Now Thank We All Our God (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 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.
Text: Martin Rinkhart; Music: Johann Crüger; Public Domain
Devotion
October 13 is Thanksgiving Day in Canada, where I was thankfully called to serve for ten years, where I pray to return. The sojourn and citizenship in Canada shaped my faith adventure through learning to welcome from birth the diversity of others on their terms, to experience through service to and stories of others the paradox in which we welcome all as gifts of Almighty God. Canadians seem to affirm a values based life, not one narrowly driven by the value of personal profit. In this week’s readings we have heard and felt the healing power of a life based in gratitude for the grace of God. The stories of Naaman, Elisha, the Psalm of Praise, the wisdom of Paul and his intern, Timothy, the healing of an Alien who was welcomed into community by virtue of his gratitude for Jesus, all keep us turning, turning thankfully toward the simple gifts of God, Creator, Redeemer and Forgiver.
Prayer
Master, you know our love, broken and halting as it is. And yet you accept our thanksgiving and praise for who you are, the one who gave us yourself innocently in death, and forgive us over and over again. Help us to live in the hope that we may approach you and live in thanksgiving for your gracious gifts. Amen.