Thanksgiving: Giving a Just Thanks

Introduction
Leader: Thanksgiving reminds us that God's bounty is plentiful. Our food and other blessings in life come not from our own hands but from God's. Our response is gratitude and praise. Yet we are also mindful that the work of many hands has brought this food to our grocery stores, our kitchens, and our tables. Our food has been prepared by poultry workers who catch turkeys and chickens, farm workers who pick the fruits and vegetables, and by workers who process these foods in factories.

Too many of the workers who have a part in our Holiday meals face grave injustices at their jobs. It may be easy for us to forget these workers, but they are not able to forget the bodily injuries, low pay, and lack of respect that many of them have endured.

If we do not pray and act for justice, in addition to giving our thanks to God, our praise to the Creator is empty. As we say. prayers of thanksgiving and justice, we must welcome all workers to the bountiful table.

Prayer
Reader: God of blessing and bounty, we praise you for the wonders of this creation. As we see the Holiday table before us, we know that you have provided us with more than enough to meet everyone's need. We celebrate the planting and harvest of your good gifts. We also know, God of justice and mercy, that there are many people who have not been invited. to enjoy the bounty of this table and this nation. We are mindful that many of the uninvited are the workers who made this: meal possible. They have often suffered grave injustices in body, mind, and soul because of their labor on our behalf Forgive us, we pray, for taking their labor lightly and for remaining silent as we enjoy the fruits of their harvest. May this food. and fellowship nourish in us a heart of justice and gratitude until we taste the fruit of a just labor for all.

All: Amen.

Litany of Praise
Leader: God desires a world in which the poor and rich, the South and the North, the workers and employers, can all . come to the table together. Taste and see that God is good!

All: Praise be to God who brings the harvest, who fills us with rich food!

Leader: God desires a world in which all can have enough. Taste and see that God is good!

All: Praise be to God who brings the harvest, who leavens our bread with justice and righteousness!

Leader: God desires to transform us so that we can make God's kingdom real on earth. Taste and see that God is good!

All: Let us eat the bread of gratitude and praise, justice and righteousness. Taste and see how good God is!

Source: adapted from "Giving a Just Thanks," by National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, posted on the EFJ website, October 2005.