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Dear friends,
Happy Thanksgiving!
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice. Philippians 4:4
Paul was a prisoner in Rome when he wrote those words. So his rejoicing had nothing to do with a physical deliverance. It does happen that present hopes get dashed by circumstances beyond our control. We may be overcome by worry and fear. We may accept it and soldier on. We may ask God to get us out of this present trouble. Or we may follow the example of the apostle Paul and turn to God and seek from God the courage of faith and thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving that comes from God doesn't depend on troubles ceasing. It flows from the power of the great companionship we have with God and each other. Wherever we are, God is with us and for us. This fellowship of the Spirit is the source of abiding joy in all times and place. In the midst of any troubles that confront us, even in prison, we look for the way God is showing up to renew our hope, and we look for ways to encourage
The Lex Pres, Trinity UMC, Grace Episcopal Cooperative Youth Group created a Litany of Thanks which was included in our Community Thanksgiving service last Monday night. The youth contributed names and adjectives for God, concerns and worries they want God's help with, ways they want to offer themselves in God's service, and concluded with a few of the many things for which they are grateful.
Please pray for and with the youth of our community. Stay awake and alert to opportunities to listen to the worries of young people, and seek opportunities to join them in serving and giving thanks to God. Our youth need us to show up for them.
The next meeting of the Co-op Youth Group is 5:30 -7 pm December 11 at Grace.
Litany of Thanks
Righteous Almighty and Merciful King, you are to us a loving father and a wise, powerful, patient mother.
As we seek to live with gratitude and make room in our hearts for a spirit of thanksgiving, we lift up to you the things that worry us, and we ask for wisdom, guidance and peace:
School, grades, and the internet.
The health of friends and family.
The federal government, divisiveness in our country, and protection of our rights.
The state of the world, especially war – in Ukraine, Ethiopia, and other places.
Life versus death and darkness.
Climate change and time.
Racial and gender equity and justice.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayers.
Constant, quiet, mysterious Holy One, and helpful Immanuel:
we pray for the needs in our community and world.
Give us compassionate hearts and willing spirits
as we do our part to alleviate suffering and work for justice.
We pray for: racial justice and healing,
teachers of color,
a sense of diversity and belonging.
Care for creation, an end to global warming, a solution to climate change.
Community safety and constant peace.
And that all people would have access to healthcare, safe and affordable housing, money, food, clean water, and clothing.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayers.
Good Creator and Gracious Lord:
receive our gratitude and praise for all the things for which we are thankful:
Family and friends,
stable mental health, and the chance to live and love life.
My home, roads, and a town without constant physical violence.
Books, pets, and the bubble pool.
The beauty of your creation.
My church, and the great relationship among faith groups in this community.
Your unconditional love and redeeming grace.
For these and for our many blessings,
We give you thanks, O Lord. Amen.
With gratitude,
Tuck Bowerfind, Rector, Grace Episcopal Lexington
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