2016 Thanksgiving Journal of Psalms
Saint James Presbyterian Church, USA “Touching Lives Through Jesus Christ” 820 Ross Avenue Greensboro, NC 27406 www.stjamespresby.org (336) 273-6658 Reverend Doctor Diane Givens Moffett, Senior Pastor
Greetings Members and Friends, “O give thanks to the Lord for God is good!” It is with great joy and gratitude to God that I present to you this 2016 Thanksgiving Journal of Psalms. I have created this journal to unite us in prayer during this special season of Thanksgiving. I have selected a daily Psalm to use as a guide in scripture reading, meditation, prayer and journaling. The Session and I have also developed the thanksgiving activities below which are designed to build upon our emphasis in being a missional church. It is hoped that these activities will cause us to become spiritually enriched, empowered, and stirred up to do love and good works, not because we must, but because we may—not because we have to, but because we are grateful. With thanks,
Diane Givens Moffett, Senior Pastor
Saint James 2016 Thanksgiving Activities
Collection of Non-Perishable Food - In line with our “missional focus,” please begin saving non-perishable items to be given to the Greensboro Urban Ministry Food Pantry. As you know, the Greensboro Urban Ministry helps families in need every day of the year. The demands for food can become overwhelming during the holiday seasons. Please plan to bring your food items, and present them as part of your offering each Sunday, beginning Sunday, November 6th through Sunday, November 20th. We will arrange for all food items to get to the Greensboro Urban Ministry. Saint James Thank You Cards - As part of our missional focus we have created “Saint James Thank You” cards to be sent each week to a business, person, or community organization beyond our local church that helps to make our community a better place. We will distribute a card to you each Sunday during our worship beginning Sunday, November 6th through Sunday, November 20th. We are asking you to bring to worship the name and address of a business or group you want to say thanks to. During worship we will take a moment to complete the cards. During Holy Conversations we will share about the person, business or group who will receive the card. We will then collect the addressed cards so that the church office can mail them on our behalf. Special Thanksgiving Offering - As another tangible expression of gratitude, during the season of Thanksgiving we ask that you kindly submit a special thanksgiving offering for our church’s ministry. The size of the offering is up to you. Your thanksgiving offering is simply a special way to say thanks to God for our congregation and to sow into our church’s ministry so that we can continue to serve others. The thanksgiving offering should be an offering given over and above your regular offering and contributions. Your thanksgiving offering can be given on any given Sunday in November. Simply mark your envelope or the memo section of your check to indicate “Thanksgiving.”
Joint Thanksgiving Worship Celebration with Westminster Presbyterian Church – This year a joint Thanksgiving worship service will be held in the Saint James sanctuary on Tuesday, November 22nd at 6:30pm. This worship service will be offered in lieu of our normal Thanksgiving Day worship. We are planning an evening of singing, praying, engaging in holy conversations, and hearing the Word preached from Reverend Ernie Thompson, Pastor of Westminster Church. The Westminster and Saint James’ musicians will present music and there will be a dramatic presentation. A time of fellowship will follow worship. Plan to attend and bring family members and friends.
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About this Journal Scripture Reading: Verses below have been adapted. You are encouraged to read the scripture for each day in your bible, silently and out loud.
Meditation: As you meditate on scripture think about a word or phrase that stands out to you. What is the significance of that word or phrase? What may God be saying to you in this scripture? How may this scripture apply to your life?
Prayer: During your prayer time, be sure to include a prayer of thanksgiving for the unique blessing God bestows upon you.
Journaling: Write in your journal at least one thing you for which you are grateful each day during the period, November 6th through Thanksgiving Day, November 24th.
November 6
Scripture: Read Psalm 100 “…Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving courts with praise; give thanks to God God’s name. For the Lord is good and endures forever; God’s faithfulness through all generations.”
and God’s and praise God’s love continues
I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 7 Scripture: Read Psalm 105 “…Give thanks to the Lord, call on God’s name; make known among the nations what God has done. Sing to God, sing praise to God; tell of all God’s wonderful acts.” I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 8 Scripture: Read Psalm 107 “…Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good; God’s love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this, those God gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.”
I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 9 Scripture: Read Psalm: 34 “…I will extol the Lord at all times; God’s praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.” I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 10 Scripture: Read Psalm 147 “…How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise God.”
I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 11 Scripture: Read Psalm 116 “…I love the Lord, for God heard my voice; God heard my cry for mercy…. Because God turned God’s ear to me, I will call on God as long as I live.” I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 12 Scripture: Read Psalm 28 “…Praise be to the Lord, for God has heard my cry for mercy. The lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in God, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to God in song.”
I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 13 Scripture: Read Psalm 23 “…The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”
I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 14 Scripture: Read Psalm 30 “…Sing to the Lord, you saints of God; praise God’s holy name. For God’s anger lasts only a moment, but God’s favor lasts a lifetime.”
I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 15 Scripture: Read Psalm 139 “…I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 16 Scripture: Read Psalm 40 “…Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.
I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 17 Scripture: Read Psalm 62 “…My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.” I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 18 Scripture: Read Psalm 91 “…The person who dwells in the shelter of the Most high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “God is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 19 Scripture: Read Psalm 103 “…As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.” I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 20 Scripture: Read Psalm 111 “…Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them…The Lord is gracious and compassionate.”
I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 21 Scripture: Read Psalm 121 “…I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 22 Scripture: Read Psalm 130 “…I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in God’s word I put my hope.”
I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 23 Scripture: Read Psalm 20 “…Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.”
I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
November 24-THANKSGIVING DAY Scripture: Read Psalm 25 “…Good and upright is the Lord…All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. I am grateful for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
