Thanksgiving A

Thanksgiving A
October 11, 2011 (Canada)
November 24, 2011 (U.S.)

Click on Scripture Lessons below for study links and resources for each individual pericope:

Deuteronomy 8:7-18
Roman Catholic reading: Deuteronomy 8:7-18, Sirach 50:22-24, or 1 Kings 8:55-61

Psalm 65
Roman Catholic reading: Psalm 113:1-8 or Psalm 138:1-5

2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Roman Catholic reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Colossians 3:12-17, or 1 Timothy 6:6-11, 17-19

Luke 17:11-19
Roman Catholic reading: Luke 17:11-19 or Mark 5:18-20 or Luke 12:15-21

Reading and Studying the Text This Week

Texts:
- Illustrated lectionary readings at Vanderbilt Divinity Library.
- Lectionary readings from the Episcopal Lectionary.
- Roman Catholic Lectionary Readings (Thanksgiving Day) from the New American Bible.
- The Roman Catholic Lectionary for Mass (1998 USA Edition). At Felix Just S.J.'s The Roman Catholic Lectionary For Mass - a site featuring comprehensive tables of editions of the Roman Catholic Lectionary.
- Lutheran lectionary calendar, Year A, from the ELCA site.
- United Methodist lectionary readings.
- Free Church version for Baptist, Reformed, and Congregational use Revised Common Lectionary Readings.
- ELCIC Worship Planning Calendar, lectionary citations with and without hymn suggestions, text and pdf formats.
Special Day Resources:
- Thanksgiving, Wikipedia.
- Thanksgiving Links, United Methodist Church Board of Global Ministries.
- Resources for Thanksgiving at Bass Mitchell's Special Days and Services site.
- "In Praise and Thanksgiving," Patrick D. Miller, Jr., Princeton Theological School. Theology Today, 1988.
Commentary, Exegesis & Sermon Preparation (see also listings at individual scripture pages, linked in listings at top of page):
- Lexegete, David Buehler, Yr. Obdt. Svt., 2011.
- Only the grateful believe -- Commentary/exegesis for Thanksgiving, Wayne Brouwer, Emphasis.
- John Shearman's Lectionary, Canadian Thanksgiving, 2011, Rev. John Shearman, Oakville, ON, Canada.
Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
Lectionary Reflections, Discussions & Weblogs:
- Ministry Matters free worship resources (was Cokesbury Resources), November 20, 2011.
- "Honest Gratitude," Helene Tallon Russell, Charles W. Allen, Holly Hearon, Out In Scripture: An Honest Encounter Between Our , Human Rights Campaign, 2008. (LGBT perspective)
- "Broken Bodies, Breaking Bread," Daniel Deffenbaugh, Seeds of Shalom, 2008.
- Desperate Preacher's Site: sermons, discussions, liturgical material and other resources.
Sermons (see also listings at individual scripture pages, linked in listings at top of page)
- Selected Sermon, Thanksgiving (RCL), Katerina K. Whitley, in Worship that Works, ECUSA, 2011.
- Selected Sermon, Thanksgiving (RCL), the Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Pagano, in Worship that Works, ECUSA, 2008.
- "What Is Grace Calling You to Be?" Thanksgiving Holiday - 24 November 2005, David Zersen, Göttinger Predigten im Internet: Every Sunday Sermons based on the RCL by a team of Lutheran theologians/ pastors.
Group Studies & Discussion/Reflection Questions:
A list of links to on-line Bibles and general Bible study resources.
A list of links to scholarly and preaching discussion groups and their homepages.
A list of links to other lectionary-based preaching and worship resources.

OnLine Worship and Liturgy Resources

The Text This Week's Pentecost Resources Page contains resources and images.
Complete Liturgies and General Worship Planning Resources:
- Gathering, from the United Church of Canada. Includes sermon seeds, liturgical ideas, "with children," hymn suggestions, choral suggestions etc, 2011. (Terms of Use)
- Harvesting the World, Starters for Sunday, Church of Scotland.
- A Thanksgiving Liturgy of Gratitude, Prayer, Song, and Feast, Carl Gregg, Patheos, 2011.
- Ministry Matters free worship resources (was Cokesbury Resources), November 20, 2011.
- Not By Our Own Strength -- Worship resources, Frank Ramirez, SermonStudio.
- Lectionary Liturgies, Thanksgiving Day A, Thom M. Shuman, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 2011.
- Worship Resources, November 20, 2011, Rev Mindi, Rev-o-lution.
- A Day of National Thanksgiving, Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
- Thanksgiving: a service of thanks and praise, social awareness and commitment, Thanksgiving, a service of praise for the blessings of creation and life, Thanksgiving, remembering God's care for us, Worship Resources by Lisa Frenz, Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, Portland, OR.
- "Service after the Manner of the Pilgrims," Rev. Dr. Carol L. Kerr, Blue Point Congregational Church (UCC), Maine.
- Inclusive Language Seekers Liturgies from Seekers Church:
  - "Responding from the Heart" (2003)
  - "Crossings: Looking Ahead, Looking Back," (2002)
  - "Keeping the Vigil" (2001)
  - "Stone Soup" (2000)
  - "Extravagant Gratitude" (1999)
  - "Gather Us In" (1998)
  - "Gratitude Begets Justice" (1997)
- Sermons and Liturgies for Year A, Richard J. Fairchild, United Church of Canada.
Prayers, Prefaces, Litanies, etc:
- Liberal Lectionary Resources, Rosalie Mann, 2011.
- Thematic, Intercessory and Scripture Prayers for the RCL, Vanderbilt Divinity Library.
Graphics and Bulletin Materials (see also listings at individual scripture pages, linked in listings at top of page)
- Art in the Christian Tradition, Jean and Alexander Heard, Vanderbilt Divinity Library. Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial ShareAlike 3.0 License.
- CHURCH PowerPoint, Thanksgiving (CA and US), Rev. Dorothy Okray. Free PowerPoint slides for Worship Services.
- "God Is Good! Give Thanks!" reflection by Dorette Saunders, eBulletins reflections, prayer reminders, activity corner, American Bible Society Bible Resource Center.
Hymns and Music:
- Musical Thanksgiving (hymn suggestions), United Methodist Church GBOD.
- “God, Your Blessings Overflow!,” an original hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette celebrates our many blessings, but also God’s comfort for those who are grieving during the holidays. Tune: DIX 7.7.7.7.7.7 (“For the Beauty of the Earth”).
- “All of Life is Filled With Wonder,” an original hymn by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette is a wonderful celebration of the many glimpses of grace in daily life that we too often overlook. Tune: IN BABILONE 8.7.8.7 D (“There's a Wideness in God's Mercy”).
- Hymn selections (United Methodist) and more from Hymnsite.com.
- Hymn Suggestions for the Sunday Lectionary (with lyrics and sound files) from the Oremus Hymnal. (Click "Hymn Suggestions for the Sunday Lectionary.")
- The Billabong, by Rev Jeff Shrowder, Uniting Church in Australia: Hymn suggestions and paraphrases of lectionary Psalms.
- Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
- Worship Resource Manual, The Moravian Church, Southern Province. Worksheets for planning music in worship: hymns, anthems, solos, organ repertoire suggestions for RCL texts.
- Hymns of the Spirit Three, Thanksgiving A, Richard E. Hurst, Universalist National Memorial Church.
- Gathering, from the United Church of Canada. Includes sermon seeds, liturgical ideas, "with children," hymn suggestions, choral suggestions etc, 2011. (Terms of Use)
- Shepherd Sounds, Thanksgiving Day, Background information for hymns and choral music following the lectionary from the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Austin, Texas, by Eric Mellenbruch and David Zersen.
Children's Bulletins (see also listings at individual scripture pages, linked in listings at top of page)
- Lectionary Puzzles, Thanksgiving. Word search puzzles in RTF or plain text, by Reg McMillan, St.Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Peterborough, Ontario.
With Children (see also listings at individual scripture pages, linked in listings at top of page)
- Worshiping with Children, Thanksgiving Day, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2011.
- "A Thanksgiving Story," Christ the King, Frances Woodruff, On the Chancel Steps.
- Rate of response -- Children's sermon, Leah Thompson, CSSPlus (Children’s Sermon Service)
- Gathering, from the United Church of Canada. Includes sermon seeds, liturgical ideas, "with children," hymn suggestions, choral suggestions etc, 2011. (Terms of Use)
- "Thanks Living," Charles Kirkpatrick, Object Lessons & Children's Sermons, Coloring Pages, Puzzles. Sermons4Kids.com.
- "Giving Thanks," Children's Time, in Sermons and Liturgies. Richard J. Fairchild. (Scroll down in liturgies to find Children's Time.)
- Talks to Children, Harvest. Object lessons by Rev Donald McCorkindale, Church of Scotland, et al.
- Thanksgiving Word Search, sermons4kids.com.
Drama (see listings at individual scripture pages, linked in listings at top of page)
A list of links to other lectionary-based preaching and worship resources.