The Thanksgiving Ebenezer Service at Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church is a simple service on Thanksgiving Day. We have a large stone which we place in the center of the chairs which arranged in several concentric rings, with passage ways to enable people to get up and approach the stone. The homily is kept fairly brief - I have used a variety of mediatations from the Patriarchs, Samuel or David. We gather at 10 A.M. The service gives people an opportunity to share testimonies of thankfulness while placing representative objects along side the stone. Listening to others share thanksgivings helps us recall the many blessings we have each recieved. Children participate too. For a variation on the service, I have thought a box of river or beach stones could be placed by the door and each worshipper could take one as they arrive, to place with their thanksgiving around the stone.
Hymn: We Gather Together to Ask the Lord's Blessing
Call to Thanksgiving: Colossians 3:15-17 (or Ephesians 5:18b-20)
Responsive Reading: One of the Hallel Psalms Such as 145 or 147
Homily: Why an Ebenezer? (or see below)
Hymn: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Raising our Stone of Help to the Lord
Hymn O Let Your Soul be Filled with Gladness
Collect:
Not unto us, Oh Lord, Not to us,
But to your name be the Glory
Because of Your Love and Faithfulness
Song of Praise: Give Thanks with a Joyful Heart
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One;
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son. (repeat)
And now let the weak say, "I am Strong,"
Let the poor say, "I am rich"
Because of what the Lord has done ... for us.
Benediction