Nov. 25, 2021
13And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope it’s a blessed and joyous day for you and yours.
The 1928 Book of Common Prayer shows two New Testament readings that are suggested for Thanksgiving Day; they are 1Thess and John 6:26-35. I chose the 1Thess because I don’t think it’s as familiar as the Gospel of St. John.
I like verse 18 – In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Each night as I lay in bed I thank God for the day – good, bad, or indifferent, He’s been gracious to me and I’m thankful.
We’re good at praising God but maybe not as careful to give thanks. For a long while, I did a rosary of thanksgiving. I used the Roman Catholic rosary beads with the four decades. I sat down one day and wrote out all the things I was most grateful for; the ten things most important to me was spoken at each bead (one at a time, of course) and saying the Lord’s Prayer at the large beads. Then I’d gotten a new job that was farther from my home and required more hours so I adapted to my circumstances …
I bought Anglican prayer beads. Not many people know we Anglicans have beads, too. I have to chuckle – people always think of the Roman Catholic beads and forget that other folks need to count and keep track, too! I’ve provided a link that I think is useful – it explains the beads and includes the prayers. I have no connection with the seller, I don’t get paid anything for supplying the link; I just think it’s a good site for the prayers and the pictures of the Anglican rosary. https://www.allsaintsomaha.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/anglican-rosary-prayers-v3.pdf#:~:text=The%20Anglican%20Rosary%20Praying%20the%20rosary%20is%20a,put%20us%20in%20a%20prayerful%20frame%20of%20mind.
Praise God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – every day but don’t forget to be thankful, too. He is a gracious giver; be a gracious receiver.
Words on the Word 
I was vaguely aware that there was an Anglican rosary but no idea how you would pray your way round it. I like the idea of them but am not sure I would use them if I had them. I love today’s reading, it gives us excellent guidelines about how to live meaningfully and your own advice about being thankful is something of which we all need to be reminded
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That’s why I used the 1Thess instead of the St. John – lots of good advice in those verses. The Gospel of St. John is something most folks who take advantage of Bible study will know well but the reminder we’re given in 1Thess is less widely known and yet a reflection of all that Jesus taught.
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