice and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Listen to the word of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:4
After the readings:
Keep these words in your heart.
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Thanks be to God.
Deuteronomy 6:6
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
To the Lord our God, Alpha and Omega,
be all glory and honor forever. Amen.
Revelation 21:6
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
Life is a gift to be received with gratitude
and a task to be pursued with courage.
People are free to seek life within the purpose of God:
to develop and protect the resources of nature
for the common welfare,
to work for justice and peace in society,
and in other ways to use their creative powers
for the fulfillment of human life.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.17
Prayers of Intercession
Our shepherd satisfies our needs;
in faith, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, we pray for the church . . .
Make us mindful of the times and seasons,
watchful for the signs of your coming,
and hopeful in the day of salvation.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, we pray for the earth . . .
Do not let the earth be plundered
or consumed by violence and greed.
Sound the alarm before it is too late.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, we pray for all nations . . .
Give leaders the wisdom to turn aside from evil;
give people the will do what is right.
Hear the cries of those who are oppressed.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, we pray for this community . . .
Look with compassion upon our ruined cities,
abandoned homes, and unfruitful farms.
Be our refuge and dwelling place once again.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, we pray for loved ones . . .
Show mercy to those who lift their eyes to you;
deliver them from sickness, suffering, and shame;
let those who call upon your name be saved.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Loving shepherd, lead and guide us—
in green pastures and by still waters,
in right paths and through dark valleys,
until we feast with you in glory
and dwell in your house forever;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Psalm 23
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,
to present yourselves as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
Romans 12:1
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
God of the harvest,
you are continually planting the seeds of your love
in our world and in our lives.
As we bring our gifts to you,
may they be seeds of your grace, peace, and hope,
planted deeply in our community. Amen.
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
When your people did what was evil in your sight,
you sent prophets, like Deborah and Zephaniah,
to pronounce judgment and proclaim deliverance.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Jesus preached the parables of your kingdom,
calling us to be faithful with the gifts entrusted to us,
so that we might enter into your presence with joy.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Keep us watchful and awake, as children of light,
encouraging one another and building up your church
while we await the coming of your great and glorious day.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
At the communion table:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God,
creator and ruler of the universe,
for you have satisfied our souls
with this feast of your grace.
Keep us faithful in your service
until your realm of glory comes;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
The blessing of the holy, triune God,
who was and is and is to come—
first and last,
beginning and end,
Alpha and Omega—
be with you now and always. Alleluia!
Revelation 1:8
Go in peace to love the Lord your God
with heart and soul and mind and strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself. Amen.
Mark 12:29–31
“Sower at Sunset”
Vincent van Gogh, 1888
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Let Us Build a House (OE) TWO OAKS GTG 301
- Come, Ye Thankful People, Come (OE) ST. GEORGE’S WINDSOR GTG 367, PH 551
- Sing to God, with Joy and Gladness (E) GLENDON GTG 657
- Praise Our God Above (O) XUAN PING STB 165
WORD
- Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken (O) AUSTRIAN HYMN GTG 81, PH 446
- Ten Lepers Facing Constant Scorn (G) RADIANT CITY GTG 179
- Give Thanks, O Christian People (E) ES FLOG EIN KLEINS WALDVÖGELEIN GTG 644, PH 552
- The Best of Gifts (E) MARJORIE Rejoice in God, K. Lee Scott, MSM
EUCHARIST
- Rain Down (OE) RAIN DOWN GTG 48
- Come to the Table (OE) COME TO THE TABLE GTG 508
- All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly (OE) HOLY MANNA GTG 509
- In Remembrance of Me (OG) RED GTG 521
SENDING
- Let All Things Now Living (O) ASH GROVE GTG 37, PH 554
- Now Thank We All Our God (EG) NUN DANKET ALLE GOTT GTG 643, PH 555
- Thankful Hearts and Voices Raise (G) THANKFUL HEARTS GTG 648
- Praise and Thanksgiving Let Everyone Bring (E) LOBET UND PREISET CH4 170
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 65
Metrical
- To Bless the Earth [CHRISTUS, DER IST MEIN LEBEN]; GTG 38, PH 200
- The Earth Is Yours, O God [CARLISLE]; PAS 65A
- Every Heart Its Tribute Pays [ST. GEORGE’S WINDSOR]; PAS 65E, LUYH 388
- Praise Is Your Right [GENEVAN 65]; PAS 65B, LUYH 545, PH 201
- To You, O God, Great Praise Is Due [LMD]; SGP 91
Responsorial
- Your Paths Overflow with Plenty; PAS 65C
- Gracias, Señor / We Give You Thanks; PAS 65C (alt. refrain), SSS 491–492
- Thanks Be to God [SLANE]; PP 112
- Let the Valleys Shout for Joy and Sing [BIRMINGHAM]; HTP2 20
Organ Music
- “Festival Partita on ‘Now Thank We All Our God,’” NUN DANKET ALLE GOTT, John Behnke, CON (ME)
- “Nun danket alle Gott,” BWV 657, J. S. Bach, public domain (M)
- “Let All Things Now Living,” THE ASH GROVE, Augsburg Organ Library: November, Frank Stoldt, AF (ME)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “For the Beauty of the Earth,” John Rutter, HIN, SATB, pno (M)
- “All Good Gifts,” David Schwoebel, HIN, SATB, keybd (M)
- “Grace,” Mark Hayes, BP, SATB, pno, opt orch (E)
- “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” arr. Mack Wilberg, OUP, SSAATTBB, org (A)
- “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” arr. Victor Johnson, CGA, SATB, pno (ME)
- “Bright Canaan,” arr. Robert Shaw and Alice Parker, Lawson-Gould, SATB (M)
Handbell Music
- “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken,” Jason W. Krug, 3–5 oct, opt 3–5 oct hc, BP, HB694, Level 3-
- “In Remembrance,” Bill Ingram, 3–5 oct, ROP, RO3286, Level 2
- “Now Thank We All Our God with Sing to the Lord of Harvest,” Darek Hakes, 3–5 oct, HOPE, 2805, Level 2
Art
- Sower at Sunset, Vincent van Gogh, Otterlo, the Netherlands, 1888 (VDL)
- Haymaking, Pieter Bruegel, Prague, 1565 (VDL)
- Secret of the Seed, Jan Richardson (JR)
- Ten Lepers, Peter Koenig, United Kingdom, 1972 (VDL)
