Generous giver,
with praise and thanksgiving we center ourselves
in your presence,
knowing that thanksgiving is
a true understanding of who we are.
As we prepare for a holiday of thankfulness,
we know much gratitude for the precious gift of life,
and for all the ways our own lives have been encouraged.
We are thankful too
for the gift of the life of Jesus,
for the gift of faith and
our continued hunger to understand and connect to that faith stream.
We know gratitude and joy
as we allow the abundance of creation
to embrace us.
We stand, we sit, we lie
on the good earth and
know she nourishes and heals.
She reveals the cycles of life -
birth, growth, death and recreation -
it is good.
We recognize the sun, source of energy.
We are in awe of its power
to warm and call forth life.
Its radiance speaks of divine power
that has brought all that is into being.
We breathe deeply
the invisible, all pervasive air
which sustains creation.
Oh mysterious spirit,
we believe your breath gives life to our world,
that our breath is prayer for the world.
We are refreshed
as we claim the waters of life,
whose rush announces birth,
water of life that nourishes seed,
cleans and soothes each of us,
reminding us of our thirst to be
in relationship with the source of all life.
Holy one,
we pray that we might express our gratitude for your gift of creation
by walking and living gently in this universe,
that we might learn to protect the earth
and all elements that surround her.
May our gratitude find expression
in our caring.
November 22, 1998