THANKSGIVING INTERFAITH SERVICE
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2006, 7 P.M.
AT ST. LUKE CATHOLIC CHURCH

THE UNITED CHURCH OF FAIRFAX & ST. LUKE CHURCH

OPENING HYMN: We Gather Together (#29 missalette) (stand)

FATHER ROMANUS IGWEONU - WELCOME

REV. ELIZABETH GRIFFIN: CALL TO WORSHIP

LEADER: All thanks be to Yeu, our Lord, Creator & Sustainer of our world. We offer You our praise and thanksgiving for the bounty with which You have blessed us.

PEOPLE: To You is all praise, as much as it can be and as blessed as it can be. To You is the praise filling up the heavens and the earth and what is between them for all the bounties You have blessed us with.

LEADER: Praise be to You, at the first and at the last; for You spoke the words of creation, and it was brought forth.

PEOPLE: Thanks be to You for guiding us; never could we find true guidance, had it not come from You, Oh Our Lord!

LEADER: Inspire us to be grateful for all the favors You have bestowed upon us, that we may work in righteousness such as You may approve. Oh Our Lord!

PEOPLE: Help us to do the righteousness that will please You, and admit us, by Your grace, to the ranks of Your righteous servants. Help us to remember You, to show gratitude to You, and to perform most excellent of worship.

LEADER: Oh Gracious Creator, help us remember You, to show gratitude to You, and to worship You.

PEOPLE: Truly we turn to You and truly we offer You our thanksgiving and praise. Purify us from sins and cleanse us from them as one cleans a white garment from filth. Oh Our Lord! Accept our repentance and forgive our sins by Your infinite mercy. Oh Our Lord, You are merciful and loving; Your mercy is everlasting. Let Your mercy surround us as we offer You praise and thanksgiving. Amen

FATHER ROMANUS: OPENING PRAYER

Lord of the harvest, You created the world's wonders.
We often fail to appreciate your gifts.
We ask for forgiveness for our carelessness and
for the help to live according to our resolutions.
We ask this through Christ our Lord: AMEN

LITURGY OF THE WORD (sit) REV. ELIZABETH GRIFFIN: Hebrew Scripture - Deuteronomy 8:7-18

ST. LUKE'S YOUTH: Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 113. Please open Missalette to Page 82 Please Respond: Blessed be the name of the Lord forever

DEACON STEVE RATTE: GOSPEL-Luke 12: 15-21 (stand) REV. ELIZABETH GRIFFIN: Homily (sit)

PRESENTATION OF GIFTS: As the offering to the food shelf for the poor and hungry and
jobless are brought up PLEASE JOIN US IN SINGING: PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS
(#490 in the missalette)
(PLEASE STAND)

ADAM BENAY (center): Prayer from the Jewish Tradition

MAREENA SAINI, AMIT SAINI & SAVETA SAINI: Prayer from the Hindu Tradition

REV GRIFFIN: RESOLUTION (stand)

LEADER: Let the rain come and wash away the ancient grudges, the bitter hatreds held and
nurtured over generations. Let the rain wash away the memory of the hurt, the neglect. Then let the sun come out and fill the sky with rainbows.

PEOPLE: Let the warmth of the sun heal us wherever we are broken. Let it burn away
the fog so that we can see beyond labels, beyond accents, gender and skin color. Let the
warmth and brightness of the sun melt our selfishness. So that we can share the joys and
feel the sorrows of our neighbors.

LEADER: And let the light of the sun be so strong that we will see all people as our neighbors.
Let the earth, nourished by the rain, bring forth flowers to surround us with beauty. And let the
mountains teach our hearts to reach upward to heaven.

PEOPLE: Amen. Thanks be to God

FATHER IGWEONU: CONCLUDING RITE

May the God of every grace and blessing grant you joy and peace. May you rejoice in God's protection now and forever: AMEN

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May he look upon you with kindness and give you his peace: AMEN

CONCLUDING HYMN: Now Thank We All Our God (#26 in the missalette)

WE THANK THE UNITED CHURCH OF FAIRFAX, ST. LUKE CATHOLIC CHURCH, MUSICIANS
FROM BOTH CHURCHES, ADAM BENAY, SAVETA SAINI, MAREENA SAINA,AMITSAINA AND ST. LUKE CONFIRMATION GROUP FOR MAKING OUR SERVICE A REAL EXPRESSION OF COMMUNITY THANKS. ALL ARE WELCOME IN THE PARISH HALL FOR FELLOWSHIP AND FOOD.