The Great Thanksgiving

 

I grew up in a faith tradition that didn’t much believe in written liturgy.

Even though we had a set order of worship that rarely changed,

We believed, at our core, in the spontaneity of worship.

The welcome, announcements, transitions, prayers, and sermons,

Were all led by the Holy Spirit.  

 

As I’ve gotten away from the faith tradition of my youth,

I’ve discovered the beauty in written liturgy

And I’ve become a fan of writing out my words before saying them when leading worship.

I’ve also become a fan of the predictability of written liturgy.

There is comfort in knowing the words that come next—

The confessions, the songs, the prayers, the creeds—

They hold rich meaning and depth

Just as they hold me in the safety of their routine.

 

Some of the liturgy also makes me stupidly happy!

Every week that I’m in attendance at my church,

Without fail,

I begin to grin when we come to The Great Thanksgiving.

 

The pastor sings:

The Lord be with you.

We reply:

And also with you.

P: Lift up your hearts.

C: We lift them to the Lord.

P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

 

And then, at least in one version of the liturgy, she continues:

It is our duty and delight

That we should everywhere and in all things

Give thanks and praise to you O Lord

In Jesus Christ….

 

And then she continues with something that I don’t have memorized. Yet.

But I have the whole conversation above memorized,

And I burst into song with it a couple of times a week,

Singing both parts to myself,

Or singing it with a friend,

And finding hope and encouragement and happiness

Each time that I do 😊.

 

God: May we be a people who worship through both spontaneity and plan. And however we find to worship, may we simply do it. For you are good. And you are working with us to create good. And that deserves a Great Thanksgiving. Amen.