Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.

St. Benedict's here in Chapel Hill, N.C. will hold a service of Holy Communion at 10:00 AM on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. The Gospel for the day is the place in Matt. chapter 6 where Christ tells us not to entertain anxious thoughts about tomorrow, but to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. So, from the pulpit I will remind the people that our giving of thanks to God is a recognition in faith that He is the One who has supplied every need we have.

I can think of nothing more fitting than meditation on this prayer of Thanksgiving that is included in Morning and Evening Prayer in the American edition of the Book of Common Prayer.

A General Thanksgiving.

ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men; [*particularly said when any desire to return thanks...to those who desire now to offer up their praises and thanksgivings for thy late mercies vouchsafed unto them.] We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable 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 beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may he unfeignedly thankful; and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

¶ Note, That the General Thanksgiving may be said by the Congregation with the Minister.

1 comment:

Canon Tallis said...

I hope that the good folk of St Benedict's and all parishes like it are exceptionally thankful for the fact that they have their own church, their own building, and do not have to rely up rented or loaned space which makes the fulfillment of the prayer book plan of services an impossibility. Those of us without such a facility do our best to not be envious, but it is hard indeed. Instead we will pray that the job that St Benedict's and all parishes like it to present the Catholic and Anglican faith to the world do their job so well that it makes it that much easier for others to find us and help build our congregations to the point that we, also, can have a building with a permanent altar and a place the sacrament can be reserved, the offices said, and the offering of incense made in accordance with Holy Scripture.