Description
Theme:
How often do we go through the motions of Thanksgiving, let alone our day-in-day-out routines, and fail to send even a thought of thanks to God for our blessings? The world would have us think that Thanksgiving is all about parades, football, food, and naps. But as Christians we have the truth, that “every good and perfect gift comes from above”. Every. Not some, not most. Everything we have is a blessing from God. And every part of our salvation is from God, too – undeserved love and grace. Our attitude should not be grumbling for what we want but do not have, but rather one of praise and thanksgiving – an attitude of gratitude.
Author’s notes:
This service is an interactive time of worship, and lends itself well to being a youth worship or lay-led. A full sermon may be used if desired in addition to the “Attitude of Gratitude” portion. But be sure to incorporate sufficient time for groups to share with one another during the “Gratitudes”.
Materials Needed:
Blank pieces of paper & 1 crayon/pen/pencil/marker handed to each worshiper at entrance. Heavier white or light pastel paper is suggested, at least a 7”x7” square. These will be incorporated during “Attitude 4” of the Message.
Excerpt:
OPENING PRAISE
[Choose one]
You You Are God
Walker Beach, ©2003 Gateway Create Publishing (Admin. by Integrity’s Praise! Music)
Shout To The Lord
Darlene Zschech, ©1993 Darlene Zschech/Hillsongs Australia
[Traditional Option]
Sing to the Lord of Harvest
BH 75 232; BH 91 641; ELW 694; LBW 412; LSB 893; LW493; WC 375; WAR 724
GREETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
INVOCATION AND INTRODUCTION OF TODAY’S THEME
[Consider using a family with children as young as 1st grade to read the Leader parts.]
Now Thank We All Our God
Verse 1
BH 75 234; BH 91 638; CH 788; CHH 715; EH 396,397; ELW 839,840; HWC 556; HFG 525; HLC 564; HGP 13; LBW 533,534; LSB 895; LW 443; NCH 419; PH 555; RH 717; STTL 766; WC 374; UMH 102; WAR 14; WHM 333; WIS 88
Leader Give thanks to the Lord with all your heart
ALL My heart and my soul ring out their joy to God.
Leader Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
ALL Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Leader Lift up your hearts. It is right to give God thanks and praise.
ALL I will bless the Lord as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call upon His name.
Leader Let us bless the name of the Lord.
Now Thank We All Our God
Verse 2
BH 75 234; BH 91 638; CH 788; CHH 715; EH 396,397; ELW 839,840; HWC 556; HFG 525; HLC 564; HGP 13; LBW 533,534; LSB 895; LW 443; NCH 419; PH 555; RH 717; STTL 766; WC 374; UMH 102; WAR 14; WHM 333; WIS 88
Leader Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.
ALL They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness, O God.
Leader You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them.
ALL You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
Leader I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”
ALL The LORD is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him;
Leader Let’s begin our worship in the name of the Triune God:
ALL The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen!
Now Thank We All Our God
Verse 3
BH 75 234; BH 91 638; CH 788; CHH 715; EH 396,397; ELW 839,840; HWC 556; HFG 525; HLC 564; HGP 13; LBW 533,534; LSB 895; LW 443; NCH 419; PH 555; RH 717; STTL 766; WC 374; UMH 102; WAR 14; WHM 333; WIS 88
[Alternate song]
Praise the Father, Praise the Son
Ed Cash and Chris Tomlin, ©2008 Vamos Publishing (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Alletrop Music (Admin. by Music Services)
OPENING PRAYER
[Ask a youth of the congregation to write a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving, or to read the following:]
O Lord, we’re glad to be here, to worship You and give You thanks. Fill us now with our focus to be on You. Empower us to let go of our hesitations to worship You as You deserve. We do love You, Lord, and we give You now all praise and glory! Amen.
PRAISE AND WORSHIP
Our God
Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Jonas Myrin, & Matt Redman, ©2010 Thankyou Music | sixsteps Music | Said And Done Music | Vamos Publishing | SHOUT! Publishing | worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) | (Admin. by Integrity Music, Inc.) | (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)
How Great Is Our God
Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, & Jesse Reeves ©2004 worshiiptogether.com songs/Sixsteps
Music/ASCAP
[Traditional Options]
Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
BH 75 233; BH 91 637; CH 797; CHH 718; EH 290; ELW 693; HWC 559; HFG 392; HLC 565; HGP 490; HSP 327; LBW 407; LSB 892, LW 495; NCH 422; PH 551; RH 718; STTL 765; WC 281; UMH 694; WAR 721; WHM 89; WIS 87
Give Thanks
CH 170; CHH 528; LSB 806; RH 510; STTL 770; TFWS 2036; WAR 359
TIME OF CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Leader During our time of Confession, we come before the Lord, our Provider, with hearts bowed in humble gratitude. Although we would like to take credit for what we have achieved in life, and the wealth and possessions we may have accumulated, we must give credit where credit is due.
The truth is that too often we fail to have true hearts of thanksgiving. The truth is that all too often we focus on what we want and what we don’t have, instead of thanking the Lord that we have all that we need and that we have not gotten what we deserve! Let’s pause now and reflect on our many blessings, asking the Lord’s forgiveness for our times of ingratitude and apathy.
[A time of personal reflection and confession]
Leader Please join me in the Confession:
ALL Heavenly Father, I come now to ask You to forgive me. Tonight and tomorrow my heart may be filled with thanksgiving, but so often I am not thankful. Too often my heart is filled with complaints, worries, and fears. I know I shouldn’t need a special worship time to say, “Thank You”. I know that should come from my lips daily.
When I fill my heart with things of this world, I leave so much undone that You have called me to do — and I do a lot of things that You don’t want me to do. I ask Your forgiveness that I haven’t expressed my thankfulness to You as You deserve. I admit that I have also sinned by holding onto the blessings You have given me, and not sharing them with others who are in need. I thank You for all the blessings in my life, and especially for Your grace. Amen.
Leader It is because of Jesus that I have Good News for you. It is because of Jesus’ heart of obedience to His Father, because of His heart of love for you, that I tell you that your sins are forgiven! Be filled with His Spirit. Be filled with His love. Be filled with His hope. Offer now to Him your heart filled with thanksgiving!
