Thanksgiving Prayer: Confession

For what we are about to receive,

may the Lord make us truly thankful.

We pray today for all who are too jealous to be thankful,

          who complain, “Why do they get everything?”

          and who are always comparing themselves with those who have more.

 We pray for all who have forgotten how to say thank you;

         who have gotten used to saying, “I earned this,”

          and who truly feel they have only themselves to thank. 

We pray for all who are too busy to be thankful;

          who asked themselves this morning, “Do I have time to go to church?”

          and who even in worship are thinking about their to-do lists.
 We pray for all who are grudgingly thankful;

          who say, “I guess this will have to do,”

          while believing that God has given them a raw deal.

We pray for all who are too tired to be thankful,

          who sigh, “I just want to get through this day,”

          and who have no energy to open their eyes to the blessings around them.

We pray for all who are not thankful enough to be generous,

          who bargain with God, “I’ll be unselfish when you give me more,”

          or who are stingy in spending time with others.

We pray for all who are barely thankful;

          who say the words, but don’t feel grateful in their hearts

          who go through the motions, but think,

          “I don’t know how to be really thankful.”

Today we pray a simple prayer.

For what we have received, Lord,

make us truly thankful.  Amen.

New Book Coming Soon!

Carol Penner has written a devotional book for Lent that explores the challenges of repentance and forgiveness. Forty reflections and prayers to deepen your walk with God as you prepare for Easter.  

You can order it here!

About Carol Penner

I am a Mennonite pastor currently teaching theology at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario. I’ve served congregations in Ontario and most recently, Alberta.

I love to write and to lead worship! If you are finding my writing helpful, I would love to hear from you! Feel free to use or adapt the material here, it is all written by me. If printing material, please credit “Copyright Carol Penner www.leadinginworship.com” (and say whether you modified it). If publishing, please contact me for permission. Contact me at carol@leadinginworship.com

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  • Worship resources in a Mennonite voice for ears of all kinds

    Are you looking for resources for a Christian service? Feel free to use or adapt my prayers, poems and litanies. They are written in a Mennonite voice, for ears of all kinds. 

    Feel free to use these orally in a worship service (in-person or broadcasted)  , but if they are printed in a bulletin please use the following credit

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    Contact me for use in newsletters or printed resources, I am happy to grant permission but I would like to know how my writing is being used.  You can reach me at carol@leadinginworship.com.