Give Thanks to the Lord

A Thanksgiving Service

Updated June, 2025

This service is full of worshiper participation, including lay readers, instrumentalists, lots of congregational singing, and the opportunity for congregants to write their own prayers of thanksgiving. Each bulletin includes one or two slips of paper printed with the words “I am thankful for . . .” Worshipers are invited to complete the sentence. These slips are gathered as a second offering, organized to avoid too much duplication, and then brought to the pastor, who incorporates them into the congregational prayer.

Prelude: A Thanksgiving Prelude for Flute and Organ (Callahan)

[During the prelude, please write something for which you are thankful on the slips of paper provided. These will be collected during the offering and become part of our Thanksgiving Prayer later in the service.]

Hymn: “We Praise You, O God” Cory
“Sing a New Song to God” Postema

Call to Worship: Psalm 100 (The Worship Sourcebook 1.2.15)

Hymn of Praise: “Let All Things Now Living” Davis
“Cantemos al Senor/O Sing unto the Lord” Rosas

Prayer of Adoration: The Worship Sourcebook C.1.4.2

We Receive God’s Greeting and Greet One Another

Hymn: “For the Beauty of the Earth” Pierpont

Moment for reflecting on individuals for whom you are thankful

Hymn: “For the Beauty of the Earth” Pierpont

Children’s Time

Offerings: Including food brought by the congregants and the slips of paper with their prayers.

Offertory: “Give Thanks” (Bock) trombone duet

Poem: “Radical Gratitude” (Mary Jo Leddy, from Radical Gratitude, Orbis Books, 2002)

Song: “In the Lord I’ll Be Ever Thankful” The Community of Taizé 

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 136:1-3, 26
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

Hymn: “Give Thanks to God, for Good Is He” Unknown

New Testament Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Message: “Radical Gratitude”

Song of Response: “My Tribute” Hymns for the Family of God Crouch

Psalm 136: “We Give Thanks unto You” Unknown

Thanksgiving Prayers

Song of Response: “Praise and Thanksgiving” Post (st 2-3)

God’s Blessing

Hymn: “Now Thank We All Our God” Rinckart

Postlude: “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (Burkhardt)

Reformed Worship 92 © June 2009, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Used by permission.