October 7 – World Communion Sunday

Thanksgiving Sunday and Last of Creation Time

 

Joel 2:21–27

Do not fear, O soil, for God will provide.

 

Psalm 126 (VU p. 850)

Those who sow in tears reap in joy.

 

1 Timothy 2:1–7

Offer prayers for everyone.

 

Matthew 6:25–33

Do not worry about what you will eat or drink.

Spark

On Thanksgiving Sunday, we have a tendency to decorate our worship space and communion table with symbols of a bountiful harvest. However, as we witness climate change, farmers are seeing flooded fields, later planting, and poorer yields. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we need to have an awareness of how the year has been for those who produce our food and look for different ways to be grateful in times and circumstances where there have been food-producing difficulties.

Theme Engagement Question

What is your faith harvest at this time of year? As an individual? As a congregation?

With Children

Begin by acknowledging Thanksgiving and getting folks thinking about all for which they are thankful. To explore gratitude with the whole gathered community and not just the children, pass out sticky notes and pens to everyone. Ask congregants to write one thing for which they are thankful on each note. Help the younger members think of something and write it down for them. Then invite everyone forward to stick their notes to a “Wall of Thanks” (a designated wall or prominent area near the front). To close, read aloud some of the notes or integrate them into a prayer now or later in the service.

Sermon Starter

Although it is Thanksgiving, the gospel reading addresses worry head on. This can easily connect to congregation members because anxiety disorders are the most prevalent type of mental illness in Canada. What types of worries would your congregation members be holding this week? For example, think of those who are stressed members of the sandwich generation, trying to meet the needs of family members of both younger and older generations. Or is the congregation worried about its future? Both the gospel and the Hebrew scripture readings proclaim the good news that God does provide. In the midst of worry, how do you see God providing? How can worry move to gratitude?

Hymns

Hebrew Scripture

VU 288            “Great is thy faithfulness”

VU 516            “Come, you thankful people, come”

MV 42             “Praise God for this holy ground”

 

Psalm

VU 232            “Joyful, joyful”

VU p. 884        “You shall go out with joy”

MV 40             “Never ending joy”

 

Epistle

VU 236            “Now thank we all our God”

MV 185           “Ev’ry day is a day of thanksgiving”

MV 188           “I thank you, thank you, Jesus”

 

Gospel

VU 696            “Homeless people, will you listen”

 

General

VU 468            “Let us talents and tongues employ”

MV 182           “Grateful”

MV 187           “We give our thanks”

MV 202           “Bread for the journey”