Thanksgiving Sunday
**Please note this service is based on the format of the Anglican Church of Canada. Unless otherwise indicated, all prayers come from the Book of Alternative Services (BAS) and the hymns from the Book of Common Praise (BCP). Other hymns and prayers have been sourced to give appropriate credit.
**NRSV translation used for the readings, unless otherwise stated.
**This is for personal use at home as the church is unable to gather in our houses of worship but together we can worship in our own homes.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray.
At harvest
time we join the psalmist in offering thanksgiving to God: “You crown the year
with your goodness, and your paths overflow with plenty.” We are grateful for
the abundance of the good things of God’s creation. Paul reminds us that our
thanksgiving overflows into generosity. As the body of Christ in the world, we
give ourselves away as bread for the hungry. Amen.
Opening Hymn – Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God (BCP #458)
Gathering of the Community (based on Psalm 65)
Come, gather together
people of God.
We come to sing and
shout God’s praise.
The gateways of the
morning and the evening shout for joy!
The river of God is
full of water.
The pastures of the
wilderness overflow with richness.
The hills and the
valleys are full of God’s blessing.
Together they shout and
sing for joy.
Together we shout and
sing for joy!
We will not forget the
Lord our God and the earth that nourishes us.
We will remember and give thanks.
Prayer of Approach
Loving God, Creator of
all things, we come to you this morning with thankful hearts for all your gifts
to us and to your people everywhere. We think about the amazing beauty of the world
you have made and this powerful yet fragile land we call our home. As we
worship together, remind us of the sacredness of all creation and of our
responsibility to respect the ways of the earth and the connections between all
things. Amen.
The Gloria
Collect of the Day
Creator of the fruitful earth, you made us stewards of all things. Give us grateful hearts for all your goodness, and steadfast wills to use your bounty well, that the whole human family, today and in generations to come, may with us give thanks for the riches of your creation. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.
The Readings
A
reading from the book of Deuteronomy 8:7-18
For the Lord your God is bringing
you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground
waters welling up in valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines
and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land where
you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose
stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper. You shall eat your
fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you.
Take care that you do not forget the Lord your
God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes,
which I am commanding you today. When you have eaten your fill and have built
fine houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks have multiplied,
and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied,
then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out
of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, who led you through the great
and terrible wilderness, an arid wasteland with poisonous snakes and scorpions.
He made water flow for you from flint rock, and fed you in the wilderness with
manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in
the end to do you good. Do not say to yourself, “My power and the might of my
own hand have gotten me this wealth.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is
he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that
he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be the God.
Psalm
65
Praise
is due to you,
O God, in Zion;
and to you shall vows
be performed,
O you who answer prayer!
To
you all flesh shall come.
When
deeds of iniquity overwhelm us,
you forgive our transgressions.
Happy are those whom
you choose and bring near
to live in your courts.
We
shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
your holy temple.
By awesome deeds you
answer us with deliverance,
O God of our salvation;
you
are the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas.
By your strength you
established the mountains;
you are girded with might.
You
silence the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples.
Those who live at
earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
you make the gateways
of the morning and the evening shout for joy.
You visit the earth and
water it,
you greatly enrich it;
the
river of God is full of water;
you provide the people with grain,
for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows
abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening
it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with
your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
The
pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe
themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.
Lord God, joy marks your presence; beauty, abundance, and peace are the tokens of your work in all creation. Work also in our lives, that by these signs we may see the splendour of your love and praise you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A reading from the second of Paul to the Corinthians 9:6-15
The point is this: the one who sows
sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also
reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not
reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is
able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having
enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is
written,
“He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for
food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of
your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great
generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the
rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also
overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry
you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and
by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they
long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he
has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be the God.
Gradual Hymn – God of the Sparrow (BCP #414)
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke 17:11-19
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was
going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village,
ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying,
“Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and
show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then
one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a
loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a
Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine,
where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except
this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith
has made you well.”
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon
2020 has put us into liminal space. A
period where we are neither here nor there, but somewhere in between. Our lives
are no longer “normal” nor do we know what “normal” will be at the end of this
pandemic.
The word “liminal” comes from the Latin word limen, which means “threshold.”[1] When we are on the limen, we aren’t in THIS room, and we aren’t in THAT room, but rather we are in transition.
The uncertain nature of being on the limen can produce much anxiety and stress.
We’re moving somewhere else, but we’re not there yet. Maybe we can’t wait to get there. Maybe we’re dreading it.
Here, in the 17th chapter of Luke, Jesus takes his disciples to a place that is in-between. They aren’t in the land of the Samaritans. And they aren’t home either.
The liminal story of “the healing of the ten lepers” is a story which explores the concepts of the mercy, gratitude, healing, and faith. Ten people, beloved of God, are in distress and anguish looking for a miracle. Danger abounds – they may sicken Jesus and his cohorts. They may remain sick and ostracized forever. But, the situation is also one where incredible potential resides. There is the hope of healing, and the promise of gratitude.
On the threshold, they may find nothing. Or they can be touched by God.
One man, at least, decided to be thankful in his liminal space.
This weekend is Thanksgiving Sunday. A time where families get together for big meals, reconnections, good times, and giving thanks.
How do we, today, sitting here, remain thankful living in such a liminal time?
With the pandemic heading into an upswing and parts of the province moving into a code Orange, many are choosing not to gather with their parents and grandparents in hopes that keeping separate will keep everyone safe.
I even got a note from the school asking families to limit exposure to others this weekend in order to not bring anything into the school come Tuesday morning.
It is going to be a very different thanksgiving weekend. Just like every other part of our lives over the last 6 or so months, we are going to have to adapt and change our ways.
It is going to be hard.
Hard to be away from your family.
Hard to show our love of others by being separated from the people whom you love.
It is hard to be thankful during this pandemic.
But there are indeed things we can be thankful for…
We can be thankful that God is with us through every step of our grief and our struggles as we adjust our lives almost on a daily basis to all the changes.
A few weeks ago, we heard Jesus say that where 2 or 3 are gather, I am there.
Jesus does not need buildings for his work to go forward.[2]
God is with us whether we gather in small groups or large.
God is on the front line of this pandemic.
No matter where we are, when we gather in Jesus’ name, God is among us.
Even in this liminal time.
And for that, we can be extremely thankful.
Amen.
[1] Beaumont,
Susan. How to Lead When You Don’t Know
Where You’re Going. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2019.
[2] Wright,
NT. God and the Pandemic. Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan Reflective, 2020.
Affirmation of Faith
Litany of Confession (based on words by Chief Seattle, 1855)
Creator God, we confess
that we do not always remember you.
We forget that all we
have and are comes from you.
We forget that the earth is our mother – we are made from
the earth. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the
children of the earth. We are part of the earth, and the earth is part of us.
We forget that the rivers are our brothers; they quench our
thirst.
We forget that the
perfumed flowers are our sisters.
We forget that the air is precious, for all of us share the
same breath.
The wind gives our
children the breath of life.
We forget that the earth does not belong to us; we belong
to the earth. We forget that all things are connected, like the blood that unites one
family.
We forget that you are the same God whose compassion is
equal for all.
We forget that we did
not weave the web of life; we are merely a strand in it. Forgive
us O Creator, and help us to remember that whatever we do to the web, we do to
ourselves.
Forgive us O Sustainer,
and accept our thanks for your gift of life.
Assurance of Pardon
The good news is that
God loves and forgives us and forever invites us to return to the ways of
wholeness. We can be new people; we can live with respect for the earth and all
its creatures. As forgiven people we join together with grateful hearts and
sing praise to God.
Praise God from whom
all blessings flow
Praise God all creatures high and low
Alleluia, Alleluia
Praise God above ye heavenly hosts Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
The Prayers of the People
We thank you, God, for the beauty of
nature, for food to eat and for clothes to wear.
Thank you, God of
creation.
We thank you for the world and all it
holds. We ask that all that is good in it remain and that we lessen the
pollution of our earth.
Hear us, Lord of the
world.
We thank you for all the people in our
community. We ask that you help us to be kind and understanding to others.
Hear us, gentle Lamb of
God.
We thank you that young and old have a
place in the church. We ask that you help us to continue to show our faith.
Hear us, living
Saviour.
We thank you for those who are willing
to take leadership. We ask that they be reasonable in their decisions and work
for the good of everybody.
Hear us, God of
justice.
We thank you for the young and young at
heart. We ask that you help them to understand life and find their way.
Hear us, God of now and
forever.
We thank you for organizations that aid
those in need. We ask for help to recognize what we can do to help and to use
what we have to do it.
Hear us, God of hope.
We give thanks for you, God of
faithfulness.
May we live what we
pray. Amen.
Passing the Peace
In recognition of the new beginning
which God has freely given us, let us reach out in love to those around us and
share with each other the peace of Christ saying “Peace be with you”
Offertory Hymn – The Lord Has Done Great Things
Prayer over the Gifts
**Although
not physically at our church buildings to share our offering together I would
encourage you to set your offering of money aside so that it can be dropped off
or placed in the church once services resume, to mail your offering to the
church, or to make donations online. Please remember ministry is still taking
place.
Let us pray.
Source of all life, the heaven and earth are yours, yet
you have given us dominion over all things.
Receive the symbols of our labour and love which we offer you this day, in
the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord is here.
His Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our
God.
It is right to give thanks and
praise.
Almighty
God, good Father to us all, your face is turned towards your world. In love you
gave us Jesus your Son to rescue us from sin and death. Your Word goes out to
call us home to the city where angels sing your praise. We join with them in
heaven's song:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full
of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in
the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Father of all, we give you thanks
for every gift that comes from heaven. To the darkness Jesus came as your
light. With signs of faith and words of hope he touched untouchables with love
and washed the guilty clean. This is his story.
This is our song: Hosanna in the highest.
The crowds came out to see your Son,
yet at the end they turned on him. On the night he was betrayed he came to table
with his friends to celebrate the freedom of your people. This is his story.
This is our song: Hosanna in the highest.
Jesus blessed you, Father, for the
food; he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and said:
This is my body, given for you all.
Jesus then gave thanks for the wine;
he took the cup, gave it and said: This is my blood, shed for you all for the
forgiveness of sins.
Do this in remembrance of me. This is our story.
This is our song: Hosanna in the highest.
Therefore, Father, with this bread
and this cup we celebrate the cross on which he died to set us free. Defying
death he rose again and is alive with you to plead for us and all the world. This
is our story.
This is our song: Hosanna in the highest.
Send your Spirit on us now that
by these gifts we may feed on Christ with opened eyes and hearts on fire. May
we and all who share this food offer ourselves to live for you and be welcomed
at your feast in heaven where all creation worships you, Father, Son and Holy
Spirit:
Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for ever and ever. Amen.
Copyright
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2006All of the official Common
Worship publications are being published by Church House
Publishing.
We gather our prayers together into the prayer which Jesus taught us, using a version from the New Zealand Prayer Book.
Eternal Spirit,
Life-giver,
Pain-bearer, Love-maker, Source of all that is and that shall be, Father and
Mother of us all, Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your
name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice
is followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be
done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of
peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need
for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb
from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation
and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great
to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all
that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the
glory of the power that is love, now and forever. Amen.
Creator of all, you gave us golden fields of wheat, whose many grains we have gathered and made into this one bread.
So may your church be gathered from the ends of
the earth into your kingdom.
Prayer after Communion
Let
us pray.
God
of our hope, in this Eucharist we find the source of all your blessings. Nourished
in these holy mysteries may we, with our lives, give you continual thanks and
praise. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Doxology
Glory
to God
Whose power, working in
us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from
generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, forever and
ever. Amen
Benediction
We go forth from this place with
grateful hearts to join with the Earth and with each other in the healing and
renewal of this hurting world.
May the grace of Christ attend us, the love of God surround us, and the Holy Spirit keep us. Amen.
Closing Hymn – Now Thank We All Our God (BCP #399)
Dismissal
Go forth into the world, rejoicing in the
power of the Spirit.
Thanks
be to God.
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