| Worship
of Thanks and Gratitude
with Renée Miller
Download this guided prayer
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Preparation
for Prayer
As you prepare to pray, quiet your soul and notice the fullness
in your heart as you bring your awareness to the presence of the
Holy One all around you and in you.
Chant
“#18—As now the sun shines down at noon”
Let your eyes look deep within
Find the blessings you’ve been given
Feel your heart o’erflow in gratitude
Then lift your soul right up to heav’n.
Text:
Renée Miller
Music: "Conditor memoria, plainsong, Mode 2"
Hymnal 1982
Opening
Sentence
“No one is as capable of gratitude as one who has emerged
from the kingdom of night.”
—Elie
Wiesel
“Give
thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus for you.”
—I
Thessalonians 5:18
A
Psalm
“The Lord is faithful in all his words and merciful in all
his deeds.
The Lord upholds all those who fall; he lifts up those who are bowed
down.
The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, and you give them their food
in due season.
You open wide your hand and satisfy the needs of every living creature.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving in all his works.
The Lord is near to those who call upon him, to all who call upon
him faithfully.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he hears their cry
and helps them.”
—Psalm
145: 14-20
A
Reading from the Bible
“When he saw that he was healed, he turned back, praising
God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet,
giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then said Jesus, ‘Were
not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return
and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ And he said
to him, ‘Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.’”
—Luke
17: 15-19
Reflection
followed by Silence
Now close your eyes for a time of brief reflection and meditation.
Take a deep breath and quiet your soul.
A seeker once went to the holy woman in the desert because life
had become too chaotic and he yearned to have balance and order
restored within him. The desert woman said to him, “Your life
is chaotic because you have become dependent on change, on excitement,
on variety. You want always to experience something new instead
of finding what is new through the repetition of what seems old.
If you would have balance and order within, do one small thing at
the same time each day with gratitude in your heart and slowly the
tattered fragments of your life will be bound together into a textured
tapestry of beauty. It does not take great doses of hardship –
only one small thing done every day at the same time with gratitude
in your heart. One small thing every day, at the same time, with
gratitude in your heart. One small thing, every day, same time,
with gratitude. And that will be enough.” Ask yourself the
question: How does the activity of my life keep me from practicing
gratitude?
Invitation
to Prayer
Take some moments now to offer the concerns of your heart to heaven.
Remember those who are in pain, those who are afraid, those who
are alone, those whom you love, those who are dying, and those who
are already in heaven, and pray for the needs of your own life.
(Silence)
Prayer
“Gracious God, my heart is ready to burst with joy. I feel
like a flower wanting to push through the dark winter soil to display
its beauty to the world. I want everyone to feel the wonder of life
that I feel at this moment. Let my wonder and joy shine so that
those who are under a veil of sadness this day, may find their sorrows
lifted, if only for a moment. I ask this for the sake of your love.
Amen.”
Blessing
May God’s blessing so fill your soul with gratitude and grace
this day that your heart gives voice to the silent song within.
Chant
When the heart is grateful, pushed outward in praise
Even troubles hard to bear, heavenward are raised.
Let God’s blessing come to you, let your soul be still
Then release the blessings to the world at will.
Text: Renee Miller
Music: "Adoro
devote, French church melody, Mode 5,"
Hymnal 1982
Copyright
©2007 Renee
Miller
The
music accompanying this worship session is "From the Attic
Window," by Daniel Foster Johnson, © 2006. To learn more
about Daniel Foster Johnson, or to purchase his CD From the
Attic Window, please visit his web
site.
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