It's so wonderful that our country sets aside a day to give thanks....
We each have so much to be grateful for....
even as we hope and work for a better world.
Thanksgiving Morning Short Prayer Service
Join us at 9 AM ET on zoom for 30-minutes of GRATITUDE. This will be co-lead by Rev. AndreaGrace, pastor of The BeLoved Inclusive Catholic Community and Jane Varner Malhotra, co-founder of whimm (Washington DC Home Inclusive Monthly Mass). Rev. Theresa Crisci of TLC Ceremonies will lead us in a very moving gratitude prayer experience. For the zoom link, contact Rev. AndreaGrace.
4 Ways to Give Thanks at YOUR Table
Here are some ideas for ways to cultivate gratitude at your table.
1 - Start with Gratitude
Before your meal, go around the table and invite people to say one thing for which they are grateful. This is a wonderful way to practice gratitude and to cultivate connections beetween people - all the time. For example, someone may say they just read a great book, or traveled to a certain place, or have a new family member or learned to bake something new. It provides an opportunity for others to ask more questions during the meal which leads to connections. This simple practice is a unifying experience that can be done in professional settings as well. When Rev. AndreaGrace was an executive director of a nonprofit, every board meeting with this practice and when trainees gathered for a meal, they also used this practice.
2 - Gratitude Poster
Get a poster and write "I am grateful for..." at the top.
Then, invite each person to add what they are grateful for....
or to write it on post-it notes and stick them on the poster.
It's so fun to see what people add!
3 - Gratitude Guessing Game
Give each person a little piece of paper and pen or pencil.
Invite them to write three things for which they are grateful - but NOT to put their name on their list. Have them fold the paper and put it in a basket.
Invite each person to draw a paper, read the list out loud and guess who wrote that gratitude list.
This is super fun!
4 - Gratitude Waterfall
This is one of Rev. Theresa's prayer practices.
Set the time for a specific set of minutes - like 1 or 2 if you have alot of people.
Invite people to take turns listing items for which they are grateful during the allotted time.
It's powerful to fill the time with gratitude.
It's powerful to witness someone else's list.
Let's Pray
Oh Holy One who is known by so many names and images and manifested in so many ways…
Please bless all who will join gather with us – that we may travel safely. May our conversations may be filled with love and compassion. Please grant us listening hearts, curiosity and the gift of presence.
Please bless those who cannot be with us today. May our spirits be united.
Please bless all those who will be alone today. May we be blessed by unexpected angels.
Please bless those who don’t have enough to eat today. May our resources be multiplied…Â
Please bless all the peoples of our country and world. May we collaborate – work together – to assure that every one may prosper in every way.
Please help us to care for our Mother the Earth and to recognize our companionship with all parts of our nature.
Please bless our spirits that we may choose to cultivate both a prayer practice and the practice of gratitude. May we be instruments of your healing, grace and love – today and every day.Â
In Your many holy names we pray and hope and trust.
Amen. Ameen. Ashay and So It Is.
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