Thanksgiving Eve

Order of Worship

Download today's bulletin PDF for the entire order of worship and more. 

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

We are surrounded by food, Lord...fast food, slow-cooked, Italian, Mexican, Greek, Cajun, homestyle, soul, and more. We have not known hunger like the ancient Israelites experienced it. To them you gave the sweet manna, and they learned to despise it. You gave them such an abundance of quail that it came to stink in their camps. They too, were surrounded by food. And the one food that they should have hungered for is the same one we are prone to neglect: every word that proceeds from your mouth. We need daily bread, and you bless us with everything we need. Even so, you have given us your Word. Most of us have it in abundance too. The translations lay around us like stinking quail for lack of use. Help us each to gather enough of your Word for the needs of the day. Open our minds to understand your Scripture so that we may be content with the doing of you will. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We live in a rich land, a land of abundance. Perhaps many have come to take this blessing for granted, not being grateful for the hard work of others that spreads our tables, let alone for your providence. You have blessed us. Let the peoples praise you, O God. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

As we pray your prayer just moments from now, Lord, remove our anxieties. Give us to trust that you are a good Father who blesses his children. Help us trust in your forgiveness and deliverance from temptation and evil, May we trust you will meet our every daily need. And give us a trust in your will being done in our lives, even to the extent that your kingdom comes to us even here in this life, and finally, that your name is hallowed in our lives so that you receive the praise for all the good you do in our lives. We ask especially, that you would give this holy confidence to those among us who are suffering and grieving. Bless them for the sake of Jesus. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

May we each be the one who turns back to you, Lord, to give thanks for the good you have shown us. May our faith make us well enough that we are not ungrateful, nor that we take you for granted. For we are nothing else than unworthy outcasts, standing far off, begging you for mercy. Behold, you have made us well. Thanks be to God. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy — through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen