October 8th, 2023

God of all blessings,
source of all life,
giver of good gifts:
we thank you for the gift of life,
for the breath that sustains life,
for the food of this earth that nurtures life,
for the love of family and friends
without which there would be no life.

We thank you for the gifts of creation:
for the beauty that the eye can see, colours, landscapes, and seascapes
for the joy that the ear can hear,
geese winging their way southward, rain gently falling,

for the delights of tastes and flavours

berries and melons, tomatoes and squash

.
We thank you O God, for setting us in communities:
for families who nurture our becoming,
for friends who love us by choice,
for companions at work,
who share our burdens and daily tasks,
for strangers who welcome us into their midst,
for people from other lands and cultures
who call us to grow in understanding,
for children who lighten our moments with delight.

In silence or aloud we name our thanksgivings to you, O God…..

We also thank you O God, for your faithful presence amidst the

troubles and sufferings of the world and our lives.

Draw near the grieving, the lonely, the weak.

Grant strength to those enduring treatments and their side effects,

those awaiting medical tests and next steps.

Surround with peace those living with limitations of many kinds

and those whose unhealed hearts burn within.

Hold with comfort those walking the shadow of death and their loved ones.

In silence or aloud we name our need to you, O God ……

We raise our thanks to you God, who hears our laments

and our words of praise,

who cares for the world, our loved ones, and our needs.

We give thanks that you open new possibilities, new beginnings, new life

that stir our hearts again with thanksgiving and praise.

For all your good gifts, your love, and your amazing grace

we lift our hearts in thanksgiving in Jesus’ name. Amen