Giving Thanks

How many of you know what this is? It is called a cornucopia. It is also sometimes called a horn of plenty. It is usually filled with many kinds of foods like apples, oranges, grapes, squash, and ears of corn. It is a symbol of an endless supply of food. Today, the cornucopia is usually made from a basket similar to this one, but many years ago, it was a goat's horn that was hollowed out and filled with food. We see it most often at this time of year because this is the time when many food crops are harvested. In the USA, it is used as a decoration around Thanksgiving because the cornucopia is a symbol of all of the good things that we have to enjoy.

We have a lot to be thankful for, don't we? What are some of the things you are thankful for? (give the children some time to name some things) Who should we thank for all that we have? That's right, we should give thanks to God. The Bible tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God. When someone gives you a gift, you say, "Thank you." When do you think we should say, "Thank you" to God? Should we have one day each year that we give thanks? Should we have one day each week that we give thanks? I think EVERY DAY should be a day of thanksgiving. Don't you agree?

Our Bible lesson today says:

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Let's stop right now and give thanks and praise God for all he has done for us.

Lord, we thank you for your for all of the good gifts you give to us. Most of all, we thank you for your love and for the gift of your son, Jesus. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen