In the early 1600s, Dutch settlers
brought the Prayer of Thanksgiving to the "New World". Music, based
on a Netherlands
folk hymn, was added and it became a favorite in the colonies and today
is a
traditional
Thanksgiving hymn. This a translation by Theodore Baker (1851-1934).
.
We Gather Together
.
We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens his will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,
Sing praises to his name: He forgets not his own.
Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom devine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be thine!
We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant,
And pray that thou still our defender wilt be.
Let thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
Amen
.
.
Traditional Prayer
.
...........................................Our
Father in Heaven,
We give thanks for the pleasure
of gathering together for this occasion.
We give thanks for this food
prepared by loving hands.
We give thanks for life, the freedom
to enjoy it all and all other blessings.
As we partake of this food,
We pray for health and strength to carry on
and try to live as You would have us.
This we ask in the name of Christ
Our Heavenly Father.
Harry Jewell, mid-1900s
.
.......................................Click
on name of page to view
.........................Thanksgiving
Day (front page)
..........................Happy
Thanksgiving
..........................The
Pilgrims' and Americas' First Thanksgiving
..........................Thanksgiving
Thought
.........................The
Celebrations of Giving Thanks
........................Scared
Turkey
......................The
Story of the Turkey
Bible Verses..
......................Thanksgiving
Poetry
......................Grandpa
Tuckers' Poetry
.........................Return
Home
