This Week’s Theme
A Psalm for Giving Thanks
Psalm 100
On this Thanksgiving Day, we reflect on a psalm designated in the psalter as “a psalm for giving thanks,” used in conjunction with liturgies and sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. The first section calls on the entire earth to make a joyful noise to the Lord. God’s people are exhorted to serve him with gladness, coming into his royal presence with music and song. All recognition of the LORD is to be done with the knowledge that Yahweh alone is God. He is our creator, and we belong to him. We are his own people, and the sheep of his pasture, the recipients of his care, protection, and leading (cf. 23; 74.1; 79.13; 80.1; 95.7).
The second section of the psalm calls on the worshipers of Zion to enter Jerusalem, coming into the Temple gates with thanksgiving, and the courts of the Temple with praise, offering thanksgiving and blessing to his high name. Why does our God deserve such excellent, majestic, and continuous thanks and praise? Because he is good and his steadfast love endures forever (cf. Ps. 52.1; 86.5; 106.1; 107.1,8,15,22; 119.68, etc.). His lovingkindness lasts forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Whatever we may have experienced this year, the Lord has demonstrated to generation after generation that he is worthy; he has made us, led us, and blessed us. He has disciplined us, restored us, and held us. He will never leave us or forsake us. For all that he has done for us this year, and all that he will do in the days and weeks ahead, let us acknowledge him as the source and center of our lives. Thanks be to God, who has blessed us in his Son, and comforted us by his Spirit. May our thanks and praises ever resound to him alone!
Preparing Our Hearts
Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation
O Lord our God, Maker of all things and Father of all men, who hast brought us again to the season of harvest and permitted us to gather in the fruits of the earth; grant us the help of thy Holy Spirit, that we may worship thee for thine infinite goodness; and enable us, as we remember thy mercies, to bless thy Holy Name for ever and ever. Amen.
~ Prayers and Services for Christian Festivals, Todd (Geffen, p. 44)
Call to Worship
Blessed are you, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed is your Kingdom, both now and forever, Amen.
Praising Our God
Te Deum Laudamus
You are God: we praise you; you are the Lord; we acclaim you; you are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you; Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.
Praise and Thanksgiving (songs and prayers)
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, amen.
Listening to His Voice
Chronological Reading for the Day
Thursday: Rev. 11-14
Lectionary Readings for the Day
Psalm: Ps. 100
OT: Deut. 26.1-11
Gospel: John 6.25-35
NT: Phil. 4.4-9
Reflection: Silence and/or Journaling
Responding in Faith
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
*In the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).
Prayers of Confession
Let us now confess our sins to God and receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need.
Assurance of Pardon
Having faithfully confessed and renounced your sin, Christ also has been faithful to forgive your sins and to purify you from all unrighteousness. It is certain, that there is One who has spoken to the Father in your defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. His grace and peace are with you now. Amen.
Petitions and Supplications, Ending with The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
~ Matthew 6.9-13 (KJV)
Doxology (and/or closing song)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Departing to Serve
Benediction
Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now, therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious Name. Amen.
~ 1 Chronicles 29.10b-13 (Geffen, p. 42)
Affirmation for the Day
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! (Ps. 100.1-2).
Pray without Ceasing – Flash Prayer for the Day
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! (Ps. 100.1-2).
Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus
That We Might Live through Him
1 John 4.7-14
Book Reading
Olson, Bruchko