A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Praise God from who all blessings flow.
Praise him all creatures here below.*

Thank you, heavenly Father, for today.
Our gratitude is endless.

We thank you
For each and every youth
For their hard work and dedication
For your presence in their lives
For their desire to bring hope to children,
When they are just children themselves.

We thank you that
Children led the way in worship today
That their praise is pure
That their hope is untainted
That their song is sweet to our ears
As we pray it is to yours.

Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.**

Thank you, Father,
For parents who support their children
Who have shown them Your way and truth
For teachers for have led them on your path
And for a loving congregation
Who sat aside their disbelief
The children can lead the way
And stepped aside
To give them the opportunity.

Thank you, Abba,
For voices raised in song,
For instruments singing your praise
For nets, hoops and powerpoint
For those who help,
And those who pray.

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
Praise him with the harp and lyre,
Praise him with tambourine and dancing,
Praise him with the strings and flute,
Praise him with the clash of cymbals,
Praise him with resounding cymbals. **

Thank you God for your presence in our midst
For the wind of your spirit beneath our wings
For the fire of devotion for you
For children who call your son, “Friend.”
For youth who understand what service means
For adults who love them more than enough.

Thank you God for lifting us up
Through the words of your children
So that you are made real to us
And your desire for us to love all of your small ones
Is bigger than our desire to hold back.
So that you are made real to us
Through our youth,
And that we can almost touch your face
In their smiles.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD**