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Resources for Thanksgiving

thanksgiving
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A Service of Holy Communion for Thanksgiving
This order of service may be used on Thanksgiving Eve, Day, or the Sunday closest to Thanksgiving Day. It may be used in planning an ecumenical service when the participating churches are open to sharing the eucharistic table. If such sharing is not possible, Holy Communion may be omitted.

Creative Ideas for Celebrating Thanksgiving
Consider your community. Who is hungry? Who is lonely or alone for the holiday? Could your congregation or some of your people find ways to share the holiday's feasting and plenty?

Planning an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service in Your Community
Here are some guidelines that you and other leaders may find helpful in planning an interfaith Thanksgiving service.

Musical Thanksgiving
If you look in most hymnals' seasonal or topical index of hymns, you'll find dozens of hymns and songs related to Thanksgiving and giving thanks.

Preaching Helps for Thanksgiving Day, Year C -- November 22, 2007

21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources: Worship Resources for Thanksgiving Day, Year C -- November 22, 2007

Offering Christ Today: Say Thanks This Thanksgiving
The approaching Thanksgiving and Advent/Christmas seasons provide a grand opportunity for meaningful ministry and a genuine outpouring of Christian love.

Share Your Blessings
Thanksgiving is an excellent time to help children focus on sharing blessings and time with those in need.

Thanksgiving Every Day
As Christians, we must remember that each day is a thanksgiving day. We are blessed with God's abundant love every day.

Faith Sharing and Thanksgiving
The Thanksgiving Holiday is a time for sharing love with family and friends. It is also a great time to share your faith. You can make this Thanksgiving Day a very special day by sharing prayers with your family and friends.

Count Your Blessings
Take a moment and count your blessings. The changing leaves show us the splendor of God's creation; the season of Thanksgiving reminds us of family, and the harvest reminds us that God provides for our needs.

Thanksgiving Websites

Below are some links to Thanksgiving-related sites. The General Board of Discipleship does not necessarily endorse the content of these sites. All content is copyrighted by the respective owners.

Thanksgiving Year C (from The Text This Week)
Lectionary texts for Thanksgiving, Year C, plus links to other sites.

Thanksgiving (Year C) Lectionary Texts
From the Vanderbilt University Divinity Library

Thanksgiving Holiday Ministry Resources
Links and explanations of Thanksgiving customs in other countries.

Annie's Thanksgiving Pages
This site offers historical information about Thanksgiving, kids' pages, and recipes.

The National Day of Mourning
On Thanksgiving Day, many Native Americans and their supporters gather at the top of Coles Hill, overlooking Plymouth Rock, for the "National Day of Mourning."

Resources for Thanksgiving
From Bass Mitchell's Special Days and Services site.

Some Thanksgiving Prayers and Blessings from Different Cultures & Faiths

Thanksgiving in North America: From Local Harvests to National Holiday
This article from the Encyclopedia Smithsonian gives some history and background about the Thanksgiving holiday.