Morning Worship for Thanksgiving Day 2021
Daily Morning Prayer
Thanksgiving Day (RCL Year B) November 25, 2021
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
Sunday at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)
Special thanks to Ms. Toni Blue, Ms. Idella Jones, and Ms. Evadne Roberts for reading and offering responses throughout this pre-filmed service, just as they regularly do on our weekday Zoom Evening Prayer videos!
Morning Prayer, Rite II
[BCP, p. 75]
Give thanks to the Lord, and call upon his Name; make known his deeds among the peoples.
[Psalm 105:1; BCP, p. 78]
The Invitatory and Psalter
[BCP, p. 80]
Lord, open our lips.
And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Alleluia!
Jubilate
[Psalm 100; BCP, p. 81-83]
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God:
Come let us adore him.
Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; * serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song.
Know this: The Lord himself is God; * he himself has made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise; * give thanks to him and call upon his Name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; * and his faithfulness endures from age to age.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God:
Come let us adore him.
Psalm 126
[BCP, p. 782]
Read responsively by whole verse.
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, * then were we like those who dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, * and our tongue with shouts of joy.
3 Then they said among the nations, * "The Lord has done great things for them."
4 The Lord has done great things for us, * and we are glad indeed.
5 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, * like the watercourses of the Negev.
6 Those who sowed with tears * will reap with songs of joy.
7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, * will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
A Reading from the Prophet Joel (2:21-27)
Do not fear, O soil; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things! Do not fear, you animals of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit, the fig tree and vine give their full yield. O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before. The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame. You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
LEV #76: Jesus in the Morning
1 Jesus, Jesus, Jesus in the morning
Jesus in the noontime;
Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus when the sun goes down!
2 Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him in the morning
Praise Him in the noontime;
Praise Him, Praise Him,
Praise Him when the sun goes down!
3 Love Him, Love Him, Love Him in the morning
Love Him in the noontime;
Love Him, Love Him,
Love Him when the sun goes down!
4 Serve Him, Serve Him, Serve Him, in the morning
Serve Him in the noontime;
Serve Him, Serve Him,
Serve Him when the sun goes down!
5 Jesus, Jesus, Jesus in the morning
Jesus in the noontime;
Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus when the sun goes down!
Words: Traditional, Public Domain.
Music: Negro Spiritual, Public Domain.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #92238. All rights reserved.
A Reading from the First Letter to Timothy (2:1-7)
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For
there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all
-- this was attested at the right time. For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn #377: All People That On Earth Do Dwell
1 All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the Lord with cheerful voice:
him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell,
come ye before him and rejoice.
2 Know that the Lord is God indeed;
without our aid he did us make:
we are his folk, he doth us feed,
and for his sheep he doth us take.
3 O enter then his gates with praise,
approach with joy his courts unto;
praise, laud, and bless his Name always,
for it is seemly so to do.
4 For why? the Lord our God is good;
his mercy is for ever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure.
5 To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
the God whom heaven and earth adore,
from men and from the angel host
be praise and glory evermore.
Words: William Kethe, para. of Psalm 100, Public Domain.
Music: Old 100th, alt.; harm. after Louis Bourgeois, Public Domain.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #84238. All rights reserved.
A Reading from the Gospel According to St. Matthew (6:25-33)
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."
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Homily
"Do Not Worry" by The Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda
Today is a funny day to hear Jesus telling us not to worry about what we will eat or drink. I don’t know about your households, but whenever I have been a part of hosting a big holiday meal, there are several days of preparation involved in making it happen. It’s not always all-out “worry”, but there is… an anxious anticipation about all the work that remains to be done, often in a precise order based on the size of the kitchen and appliances. And all of that must be done around work and travel schedules. Holidays like Thanksgiving are meant to be joyful times, but they can very easily become anxious ones (especially if you aren’t excited about seeing everyone who will gather around the dinner table today).
But if you are pausing your meal preparation at 9:30 AM on Thanksgiving Day to pray and worship with us virtually, you’re probably in decent shape to host later. I may be preaching to the wrong crowd. But if you’re like me, you might have this on in the background as you manage multiple pots on the stove and trays in the oven, trying not to snap one more time at your family members who you think are either helping too much or not helping enough. Or you might be the one getting snapped at for not helping in the kitchen.
Even still, we come back to Jesus’ words appointed for us on Thanksgiving Day: “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?” (Matt 6:25). When you’re caught up in the stress of the holidays, it might not be that helpful to hear me or even Jesus tell you not to worry. How often does that line work on other people? Most of the time, saying “don’t worry about it” doesn’t solve anyone’s worries.
But that’s the thing on a day like today. We’re not simply telling one another not to worry. We are also inviting one another to give thanks. Because the act of thanksgiving, the practice of offering gratitude to God and your neighbor, is the very remedy we need for our worries and anxieties. In addition to things like therapy and medication in cases of clinical anxiety, Christians believe that thanksgiving is a way to let go of our worries and walk more confidently in God’s grace and mercy.
With today’s New Testament lesson, we offer thanksgivings for all because it is “right and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Tim 2:3). With the prophet Joel, we “rejoice” at God’s gift of creation, the cycles of the seasons that provide food and more to nourish us (Joel 2:21, 23). With the psalmist, we celebrate that “The Lord has done great things for us” (Psalm 126:4).
And when we make a concerted effort to rejoice and give thanks for the big things and the little things, we gain some perspective. We are better prepared to see the many gifts God has given us and continues to give us. We can see that God provides so many good things for us. We are not alone but God is present and active with us. God is giving us undeserved mercy all the time; God is gracious to us so that we have all we need physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And if for some reason, you don’t have all those things you need, God can send help.
Try to take a few minutes today to journal, meditate, or pray about some of the things you are thankful for. One of my family traditions (that I think is pretty common), is to take a few minutes as we were setting the table for dinner to go around the room and share one thing we were thankful for in the last year. Sometimes it’s awkward or stilted (and in my house, we sometimes speak two languages even if not everyone understands), but it’s always valuable. Even if you’re not much of a talker, taking that time to give thanks to God, either silently or aloud, is good for you. Giving thanks doesn’t erase our problems or make all our worries disappear, but it can help us see things in a new light. Either way, don’t let your acts of thanksgiving and gratitude end today, but carry them with you and let God change and renew you through them. Amen.
AAHH #367: Come Out the Wilderness
1 Tell me, how did you feel when you come out the wilderness,
come out the wilderness, come out the wilderness.
Tell me, how did you feel when you come out the wilderness, leaning on the Lord?
REFRAIN:
I am leaning on the Lord,
I am leaning on the Lord,
I am leaning on the Lord who died on Calvary.
2 Did you get baptized when you come out the wilderness,
come out the wilderness, come out the wilderness.
Did you get baptized when you come out the wilderness,
leaning on the Lord? [REFRAIN]
3 Did your soul feel happy when you come out the wilderness,
come out the wilderness, come out the wilderness.
Did your soul feel happy when you come out the wilderness,
leaning on the Lord? [REFRAIN]
Words: Negro Spiritual, Public Domain.
Music: Negro Spiritual, Public Domain; arr. Evelyn Simpson-Curenton © 2000 GIA Publications, Inc.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #84238. All rights reserved.
The Apostles' Creed
[BCP, p. 96]
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer
[BCP, p. 97]
V: The Lord be with you.
R: And also with you.
Let us pray.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on 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.
Suffrages B
[BCP, p. 98]
V. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
R. Govern and uphold them, now and always.
V. Day by day we bless you;
R. We praise your name for ever.
V. Lord, keep us from all sin today;
R. Have mercy upon us, Lord, have mercy.
V. Lord, show us your love and mercy;
R. For we put our trust in you.
V. In you, Lord, is our hope;
R. And we shall never hope in vain.
Collect of the Day: Thanksgiving Day
[BCP, p. 246]
Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Collect of the Day: Proper 29
[BCP, p. 236]
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for Guidance
[BCP, p. 100]
Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Offertory
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Offertory Hymn: Thank You, Lord
1 Thank You, Lord,
Thank You, Lord,
Thank You, Lord,
I just want to thank You, Lord.
2 Been so good,
Been so good,
Been so good,
I just want to thank You, Lord.
Words: Traditional [see AAHH #531], Public Domain.
Music: Negro spiritual, Public Domain; arrangement by Guillermo A. Arboleda
All Rights Reserved.
A Litany of Thanksgiving
[BCP, p. 836]
Let us give thanks to God our Father for all his gifts so freely bestowed upon us. For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky and sea. We thank you, Lord. For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ, We thank you, Lord. For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our friends, We thank you, Lord. For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve, We thank you, Lord. For health and strength to work, and leisure to rest and play, We thank you, Lord. For the brave and courageous, who are patient in suffering and faithful in adversity, We thank you, Lord. For all valiant seekers after truth, liberty, and justice, We thank you, Lord. For the communion of saints, in all times and places, We thank you, Lord. Above all, we give you thanks for the great mercies and promises given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord; To him be praise and glory, with you, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
Concluding Sentences
[BCP, p. 102]
Let us bless the Lord!
Thanks be to God!
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus forever and ever. Amen.
Permissions: This service is reproduced from The Book of Common Prayer 1979 (BCP), The Hymnal 1982 (Hymn), Lift Every Voice and Sing II: An African American Hymnal (LEV), African American Heritage Hymnal (AAHH) and other sources cited. Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture readings and quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible
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