Our Father in Heaven, we give thanks for your presence at this table, and we praise you for the privilege and pleasure of gathering on this Thanksgiving Day. We pray for your blessing on those who are here in person and those who, although not physically present, are here in our hearts.
As we gather, we say with the Psalmist, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Psalms 118, 136), and “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name” (Psalm 100).
Even though we are in this time of thanksgiving, we recognize that there are many who are hungry, lonely, fearful, oppressed, imprisoned, persecuted, victims of mass violence, and sick, including those impacted by the coronavirus. We pray for all of these, and we ask for your grace, mercy, strength, justice, and love to prevail. May the realization of the needs and needy in the world stir us to acts of service. For you have commanded, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 19:19) and “Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
As we are about to enjoy this meal, we give thanks to God the Father, who is “Lord of the harvest” (Matthew 9:38) and has abundantly provided for us, both physically and spiritually. We offer praise to our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Bread of Life, the Living Water, the Light of the World, the Good Shepherd, and the Resurrection and the Life. We rejoice in the Holy Spirit, who nurtures us and cultivates in our lives the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
We offer this prayer in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with thanksgiving. Amen
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