Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day

Jesus said, "I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you-- you of little faith? Therefore, do not worry, saying, `What will we eat?' or `What will we drink?' or `What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed, your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:25-33

Thanksgiving is a wonderful and challenging holiday. We live in an abundant land where there is enough for everyone and yet, there are too many hungry and without a home. We tell the story of the first Thanksgiving, here in Massachusetts, while we know the settlers were destitute and only survived by the kindness of the Native peoples who the settlers quickly slaughtered and abused. Yet, among many Native families, we have much to be thankful for and it is part of every tribal tradition to set aside time to give thanks. Jesus reminds us all that we are all blessed by our Creator and we are given daily what we need. Our work is to live a life of justice and caring, a life that honors our Creator in everything and everywhere we are. May we take time always to give thanks and to share our many blessings.

A Litany for Thanksgiving 2024

Creator of Abundance, we come to thank you

for the countless blessings you give us all

for food enough, and love beyond measure

and for the ways you bring us all back home.

Thank you, Lord, for all your love and bounteous blessings.

We are a divided land and a divided people

anxious about the future, yearning for the past

we fail to share the abundance you give

and ignore the beauty that surrounds us all.

Thank you, Lord, for all your love and bounteous blessings.

You remind us not to worry about our needs

for you bring us sustenance and healing

you surround us with friends and neighbors

who teach us again and again to give thanks.

Thank you, Lord, for all your love and bounteous blessings.

The birds do not worry nor do the lilies

you have made them glorious in their time.

Thank you, Lord, for all your love and bounteous blessings.

We fear the coming winters and our failing

yet you are blessing us in every season of life.

Thank you, Lord, for all your love and bounteous blessings.

Make our hearts grateful today and always

for you our the source of all life and all love. 

Thank you, Lord, for all your love and bounteous blessings. Amen.