CALL TO PRAYER
Leader
Creator God, God of changing seasons,
of shorter days and longer nights.
of gray skies and brisk winds,
of fallen leaves and faded flowers.
All
We gather this day in your Name, mindful of the seasons of
our lives and of our organization, mindful of the passing of
time and of the shortness of time in which to plant the seeds
and harvest the fruit of your Kingdom. Be with us this day.
Heighten our awareness of the abundance of gifts and opportunities
you have given us to carry out your healing work in this world.
Strengthen our commitment to take the fullest advantage of the
precious but ever fleeting time you have given us so that the
harvest of our lives and that of our organization will be abundant.
We ask this in faith. Amen.
READING
It is customary to understand autumn as synchronous with old age. In the autumn
of your life, your experience is harvested. This is a lovely backdrop against
which we can understand aging. Aging is not merely about the body losing its
poise, strength, and self-trust. Aging also invites you to gather lost moments
and experiences, bring them together, and hold them as one. In this way, you
unify yourself and achieve a new strength, poise, and belonging that was never
available to you when you were distractedly rushing through your days.
Wisdom is often associated with the harvest time of life.
That which is scattered has no unity, whereas that which is
gathered comes home to unity and belonging. Wisdom is a way
of linking the whole of life together in a new and deeper unity.
Older people are great treasure-houses of wisdom.
(Adapted from Anam Cara, John O'Donohue, Harper Collins,
New York, 1998.)
CLOSING PRAYER
| Reader 1 | For all that we have, |
| All | We thank you, bountiful God. |
| Reader 2 | For all that we have had, |
| All | We thank you, bountiful God. |
| Reader 3 | For all that we will have, |
| All | We thank you, bountiful God. |
| Reader 4 | For what we are, |
| All | We thank you, bountiful God. |
| Reader 5 | For what we have been, |
| All | We thank you, bountiful God. |
| Reader 6 | For what we can be, |
| All | We thank you, bountiful God. |
| Reader 7 | For what we will be, as individuals and as an organization, |
| All | We thank you, bountiful God. |
Leader
Let the darkening days, the chill of a Fall night, and the smell of fallen
leaves remind us of the changing of seasons and the passing of time — the changing
of our seasons and the passing of our time.
Grant us the wisdom to not take the precious gift of time
for granted or any of the many other gifts you have given us.
Rather, awaken in us a keen sense of how short is the time in
which to sow the seeds of a bountiful harvest.
All
We ask this in your name. Amen.
CLOSING SONG
Choose a Thanksgiving theme; for example, "For the Beauty of
the Earth" or "For the Fruits of this Creation."