Introduction:
In the nine days leading up to Thanksgiving I will share a novena of prayers, reflections, and music selections that may enhance the celebration of this special day with your family and friends.
Day 5: Today I share another general Thanksgiving prayer for use with your family before the holiday meal on Thursday.
Luann comic by Greg Evans
Day 5:
Today’s prayer was adapted from “Prayers of Our Hearts” by Vienna Cobb Anderson
God of all blessings, source of all life, giver of all grace:
We thank you for the gift of life:
for the breath that sustains life,
for the food of this earth that nurtures life,
for the love of family and friends without which there would be no life.
We thank you for the mystery of creation:
for the beauty that the eye can see,
for the joy that the ear may hear,
for the unknown that we cannot behold filling the universe with wonder,
for the expanse of space that draws us beyond the definitions of our selves.
We thank you for setting us in communities:
for families who nurture our becoming,
for friends who love us by choice,
for companions at work who share our burdens and daily tasks,
for strangers who welcome us into their midst,
for people from other lands who call us to grow in understanding,
for children who lighten our moments with delight,
for the unborn, who offer us hope for the future.
We thank you for this day:
for life and one more day to love;
for opportunity and one more day to work for justice and peace;
for neighbors and one more person to love and by whom be loved;
for your grace and one more experience of your presence;
for your promise to be with us, to be our God, and to give salvation.
For these, and all blessings,
we give you thanks, eternal, loving God,
through Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
Music for a Thankful Heart: Day 5:
“Thank you” – by Hillsong—from Best Worship Song with Tears 6
With lyrics and background photography for meditation.