Now Thank We All Our God (ELW 840)
1 Now thank we all our God
with hearts and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom this world rejoices;
who, from our mothers’ arms,
has blest us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
2 Oh, may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
and keep us all in grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all harm
in this world and the next.
3 All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son, and Spirit blest,
who reign in highest heaven,
the one eternal God,
whom earth and heav’n adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
Devotion
Tomorrow is Canadian Thanksgiving Day, so today is our Thanksgiving Sunday. As I look back over the readings this week and the year that has passed since the last Thanksgiving Sunday, I am overwhelmed by all the acts of God for which we can do nothing but offer our thanks and praise. We currently live in breadbasket country where monstrous combines pull in bountiful harvests year after year. We have lived by the ocean, and in the mountains in a country that spans sea to sea to sea with God’s creation showing itself in unimaginable majesty. From the subatomic particles to the largest star in the universe, God’s creation boggles the mind.
As we sing this hymn of thanksgiving, may God inspire us to take good care of this beautiful world that God has entrusted to us. Let us share its bounty with all those in need who cannot access that bounty on their own. Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices.
Prayer
Creator God, you have surrounded us with all that we need to live. Make us good stewards of your creation so that the vineyard you have created us to be will bear much fruit to your honor and glory. Amen.