A Thanksgiving Prayer

Abba, our Father
Amma, our Mother,
Creator, our God,

We thank you for the opportunity to gather together and celebrate life -
To reflect upon the joys of life lived together,
and to give thanks for all of the blessings we receive from you.

We thank you, O God, for creation.
For the faithful rising of the sun,
For rain and waters that bring forth vegetation,
For the fruit of the land and the harvest of the field.
We thank you for the entire created order, upon which we depend.

We thank you, O God, for community.
For family and friends who bring us joy and support us,
For friends and family with whom we share bonds of love so strong that
they cannot be broken by even the darkest of life's circumstances.
We thank you for our sisters and brothers here at this table and around the world.

We thank you, O God, for our health.
For the well-being of our bodies and your breath of life in us.
For meeting our physical needs in the midst of our frailty.
We thank you for sustaining us in health and wellness.

We thank you today, O God, for the passing of another year.
For bringing us to this table again as a symbol of both your providence
and of our commitment to one another.
For the past year's experiences, new relationships, and new beginnings.
We thank you for the journey.

We thank you, O God, for the food we are about to eat.
And for the laborers who have played a part in every small detail of this celebration.
For the workers of the fields and the employees of the factories;
For the drivers of trucks and the farmers of crops.
We thank you for all the people responsible for this meal.

For all of these things we thank you, O God,
As they are all evidence of your steadfast love,
Your overflowing grace,
and your faithful presence in our lives.

Thank you.
Amen.