My Thanksgiving Prayer.

This next Sunday morning, Jake Wesley Stewart and I are going to perform a duet of "My Thanksgiving Prayer" at Christchurch Episcopal in Brooklyn. I was going to post a video, and then I found a blog called sowhatfaith.com that did it for me:

Over the last several days I have read many blogs and news articles, searched Scripture,  talked with several people and participated in and interfaith worship service all in an effort to better grasp both Thanksgiving and thankfulness.  For some reason, this Thanksgiving what resonates deeply with me are the lyrics to a song: “My Thanksgiving Prayer.”  I encourage you to take some time to read them, then to hear them sung, and finally to offer them as a prayer.

In this time of my thanksgiving as my song begins to rise

Listen to the prayer within me - Look into my grateful eyes

May I humbly stand before you, as I reach out with my hand

May the music bring a healing to this cold and troubled land

In this time of my thanksgiving — ohhh — In this time of my thanksgiving

God of love who made apostles out of every clan and race

In this time and in this valley – You are there in every face

As I face the burnished offerings to the gods of power and fear

Make of me a living offering – Let me be your servant here

In this time of my thanksgiving — ohhh — In this time of my thanksgiving

Give us grace to face the struggle which the world yet holds in store

Walk beside us ever loving – Grant us peace forevermore

In this time grant us peace — ohhh — In this time grant us peace

Ohhh — In this time – peace

So What?

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for what has been, for what is, and for what can be.  Take time today to reflect on blessings from past, recognize those happening in the present, and imagining those yet to come.  As you look ahead to the place God is guiding, remember and live into these words: “Make of me a living offering – Let me be your servant here.”

About the Song

“My Thanksgiving Prayer” is found in Part 3 of New World Waking: A Musical Insurrection for Peace.  You can view and download a free copy of the sheet music here.

The lyrics were written by Rev. Peter J. Carman who serves as pastor of The Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  The music was composed by Steve Schalchlin who is best known for writing the music and lyrics to two critically-acclaimed, award-winning off-Broadway pop gospel musicals The Last Session and The Big Voice: God or Merman?  The YouTube video clip is of a rehearsal by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and the Community Women’s Orchestra directed by Dr. Kathleen McGuire.

Don't forget that you can still get the full recording of the entire New World Waking at the website of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus.