By Chad Hershberger

If you are like many families, my own included, you will gather around a large table tomorrow, share a meal and fellowship, watch some football or take a nap, and most importantly reflect with gratitude the blessings in your life.

When we gather at meals at camp, we return thanks to God for the blessings of our day; gratitude for the food and those who grew it, delivered it, and prepared it; and share our concerns for the immediate future. The act of saying grace before a meal was ingrained in me as a child and I’m glad we continue to do that at camp.

Often, in a family full of church professionals, it’s hard to get someone to say the blessing at meal, particularly a major meal like Thanksgiving. So, several years ago, I decided that my whole family should participate in the blessing. I sat down and wrote the following litany:

Leader:           Creator God, we raise our voices and say
People:           Thank you for the blessings you give us each day
Leader:           Thank you for the bounties of this land
People:           Which come directly from your hand
Leader:           Thank you for the food on our Thanksgiving table
People:           Prepared by hands that were more than able
Leader:           Thank you for family with bonds like no other
People:           For brother and sister and father and mother
Leader:           Thank you for friends, beside us they walk
People:           And lend us their ears when we need to talk
Leader:           We thank you the most for your only Son
People:           On earth, the victory over death He won
Leader:           O Lord, you are good, your mercy will last
People:           You are the same- future, present and past
Leader:           So with all generations, our voices we raise
People:           With psalms of thanksgiving we give you our praise
All:                  Amen

We’ve used this several times over the years at our annual family holiday gathering. Feel free to use it at your Thanksgiving gathering this year. And be sure to take some time to meditate on those gifts from God that you are most thankful for. Here is my prayer of gratitude:

Precious Lord, I’m thankful for the gift of family and communities that are like family, particularly at camp. I’m grateful for Camp Mount Luther, and the great cloud of witnesses who built the foundation for our ministry and continue to sustain us in these challenging times. May your Word continue to be proclaimed as we explore your creation and create memories that last. Most of all, I’m thankful for Jesus, who came to save us and assures our eternal life. For this gift and for all the boundless love you show us, I give you thanks and pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.