Want to go? n A Thank

Clergy offer some suggestions for saying prayers at Thanksgiving

WANT TO GO?

A Thanksgiving service is at 2 p.m. Sunday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson, sponsored by the Ministerial Alliance. The Rev. Bruce Ritter, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church ELCA, will be the speaker. Special music will be presented by the Jackson High School choir. An offering will be collected to help replenish the Ministerial Alliance's benevolence account.

The Cape Girardeau Ministerial Alliance will hold an ecumenical Thanksgiving service at 7 p.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church.

By Laura Johnston ~ Southeast Missourian

Thanksgiving offers more than just turkey dinners and football games. For some Americans, it's a chance to gain perspective on their lives and their place in the world by spending the day reflecting on what makes them grateful. But the holiday also can put people on edge, particularly if they have to lead the family in a prayer before the big meal.

Voicing prayers of Thanksgiving doesn't have to be difficult. "All of us have been blessed and are gifted," said the Rev. Bob Towner, rector of Christ Episcopal Church.

Many people think of prayers being said for intercession, supplication or petition, but in the Anglican church tradition on prayer is just as much about adoration, confession and thanksgiving, Towner said.

The Southeast Missourian asked several area ministers to submit prayers suitable for the Thanksgiving holiday. Here are the prayers:

The Rev. Grant Gillard, First Presbyterian Church in Jackson

Gracious Lord,

As we gather on our national day of Thanksgiving, may we be extraordinarily grateful for your many blessings. Thank you for blessing this nation, for those who guard our freedom and liberty and for those who protect us and keep us safe.

Help us, as well, to remember the simple pleasures we so easily take for granted and callously consume every day. Inspire us to ponder your attentiveness as you provide for our daily bread and meet our needs even before we know to ask.

May our gratitude be more than mere words, spoken and remembered but for the course of one day. Empower us to live each day with a grateful acceptance of your grace and mercy.

Thank you, God, for giving us a reason to give you thanks, specifically the forgiveness of sins, the assurances of heaven, and the opportunity to live in fellowship with you. Through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

The Rev. Patrick Nwokoye, St. Mary's Cathedral

As we gather, we are mindful of the Lord's presence in our lives -- the many blessings received by those that we know and do not know. Saints of God, opening our hearts in thanksgiving to God, we call to mind those in different parts of our world who live in hopelessness and seem to have no reason to give thanks. We gather to bless the Lord's name for his goodness toward us.

God of all goodness, God of all creation, God of all peoples:

With grateful hearts we turn to give you thanks for your infinite mercy and goodness toward us. We give you thanks for the gift of life you give us. We thank you more than ever for our families, friends, and food and for our world. We pray that you open our hearts to know that thanking you is your gift to us as we worship you, our God, who bestows on us all that is good.

Lord, keep our hearts ever grateful at all times that we may see and love you in all that we do. We offer this prayer through your son, Jesus Christ, who taught us to open our hearts in gratitude to you for the countless blessings received. Amen.

The Rev. Paul Short, St. Andrew Lutheran Church

My dear father in heaven, I do so want to come and praise you with thanksgivings. In the unrelenting pace of life I seem to plod along and take you and your love for granted. So, father, I am just pausing for the moment to honor and thank you. Thank you for your unconditional love through your son, Jesus. Thank you for all Jesus has done and does for me with the forgiveness of all my sins and the peace of his abiding presence. Thank you for the beauty of your creation, for the food on my plate as well as in my pantry, for the clothes I wear and the clothes in my closet. Help those without these blessings to have them.God of this world and nation, guard and guide our military men and women and their families wherever they are. In sincere thanksgiving, I pray in Jesus' name. Amen