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Sample Interfaith Thanksgiving Worship Service
(2014)
A SUGGESTED ORDER OF WORSHIP
Prelude(s)
Choir/Congregational Hymn(s)/Instrumental(s)
Gathering/Opening Song
Congregation gathers in silence. Clergy enter and take their appropriate places.
A formal procession of service participants is not necessary.
OR
Formal procession of liturgical ministers into the sanctuary.
An instrumental processional.
OR
A gathering hymn may be sung by the Congregations. (Please list of suggested
hymns.
Announcements
Host pastor (or other) welcomes those who gather for this celebration. Any
special announcements regarding the Offering, Fellowship time following the
service, etc, should be made during this time, so as not to disturb the rhythm and
flow of the service.
Welcome
We come together to remember and give thanks for our ancestors who, after
enduring religious persecution in their native England and for twelve years in
Holland, the pilgrims sailed for North America. They were modest women and
men with a great hop and inward conviction. They rested in the providence of
God that He was leading them to a land of religious freedom.
After arriving in this new land, they faced disease, famine, devastating winters
and many dangers. The first harvest occurred in the autumn of 1621. Their own
seed had barely grown, but the Native Americans had shown them how to plant
corn which yielded a huge harvest. On the first Thanksgiving, they celebrated
God’s goodness to them, along with a party of ninety Native Americans. Their
thanksgiving feast lasted three days.
-2At this, our celebration, we are invited to embrace the true intent of Thanksgiving.
Let us acknowledge the many blessings which are ours; let us think of our
families and let us give thanks in our hearts as we gather to pray.
(For an Interfaith gathering with an Islamic presence, consider inviting a
Muslim to offer the Call to Prayer (Adhan). If there is no Islamic
participation, please omit this option.)
Allahu Akbar
(God is great, repeated four times)
Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah
(I bear witness that there is no god except the One God, said two times.)
Ashadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah
(I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God, said two times.)
Hayya ‘ala-s-Salah
(Hurry to prayer/Rise up for prayer, said two times.)
Hayya ‘ala-l-Falah
(Hurry to success/Rise up for Salvation, said two times.)
Allahu Akbar
(God is Great, said two times.)
La ilaha illa Allah
(There is no god except the One God.)
Invitation to Prayer.
Opening Prayer (said by all)
Readings from Hebrew Scriptures
Suggested Readings:
Leviticus 19:9-18
Isaiah 1:14-17
Leviticus 23:22-24
Isaiah 12:1-6
Deuteronomy 8:7-18
Isaiah 25:1-6
Deuteronomy 16:13-17
Isaiah 55:9-13
Micah 4:1-4
Isaiah 58:1-13
Joel 2:21-17
Psalms: 8, 24, 65, 113, 118, 122, 126, 136, 143
(In the case of the presence of members of other religious traditions,
appropriate selections from their Sacred Writings may be used.)
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Psalm Response (May be sung or recited)
Option 1: Psalm 100
Leader:
All:
Leader:
All:
Leader:
All:
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into His presence with singing!
Know that the LORD is God!
It is He that makes us, and we are His;
We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to Him, bless His name!
For the LORD is good;
His steadfast love endures forever,
and His faithfulness to all generations.
Option 2: A Musical Setting or Responsorial Psalm of Thanksgiving
e.g., “All People That on Earth Do Dwell,” “How Great Thou Art”, etc.)
Reading From Sacred Scripture – Christian Scriptures
Suggested Readings:
Matthew 5:3-10
Matthew 6:8-15
Matthew 6:25-33
Luke 12:15-21
Luke 17:11-19
Matthew 12.18-21
Romans 12:9-21
1 Corinthians 13
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
1 Timothy 2:1-7
James 2:14-17
(The number and placement of readings from Sacred Scripture would be at the
discretion of the Local planning committee and/or the Guest Speaker.)
Sermon/Homily (followed by a period of Silent Reflection)
Hymn [if desired] (A choral selection or congregational singing may take
place.)
Prayer of Confession
Offering
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Suggested items for the Offertory collection:
Monetary donations/Non-perishable food items/Clothing items/Toiletries
Instrumental/Music during the Offertory
As the Offertory is taken among the faithful, it is recommended that a hymn is
played as an instrumental item. When the Offertory is brought forward to be
received, the congregation is then invited to sing the hymn that has been played
during the Offertory. (e.g). It would also be an appropriate time for a choral
anthem to be offered, or another musical item.
Thanksgiving after the Offering
All that we have, gracious God, is a gift from your love and grace. May these gifts we
offer to you bring joy to those in sorrow, comfort to those in distress, and healing to those
who are wounded. Amen.
Prayer of Intercession
Concluding Prayer
|The Lord’s Prayer
Gathering all of our prayers and praise into one, let us pray as Jesus, our Savior
and Brother, has taught us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done, one earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us,
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.|
Sending Forth Prayer
Hymn
Postlude(s)
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Suggested Hymns
We Gather Together
Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
All People that on Earth Do Dwell
Now Thank we all our God
O God, Beneath Thy Guiding Hand
O God, Beyond All Praising
For the Beauty of the Earth
Canticle of the Sun
Mountains are Aglow
What Gifts can we Bring
All Good Gifts
The God of Abraham Praise
Eternal Father, Strong to Save
We Plow the Fields and Scatter
Praise and Thanksgiving
America the Beautiful
Prayer of St Francis
For the fruits of this Creation
Thank you, Lord