Dear friends,
Do you have any memories of profound thankfulness? Do you have a life experience that stands out to you as a holy moment where God's Grace moved you to a point of extreme thankfulness?
It is November, after all, and this is the time of year when we take time to recognize the goodness of God and share our thanks for all that we have and all that we are.
One of my moments of profound thanks came one Sunday morning during my seminary training. The church where I was serving had windows in the sanctuary that let in a fair amount of natural light. There was a window right behind the altar that allowed for rays of light to shine on the altar. As the paten (plate) and chalice (cup) were placed on the altar, the rays of light danced on the silver communion set and all over the altar. I was overcome with gratitude for my ministry and for the church. I was absolutely overcome with gratitude for Christ and my life of faith.
In the back pages of our Book of Common Prayer (BCP) we have a section with prayers and thanksgivings. There are prayers for the world, the church, our nation, society, families, and so much more. On page 836 in the BCP we have a section on all sorts of thanksgivings. Here is our general thanksgiving that is a beautiful reminder to be thankful for all that life has to offer…
A General Thanksgiving
Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love.
We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side.
We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us.
We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.
Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast
obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying, through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdom.
Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know Christ and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen.
These are beautiful prayers for this season of mindful gratitude. I commend these prayers to you throughout this month of thankfulness. May God bless you with grace, gratitude, and rays of light dancing in your life.
Yours in Christ,
God’s Peace, Love, and Blessings,
Beth+
