Interactive Thanksgiving Meal Prayer 2024

Rev. John C. Rallison, Pastor

Redeemer Lutheran Church, Salem, Oregon

Introduction - Read before you start.

This devotional is designed to be used in your home at the beginning of your Thanksgiving meal. You can use this devotional however will work best  your situations: 

• You can choose a leader for the leader parts and do the litany parts as a back-and-forth between the leader and the people.
• Or one person could read all the parts and everyone else listens. (But this is designed to be interactive.)
• Or… whatever. This is a tool for you to use so that you have an intentional time of gratitude.

Opening

Leader:  In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People:   Amen.

Leader:  We are gathered on our national holiday of Thanksgiving to be thankful and celebrate all that for which we are thankful.

Psalm of Thanksgiving:  
Psalm 100 - A psalm for giving thanks. (English Standard Version)

Leader:  Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! 

People:   Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 

Leader:  Know that the LORD, he is God! 

People:   It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 

Leader:  Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! 

People:   Give thanks to him; bless his name! 

Leader:  For the LORD is good; 

People:   his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. 

Thanksgiving Scriptures

One or more people can read these scriptures aloud for the group.

• Philippians 4:4–7 (ESV)  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
   
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (ESV)  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
   
• Colossians 3:12–17 (ESV)  Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Sharing of Thankfulness

This is a time for sharing your thankfulness. There should be no pressure on anyone to speak. But anyone who wants to participate can respond to one or more of the following prompts and share their thankfulness with everyone present.

• Share something for which you are thankful at this moment.
• Share something which has not been easy but for which you are thankful.
• Share something for which you are surprised you are thankful.
• Share something for which you feel like you should be thankful but are struggling to embrace thankfulness.
• Which of the Bible verses above did you find encouraging and why?
• Which of the Bible verses above did you find challenging and why?

Thanksgiving Prayers

Leader:  Let us pray. Father, we acknowledge that all good and perfect gifts come from you. We begin by acknowledging the gift of forgiveness and new life in your son, Jesus Christ. For this gift

People:   Make us truly thankful, O Lord

Leader:  We are grateful for the loving relationships in our lives — our families, friends, churches, and all who support us through the changes and chances of life. For those who have loved and supported us,

People:   Make us truly thankful, O Lord

Leader:  The bounty of the earth is given by you. All that supports our lives whether abundant or meager is ultimately your provision. For all that you provide,

People:   Make us truly thankful, O Lord.

Leader:  As we celebrate this meal, we are mindful of the poor among us. Even as we feast, open our hearts to the plights of others with whom we can share your blessings, even as Jesus commanded us to love one another as he has loved us.

People:   Open our hearts, O Lord.

Leader:  Father, you are the source of all provision in our lives. You have given us pardon, peace, and purpose through Jesus Christ. Prepare our hearts for our Thanksgiving feast as we pray together the prayer our Lord taught us to pray:

All:          Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the pow'r and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Closing Blessing

Leader:  May the Lord Almighty who has provided us both the feast and reasons to celebrate with gratitude bless the food we are about to receive and our celebration in his name.

People:   Amen! Thanks be to God!

(and now… enjoy your Thanksgiving meal!)