4 Creative Elements For Thanksgiving Sunday
The Sunday after Thanksgiving is filled with opportunity. While the whole country is expressing their gratitude we as the Church and children of God have the ultimate reason for thanksgiving. Salvation through Jesus Christ.
Honesty time. I always struggled with how to plan the “Thanksgiving Sunday” service. There aren’t as many songs about thanksgiving as there are about the Resurrection (Easter) or Christ’s Birth (Christmas). But this year our creative team was committed to providing ways for our church family to look to the Lord with hearts of gratitude. Here’s what we came up with.
“1) Responsive Scripture Reading
2) Testimony Video
3) Special Song
4) The Thanksgiving Prayer”
Service Flow
Song 1: Open Up Our Eyes (Elevation Worship)
1) Responsive Scripture Reading
After welcoming everyone I shared about how we would be spending some time thanking the Lord and looking to Him through songs but we were also going to do it through scripture. We read together Psalm 136:1-3, 23-26. I read the first line and the church responded with the second line.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
for His steadfast love endures forever
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for His steadfast love endures forever
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for His steadfast love endures forever
It is He who remembered us in our low estate
for His steadfast love endures forever
And rescued us from our foes
for His steadfast love endures forever
He Who gives food to all flesh
for His steadfast love endures forever
Give thanks to the God of heaven
for His steadfast love endures forever”
Song 2: So Good To Me (William Matthews)
Song 3: Good Good Father (Chris Tomlin)
Offering Introduction (Campus Pastor)
2) Testimony Video
There is such power in hearing about how God has moved in someone’s life. We gathered together some people form our church family and let them express their thankfulness for things like their salvation, church, recovery from addiction and family.
3) Special Song
I spent quite a while researching worship songs, old and new, with the theme of thanksgiving. The most appropriate one for our service was “We Give You Thanks” by All Sons & Daughters.
4) The General Thanksgiving
This beautiful prayer was written by Edward Reynolds and was added to the Book of Common Prayer in 1662. We closed with the worship leader reading this prayer.
“Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.”
I’m glad to say that all of these elements came together really well for a God honoring time with the church family.
You can watch our team leading through this service here.
How did you celebrate Thanksgiving Sunday? I’d love to hear your ideas. Let us know in the comments below!