THANKSGIVING EVE

THANKSGIVING EVE
November 24, 2021

+ PREPARATION +

OPENING HYMN: #892 – Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.

OPENING SENTENCES      Psalm 104:24, 27–28, 30, 33
Pastor:            O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom have You made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures.
People:          These all look to You, to give them their food in due season.

Pastor: When You give it to them, they gather it up;
People: when You open Your hand, they are filled with good things.

Pastor: When You send forth Your Spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the ground.
People: I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;

Pastor: I will sing praise to my God while I have being.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION           1 Timothy 2:1, 4
Pastor:            Today is Thanksgiving, a day we set aside as a nation to give thanks to our God who graciously gives us all things. In one of Paul’s letters to Timothy, he urges that “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.” For each one of us there are people we struggle to be thankful for.
People:          We confess our struggles and our sins to God, seeking His forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

Silence for personal confession

Pastor: God created this world and everything in it, including all of the people who live in it. According to God’s gracious will, He “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Here’s the truth: God loves the people of this world so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, into the world so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. By the command of Christ and through the power of the cross, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.

+ WORD +

PSALM           Psalm 67; antiphon: v. 7
1May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
2that your way may be known on earth,
   your saving power among all nations.
3Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
4Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
   for you judge the peoples with equity
   and guide the nations upon earth.
5Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you!
6The earth has yielded its increase;
   God, our God, shall bless us.
7God shall bless us;
let all the ends of the earth fear him!

KYRIE
Pastor:            O Lord,
People:          have mercy.
Pastor:            O Christ,
People:          have mercy.
Pastor:             O Lord,
People:          have mercy.

SALUTATION and PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.

Pastor: Let us pray.
Gracious God, You provide us all we need for our bodies and lives. Lead us by Your Holy Spirit to see and be thankful for all of the blessings You give us, thanking You with our lips and our lives; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING Deuteronomy 8:1–10
(God’s instructions for His people as they prepare to enter the Promised Land)
1“The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. 2And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 5Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. 6So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. 7For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, 8a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, 9a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.”

Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

GRADUAL Psalm 145:15–16; 118:1
The eyes of all look to You, O Lord, and You give them their food in due season.
You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His steadfast love endures forever.

EPISTLE Philippians 4:6-20
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
10I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
14Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

VERSE Psalm 136:1
Alleluia. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. Alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL          Luke 17:11–19
(Jesus healed ten lepers, and only one thanked Him.)
Pastor:            The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the seventeenth chapter.
People:          Glory to You, O Lord.

11On the way to Jerusalem [Jesus] was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.

HYMN OF THE DAY: #809 – Great Is Thy Faithfulness

SERMON

Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
     maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
     born of the virgin Mary,
     suffered under Pontius Pilate,
     was crucified, died and was buried.
     He descended into hell.
     The third day He rose again from the dead.
     He ascended into heaven
     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
     From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
     the holy Christian Church,
          the communion of saints,
     the forgiveness of sins,
     the resurrection of the body,
     and the life + everlasting. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Pastor: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. Thank You, Lord,
People: for food, health, clothing, and our homes.

Pastor: Thank You, Lord,
People: for the many freedoms we enjoy in this land.

Pastor: Thank You, Lord,
People: for leaders, teachers, preachers, family, and friends.

Pastor: Thank You, Lord,
People: for the gifts You give to Your Church,

Pastor: Thank You, Lord,
People: for Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, forgiveness, grace, hope, and Your Word.

Silence for giving thanks to God

Pastor: Thank You, Lord, for Jesus Christ, Your only Son, through whom You give us the gifts of forgiveness and eternal life in Your kingdom.
People: Thanks be to God. Amen!

LORD’S PRAYER      Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name,
      Thy kingdom come,
      Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven;
      give us this day our daily bread;
      and forgive us our trespasses
            as we forgive those who trespass against us;
      and lead us not into temptation,
      but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom             and the power and the glory
      forever and ever. Amen.

CLOSING PRAYER
Pastor: Let us pray.
Almighty God, You have graciously guided Your people to lands unseen in the past and have strengthened and prospered them. We thank You for giving us life in our country. As you have led, guided, and provided for Your people throughout history, we ask You to graciously do that for us as well; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.

BENEDICTION         Psalm 67:1; Numbers 6:24–26
Pastor:             May God be gracious to us and bless us
People:          and make His face to shine upon us.

Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.
People: Amen.

DISMISSAL
Pastor: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God.

CLOSING HYMN: #643 – Sent Forth by God’s Blessing