Search SEARCH Navigation Menu Home Ways We Grow Let Us Give Thanks: A Photo Prayer Select Language▼ Let Us Give Thanks: A Photo Prayer A United Methodist Communications video SHARE While November marks a celebration of thanksgiving in the U.S., finding time to thank God is part of our daily discipline as United Methodists. This video meditation features a shortened version of a prayer of thanksgiving. You are encouraged to share or download this video to use in Sunday School classes, before or during worship, or with your friends and family. A Thanksgiving Prayer (by Rev. Linda McDermott, First United Methodist Church, Fort Worth, Texas) God who loves us, who deserves our gratitude for so much that is good, We offer our prayers of thanksgiving to you: For the beauty of the earth — bright orange leaves mixed with green, a gentle rain, a spider's delicate web. For friends, for family, even acquaintances who offer us kindness, who bring us laughter, who hold us to a higher standard. Lord of all that is good and nourishing to our well being, we give you thanks. How we must try your patience with our pettiness! All of life is a wonder. The very breath we take, the ability to rouse ourselves each new day, a single blade of grass that holds such miracles of symmetry, a tiny distant star whose real size boggles our minds. We take our lives for granted — as if it were our right, and not our gift. We take our days and our loves and our passions for granted — as if tomorrow will verify their importance and our present moments have other things to occupy us. Gracious God, who lavishes goodness upon us even in some of our darkest moments, help us to see your goodness, remind us to have grateful hearts, give us receptive minds, and grant us ever-gracious ways of living in harmony with each other. And in our gratitude, make us to be instruments of your peace. Amen. The images in the video meditation were taken by photographers from various United Methodist agencies and conferences. This video was produced by United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tennessee. Media contact is Joe Iovino, 615-742-5458. This video was first posted in October 2015. Most Viewed Ask The UMC-FAQs What happens after a person dies? MORE What We Believe Apostles' Creed MORE Ask The UMC-FAQs What is the Church's position on homosexuality? MORE ASK THE UMC FIND A CHURCH Follow Us Back to top The mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. What We Believe Basics of our Faith UMC Topics Ask The UMC-FAQs How We Serve Advocating for Justice We Are Disciples Following Gods Call Promoting Health & Wholeness UMC Giving Ways We Grow Practicing Your Faith Spiritual Growth Tools Resources for Leaders Find-A-Church Who We Are UMC Family Tree Structure History Latest News Calendar Directory Press Center DIRECTORY CALENDAR FIND-A-CHURCH FIND-A-JOB ASK THE UMC RESOURCEUMC.ORG Cookie Policy We maintain a highly secure database of visitor preferences. This information is used to provide you with the best and most personalized experience on the UMC family of websites. You can view our cookie and privacy policy anytime, or learn how to disable cookies within your browser. By closing this message and leaving cookies enabled, you are explicitly agreeing to the use of cookies on all websites administered by United Methodist Communications. ACCEPT Full Policy FOLLOW JOBS ADVERTISING LEGAL PRIVACY We Value Your Privacy SETTINGS NextRoll, Inc. ("NextRoll") and our advertising partners use cookies and similar technologies on this site and use personal data (e.g., your IP address). If you consent, the cookies, device identifiers, or other information can be stored or accessed on your device for the purposes described below. You can click "Allow All" or "Decline All" or click Settings above to customize your consent. NextRoll and our advertising partners process personal data to: ● Store and/or access information on a device; ● Create a personalized content profile; ● Select personalised content; ● Personalized ads, ad measurement and audience insights; ● Product development. For some of the purposes above, our advertising partners: ● Use precise geolocation data. Some of our partners rely on their legitimate business interests to process personal data. View our advertising partners if you wish to provide or deny consent for specific partners, review the purposes each partner believes they have a legitimate interest for, and object to such processing. If you select Decline All, you will still be able to view content on this site and you will still receive advertising, but the advertising will not be tailored for you. You may change your setting whenever you see the on this site. DECLINE ALL ALLOW ALL