Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Pentecost +27
Thanksgiving Sunday
Revelation 1:4b-8
John 18:33-37
Call to Worship (from Revelation 1)
One: Grace to you and peace,
from the One who is, who was and who is to come.
Many: Grace to you, from Jesus Christ.
One: To the One who loves us be glory forever!
Many: We’ve come to worship the Alpha and the Omega.
One: We’re gathered to give thanks to Jesus Christ,
Many: for Jesus is the firstborn of the dead, bringing Life to us all.
Opening Prayer
Holy God, before time existed, you already were creating the wonders of the cosmos.
Yet it’s here we turn our hearts and minds to this time of worship.
Thank you for your presence among us.
Thank you for bringing us together.
Thank you for the love which binds us to you and to one another.
Hear us as we offer you a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.
AMEN
Moment for Stewardship
On this Thanksgiving Sunday, perhaps someone in your congregation who attended a Disciple school could invite people to share a special day offering to support the work of Disciple colleges and seminaries.
Or, you could use resources from Disciples Mission Fund by clicking here.
Or, ask 3 different people to each share 1 minute to finish this sentence:
“I give money to this congregation because I’m thankful for _________.” and share a closing sentence –
“with thankful hearts, please share your financial gift as a sign of your gratitude for the ministry of this congregation.”
Prayer of Thanksgiving
With gratitude for all the blessings you pour into our lives, Generous God, we offer these gifts back to you. We pray they will be used to increase your Realm of peace. Bless all who have given gifts this day, that they may truly be part of the Way you showed to a yearning world through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ, Ruler of all. AMEN.
Invitation to Communion
In John’s Revelation, Jesus says “I am the Alpha and the Omega”. Those are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, so it’s like saying “I am the beginning and the end”.
When we come to this table, we recognize a time warp capacity built into it.
We gather round this table and think of the beginning for this meal of remembrance: Jesus in an upper room with his disciples, encouraging them to remember him every time they broke bread and shared a cup poured out “for the forgiveness of sins”.
We also anticipate what John imagined at the end of time: Jesus seated on a throne, “ruler of the kings of the earth”. In that future scene, thousands gather to fall on their knees to honor, praise and worship.
And in between the beginning and the end comes what is: this sanctuary, this congregation, this final Sunday of another church year.
All are welcome to share in this meal:
a feast remembering Jesus in the upper room,
a feast in anticipation,
believing “Love wins” at the end of time,
a feast in gratitude for what is here and now.