November 28, 2024 – Thanksgiving Day

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

As we give thanks for the ways God has provided for our needs,
may we acknowledge the times we have considered our needs more important than those of others.
Restore us, Lord, in our worship and in our daily lives,
that we might embody your compassion and commitment to justice.

Prayer of the Day

God who gathers us,
as we speak of gratitude today,
we also recognize the whole history
of this national holiday.
We hear a story
of partnerships formed and meals shared,
but we also hear a story
of violence perpetrated,
resources stolen,
and trauma endured.
Matthew’s Gospel tells us
to consider the birds and the lilies;
may we also consider the indigenous persons
who have cared for the birds
and the lilies on this land.
Guide us in engaging our own histories,
that an honest remembering might lead us
to work for a more just present and future. Amen.

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:
It is only by the power of God
that we are able to stand against evil.

Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.

O God, you are our creator and redeemer.
You blessed the earth and called it good.
You blessed our lives and call us your own.
Forgive us, O God, when we fail to give you thanks,
when we forget that you are the source of all that is good
and that our lives are to be an offering of thanksgiving.
Make us grateful, O God, for the gifts of your mercy,
and draw us closer to you and one another.

Lifting water from the font:
Now stand firm in your faith,
covered by the saving grace of God
and ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.

— 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

Time after Pentecost, Thanksgiving Day
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