Thanksgiving Prayers for All Families

Thanksgiving is a special time in our busy lives to stop and enjoy family time around the table. And it is one of the most opportune times for families to reflect on their blessings. Regardless of spiritual conviction or religion, it is a time when people want to pray and express their gratitude to God. For those who may have a more difficult time getting started with a blessing, here are some prayers and prayer starters for all families. Some are rote prayers for the traditionalists and some are Scripture led prayers. Also included are sung prayers and prayer starters for those who wish to express thanks in their own words.

Sung Prayers
A child once asked Rabbi Chai Levy why they sing their prayers. After some contemplation, he blogged, "Prayer should move us, awaken us, allow us to feel our emotions and raise them up to God. Communal singing in prayer should lift up the congregation and allow us to feel our hearts bursting open. Prayer should not be, as Heschel put it, like reading last week's newspaper."

Sometimes it may be more difficult for families at the table to pray aloud. But many voices raised in songs of thanksgiving can alleviate that difficulty and can set the tone of gratitude for the meal.

1. "God Our Father" is a very simple and easy prayer that is good for very young children. There is simplicity of word choice that still express gratitude for blessings. It is a sung prayer so it is even easier for a child to learn. It is sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques."

God our Father, God our Father,
Once again, once again,
Thank you for our blessings, thank you for our blessings,
Amen. Amen.

2. "We Gather Together" is a beautiful old hymn that has been sung at the table for generations. If you would like to hear the tune, click on this link: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/e/wegattog.htm

We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!

We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
Amen

3. "Be Present at our Table" (to the traditional tune by John Wesley or to the tune of Hernando's Hideaway)

Be present at our table Lord.
Be here and everywhere adored.
His mercies bless and grant that we
May feast in heaven with thee. Amen!

4. "Come Dear Lord" is sung to the tune of "Edelweiss"- a song made popular by the movie The Sound of Music. This is a good song for a family that may only be able to get together around the holidays. The premise is centered around growing together both as a family and in faith.

Come dear Lord, be our guest
As we gather together.
May our heart glow with love,
Keep us close to you ever.
(Refrain) Friendship and joy, may they bloom and grow.
Bloom and grow forever,
Bless our homes, bless our friends,
Bless each of us forever.

Rote Prayers
Rote prayers are learned or memorized. Sometimes they are read aloud or used in responsive readings. These are especially good for families who are unsure of what to say to God or like the tradition of the prayers. Children often benefit from these kinds of prayers. They are generally easy to learn and children can feel included because they know the prayer.

1. "Come Lord Jesus" is another simple prayer. I remember spending time at my grandparents' home and we would recite this at meal time as a family. Even though it was rote, it was also special to include everyone in the saying of the blessing. It is a very short prayer but you could also use this as a conversation starter. After the prayer, you could go around the table and express what gifts God has given to you or what you are thankful for. It is a nice way to begin the Thanksgiving meal service and will direct conversation to a general feel of gratitude.

Come Lord Jesus, be our guest. Let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen.

2. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote "Thanksgiving" and this poem covers the general topics of Thanksgiving.

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

3. A prayer from the abbey of New Clairvaux, Viña, California is another generalized prayer that can easily be suited to Thanksgiving. It is simple but focuses on those who are in need. Perhaps this would make a good prayer for those families who would also be interested in serving Thanksgiving dinner to the needy at a shelter.

Give us this day our daily bread, O Father in heaven, and grant that we who are filled with good things from Your open hand, may never close our hearts to the hungry, the homeless, and the poor; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

4. Another focused prayer is this prayer from the Anglican Church of Canada.

For food in a world where many walk in hunger
For friends in a world where many walk alone
For faith in a world where many walk in fear
We give you thanks, O Lord. Amen.

5. This simple common prayer is a good Thanksgiving conversation starter. As mentioned previously, you could adapt this for your family by beginning with the simple prayer and then allowing each member of the family to give thanks for blessings in his or her life.

Lord, make us truly grateful for the blessings of this day. Amen

6. Thanksgiving begins the season of Advent, the time of prayer and contemplation for Christians leading up to the celebration of the birth of Christ. The Jewish liturgy includes an "advent meal" prayer or a prayer of preparation. The prayer gives thanks to God for his protection and blessing. It is a very appropriate prayer for the season.

Blessed are You, LORD our God, Ruler of the universe, Who sustains the whole world in goodness with grace, kindness and compassion. God gives food to all creatures because God's mercy is eternal...Blessed are You, LORD, Sustainer of all.

Thank you, LORD our God, for this good and spacious land that you have given and for the food that sustains us always, every day, every season, every moment. For everything, LORD our God, we thank you and praise you. May praise of Your name always be on the lips of every living being, as it is written, "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God Who has given you this good earth." Blessed are You, LORD, for the earth and for the food.

Scripture Prayers

1. Perhaps the most popular Bible prayer is the Lord's Prayer. It is sometimes considered rote because many have memorized it but it is directly from Scripture. It is the model of prayer, as Jesus described it, "pray then in this way." (Matthew 6:9a, NASB) Most of us know the prayer in the King James Version with the "thees" and "thous." Below is the New American Standard Bible version.

Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9b-13, NASB)

2. Psalm 136 is a prayer of thanks and remembrance that God's love lasts forever.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. The chapter takes the reader on a journey of the amazing things God did for the Israelites including rescue from slavery, praise for protection from foreign invaders and creation. Included below is Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26. It can be a responsive prayer, the table prayer leader taking the 1^st line and the rest of the table responds with the 2^nd and so on.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good.
His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.

who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.

who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.

who made the great lights-
His love endures forever.

the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.

the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

to the One who remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.

and freed us from our enemies,
His love endures forever.

and who gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

3. Psalm 111 is a song of praise to God. The focus of this prayer is praise and gratefulness to God for His greatness. This Scripture is a prayer that will focus the listeners' attention toward God and off themselves.

Praise the LORD.
I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.
Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.
He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.
They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness.
He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever-holy and awesome is his name.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

4. Psalm 95:1-7a is another great hymn of worship. Again, this psalm will take the readers on a focused journey of praise to God.

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

Prayer Starters
For those who desire a more personal approach to the Thanksgiving prayer time, here are a few suggestions on how to begin.

1. Start with a rote prayer or a portion of Scripture. Sometimes all you need is a focus point. From there, allow those who want to pray, pray aloud.

2. Pray in a circle. Have the head of the table begin by praying and thanking God for a blessing. Each member of the table then expresses his gratefulness for something. The head of the table can close the prayer once everyone has prayed.

3. Allow silent prayer. The head of the table can begin by focusing the silent prayer by praying a short praise. Then allow for silent praise prayers. After a time, the head of the table can pray aloud again and either close the table prayer or focus on a new topic such as prayer for the needy, thanks for the food, et cetera.

4. Take a portion of Scripture and focus prayer on that. For example the head of the table could begin the Lord's Prayer and each member of the table could pray aloud in association with it. Perhaps take the prayer one verse or line at a time. "Our Father who is in heaven" and allow the petitioners to thank God for being our father, creator, holy, et cetera. "Give us this day our daily bread" and thank God for the food provided.

However you decide to pray for the Thanksgiving meal, it is important to remember why you are praying. Americans have been very blessed with a country of freedoms, provision in health care, and bounty in material goods and food. We have only to look at some of the other nations in our world to see how much we have that others do not. Be grateful and thankful. And while we so commonly say, "God bless America" why don't we take this opportunity for America to bless God.

Sources:
http://christianity.about.com/lr/thanksgiving_prayers/197951/3/
http://kolshofar.org/Drashes_Chai-detail-140
http://www.biblegateway.com
http://ancientfutureworship.blogspot.com/2005/11/hebraic-table-prayers-for-thanksgiving.html
www.lca.org.au/utils/getres1.cfm?ptoken=prayers04
http://www.prayerguide.org.uk/dinnerprayers.htm
http://www.godweb.org/thanksgivingprayers.htm