Thanksgiving Worship

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 This scripture set the tone for an amazing time of worship with our students this morning, all centered around the theme of Thanksgiving.


We took a much different approach to giving thanks this morning. Set in the center of room was a long "Thanksgiving table." Placed all around the table were small paper plates along with pens. Next to each plate were print outs of different scriptures. During an extended time of singing we asked people to get up from their seats and go to the table. While at the table we were to consider the scriptures set before us and then respond by writing our thoughts on the small paper plates.

The scriptures on the table were all centered around two different themes related to thanks. The first was giving thanks for the stuff of life that we don't normally think to give thanks for; the trials, struggles, and pains of life. We were to read the scriptures and then write a prayer of thanks to God on the paper plates. A prayer that we could take with us as a remembrance of our thanksgiving.

The other theme was giving thanks to God for the people in our lives. So many times in the New Testament we read of the Apostle Paul giving thanks to God for the people in his life (1 Thess. 1:2-3, Col. 1:3-4, 2 Thess. 1:3, etc.). For those not in the midst of a difficult season or situation, we were to write a prayer of thanks to God for the people He has brought into our lives.

At the conclusion of the morning we talked about the difficult seasons of life, and discussed the why and how of showing thanks to God in the midst of them. A key theme that surfaced was the importance of not simply saying thanks, but showing it.

It was an amazing time, one which I hope is remembered for a long time to come. I am thankful.