Today marks a day of thanks, when we all gather with family and friends to count our blessings and look to the future.

We also join in thoughtful prayer for those less fortunate and band together in charity to make our community a better and brighter place.

We at The Telegraph wish all a healthy and happy holiday filled with family, food, fun and reflection. May your hearts be filled with good tidings and cheer on such a special day.

PRAYER

OF THANKSGIVING

God of all blessings,

source of all life,

giver of all grace:

We thank you for the gift of life:

for the breath

that sustains life,

for the food of this earth

that nurtures life,

for the love of family and friends

without which there would be no life.

We thank you for the mystery

of creation:

for the beauty

that the eye can see,

for the joy

that the ear may hear,

for the unknown

that we cannot behold filling the

universe

with wonder,

for the expanse of space

that draws us beyond the definitions

of our selves.

We thank you for setting us in

communities:

for families

who nurture our becoming,

for friends

who love us by choice,

for companions at work,

who share our burdens and daily tasks,

for strangers

who welcome us into their midst,

for people from other lands

who call us to grow in understanding,

for children

who lighten our moments with delight,

for the unborn,

who offer us hope for the future.

We thank you for this day:

for life

and one more day to love,

for opportunity

and one more day to work for justice and

peace,

for neighbors

and one more person to love

and by whom be loved,

for your grace

and one more experience of your

presence,

for your promise:

to be with us,

to be our God,

and to give salvation.

For these, and all blessings,

we give you thanks, eternal, loving God,

through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Adapted from “Prayers of Our Hearts”

By Vienna Cobb

Anderson