You are encouraged to write your own Prayer of Thanksgiving. The Prayer of Thanksgiving comes right after the Offering and the Song of Praise (Doxology). Its purpose is to thank God for all of God's goodness to us and to dedicate the offering to God which is itself an act of thanksgiving. Usually, the Prayer of Thanksgiving follows the themes raised in the scripture lessons and the sermon (ask the preacher for his or her sermon theme). If you are not comfortable writing your own Prayer of Thanksgiving, you may use one of the following (some of them are particularly suited for various church seasons - these are noted above the prayers):
God of all mercies,
we give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all people.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your boundless love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace,
and for the hope of glory.
Give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts
we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips but in our lives,
by giving up ourselves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Redeemer,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be all honor and glory now and forever. Amen.
Holy God, we praise you.
Let the heavens be joyful, and the earth be glad.
We bless you for creating the whole world,
for your promise to your people Israel,
and for Jesus Christ in whom your fullness dwells.
Born of Mary, he shares our life.
Eating with sinners, he welcomes us.
Guiding his people, he leads us.
Visiting the sick, he heals us.
Dying on the cross, he saves us.
Risen from the dead, he gives new life.
Living with you, he prays for us.
Send to us your Holy Spirit
that, being made one with Christ,
we may be one with each other
and one in ministry to all the world,
until Christ comes in final victory.
We praise you, eternal God,
through Christ your Word made flesh,
in the holy and life-giving Spirit. Amen.
Eternal God,
creator of the world
and giver of all good,
we thank you for the earth, our home,
and for the gift of life.
We praise you for your love in Jesus Christ,
who came to heal this broken world,
who died rejected on the cross
and rose triumphant from the dead.
Because he lives, we live to praise you, our God forever.
Gracious God, who called us from death to life,
we give ourselves to you;
and with the church through all ages
we thank you for your saving love
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We praise you, God,
for you are gracious.
You have loved us from the beginning of time
and remember us when we are in trouble.
We praise you, God,
for you came to us in Jesus Christ,
who redeemed the world
and saved us from our sins.
We praise you, God,
for you send us your Holy Spirit,
to make us holy
and to lead us into all truth. Amen.
Almighty and merciful God,
from whom comes all that is good,
we praise you for your mercies,
for your goodness that has created us,
your grace that has sustained us,
your discipline that has corrected us,
your patience that has borne with us,
and your love that has redeemed us.
Help us to love you,
and to be thankful for all your gifts
by serving you and delighting to do your will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Particularly in the Season of Advent)
Eternal God,
as you led your people in ages past,
you direct our journey into the future.
We give you thanks that
you came to us in Jesus Christ,
and we eagerly await his coming again
that his rule may be complete
and your righteousness reign over all the world.
Then we will feast at his royal banquet,
and sing his praises with the choirs of heaven.
By your Spirit,
open our eyes to the generosity of your hand,
and nurture our souls in all spiritual gifts.
Fill us with gratitude overflowing
that we may share life and love in praise to you,
God of all the ages,
in the gracious name of Jesus Christ, your Son,
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen.
(Particularly during Epiphany)
God of majesty and light,
you hold the whole world in your hand.
So we give you our great praise
that in Jesus Christ all people may see your glory.
We thank you for revealing Jesus to be your Son,
and for claiming our lives in baptism
to be his glad disciples.
By your Spirit,
may peace descend upon us
that we may follow him with grateful hearts.
Take us and all we have to be useful in your service,
God of all nations,
in the gracious name of Jesus Christ, your Son,
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen.
(Particularly during Lent)
God of mercy,
we praise you that in love
you have reached across the abyss of our sin
and brought us into your embrace.
We thank you for the sacrifice of your Son on the cross,
for the breaking of his body for our sakes,
and for the spilling of his blood
to seal us in the covenant of your love.
By your Spirit,
give us the grace of repentance,
and guide us in ways of righteousness.
Take our humble offerings
as tokens of our commitment
to follow Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord. Amen.
(Particularly during Lent)
God of compassion,
we praise you that you look upon our frail lives
with love and understanding,
and that you desire for us all
new life in Jesus Christ.
We are overwhelmed by your love,
which goes to the cross for us,
endures the grave,
and leads us to new life.
By your Spirit,
strengthen our souls to be brave and bold in Christ's service.
Take our offerings,
and use them and us for your purposes,
in the name of Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord. Amen.
(Particularly during Eastertide)
Eternal God,
we praise you that your glory has dawned on us,
and brought us into this Day of Resurrection.
We rejoice that the grave could not hold your Son,
and that he has conquered death,
risen to rule over all powers of this earth.
We praise you that he summons us into new life,
to follow him with joy and gladness.
By your Spirit,
lift us from doubt and despair,
and set our feet in Christ's holy way,
that our lives may be signs of his life,
and all we have may show forth his love.
Praise, glory, and thanksgiving to you, our God,
forever and ever. Amen.
(Particularly during Eastertide)
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Eternal and ever blessed God,
Lord of heaven and earth:
we praise your glorious majesty.
Your wisdom is seen in all your works;
your grace and truth are revealed in Jesus Christ, your Son;
your power and presence are given to us through your Holy Spirit;
wherefore we adore your holy name, O blessed Trinity,
forever and ever. Amen.
(Particularly during Eastertide)
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
We give you thanks, great God,
for the hope we have in Jesus,
who died but is risen and rules over all.
We praise you for his presence with us.
Because he lives, we look for eternal life,
knowing that nothing past, present, or yet to come
can separate us from your great love
made known in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.