During this time of the year, we set the table, invite

During this time of the year, we set the table, invite family and friends over, and celebrate the generous blessings God has provided. Gratitude is a habit of Christ-followers because it turns our hearts and minds toward a posture of worship. When we “say grace,” we slow down to take the time in all circumstances to notice the ways God has been present in our lives and respond with praise. God has been faithful, and pausing to reflect on His goodness shapes us into the image and likeness of Jesus.

In this 4-week study, we will read what several of the Apostle Paul’s letters have to say about giving thanks in all seasons. In addition to Paul’s prayers, we have also invited Ted Loder to join us at the table this month. Ted Loder is a retired United Methodist Church pastor who has written several beautiful prayer books. Our devotional guide uses several of Loder’s prayers from his book, Guerrillas of Grace in order to guide our God-conversations in fresh, poetic ways.

We invite you to read and pray through the daily devotions at your breakfast or dinner table with your family or friends. Choose three times each week over a meal to do the following gratitude practices:

In addition to the devotional pages, we also have provided a simple small group guide for your time together each week. Consider gathering around a table this month with a simple meal, drink, or dessert. Enjoy each other’s company as you give thanks for God’s blessings and for each other.

God has prepared a seat for us and welcomed us to His table. As we “say grace” this month, let’s give “joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified [us] to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:12).

Read and reflect on the Scripture passage.

Pray through the written prayer by Ted Loder.

Copy and paste the text below into your Spotify Search Bar:tinyurl.com/y6m2llcy

Sing a classic thanksgiving hymn. If hymns aren’t your speed, we’ve also put together a Spotify play-list with modern songs to guide your worship time.

Day One Day ThreeDay Two

Week OneDEVOTIONS

Read & Respond

Sing

Day One

Day Two

Pray through Colossians 1:3-14 by following these steps:

Read: Slowly and prayerfully read the biblical text.

Meditate: Ponder the passage. What phrase or word stands out to you? Sit silently with this phrase and ask God, “What do you want me to know about this? How is this connected to my life?” Listen carefully for Him.

Respond: Begin to bring to God your honest, sincere prayers — whatever is coming up from what you read.

Contemplate: Transition to wordless, silent contemplation, resting and enjoying God’s presence.

“All Creatures of Our God And King”

All creatures of our God and King,lift up your voice and with us singAlleluia! Alleluia!Thou burning sun with golden beam,thou silver moon with softer gleam,O praise Him, O praise Him!Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong,ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,O praise Him! Alleluia!Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,ye lights of ev’ning find a voice!O praise Him, O praise Him!Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

And all ye men of tender heart,forgiving others, take your part,O sing ye! Alleluia!Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,praise God and on Him cast your care! O praise Him, O praise Him!Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Let all things their Creator blessand worship Him in humbleness,O praise Him! Alleluia!Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,and praise the Spirit, Three in One: O praise Him, O praise Him!Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Written PrayerDay Three

Undamn me, Lord,that praise may flow more easily from me than wants,thanks more readily than complaints.Praise be to you, Lord, for life;praise be to you for another chance to live.

- Ted Loder, Praise Be to You for Life

Week OneSMALL GROUP STUDY

Opening

Discussion

Practice

How were God’s blessings evident in your life last week?

Slowly read through this weekend’s Scripture: Colossians 1:3-14

• Examining this weekend’s Scripture, what seems to be the main message or point? (Take into consideration context, tone, and genre.)

• Was there anything from this weekend’s Scriptures and sermon you found to be particularly profound, hopeful, or inviting?

• What did you find difficult or challenging about this passage or sermon?

• Are there any invitations from Jesus to you from this passage of Scripture which you can practically apply to your life?

Close by reading Ted Loder’s prayer from Day 3 in this week’s devotional guide.

Undamn me, Lord,that praise may flow more easily from me than wants,thanks more readily than complaints.Praise be to you, Lord, for life;praise be to you for another chance to live.


Week TwoDEVOTIONS

Read & Respond

Sing

Day One

Day Two

Pray through 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 by following these steps:





“To God Be The Glory”

To God be the glory, great things He has doneSo loved He the world that He gave us His sonWho yielded His life an atonement for sinAnd opened the life gate that all may go in

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voicePraise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoiceCome to the Father through Jesus the SonGive Him the glory, great things He has done


Praise be to you, O Lord,who spins shining stars across the wondrous heavens and stretches out the seas,who lifts the dawn into place and sets boundaries for night,who awes the earth with storms and gentles it with green,who gives everything a season and breathes life and love into the dust of me.Praise be to you.Praise in all things, for all things:the soft slant of sunlight, the sweat of battle,a song in the wilderness, the evening breeze,the deep breath,

the tended wound,mercy, quietness, a friend;for the miracles of the daily, the mysteries of the eternal.Praise be to you.Praise from all creatures, laughers and list-makers, wonders and worriers, poets and plodders and prophets, the wrinkled, the newborn, the whale, and the worm, from all, and from me.Praise,praise be to youfor amazing grace.

- Ted Loder, Praise from All Creatures, Laughers, and List-Makers

Week TwoSMALL GROUP STUDY

Opening

Discussion

Practice

Closing


Slowly read through this weekend’s Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7





Life is heavy. Circumstances and struggles often weigh us down and leave us discouraged and exhausted. With this in mind, look at your relationships in your group and beyond. Who needs a word of encouragement? Who needs to be built up? Who needs your help to carry a heavy load? Speak encouragement into their journey.

Use vv. 3-4 to open in prayer: “We praise you, Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, for comforting us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from you.” Then allow a minute or two for silent prayerbefore closing.

Week ThreeDEVOTIONS

Read & Respond

Sing

Day One

Day Two

Pray through Philippians 1:3-11 by following these steps:





“Come Thou Fount”

Come, Thou Fount of every blessingTune my heart to sing Thy graceStreams of mercy, never ceasingCall for songs of loudest praiseTeach me some melodious sonnetSung by flaming tongues abovePraise the mount, I’m fixed upon it

Mount of Thy redeeming loveHere I raise my EbenezerHere there by Thy great help I’ve comeAnd I hope, by Thy good pleasureSafely to arrive at homeJesus sought me when a strangerWandering from the fold of GodHe, to rescue me from dangerInterposed His precious blood


Thank you, Lord, for those who attempt beauty rather than curse ugliness, for those who take stands rather than take polls, for those who risk being right rather than pandering to be liked, for those who do something rather than talking about everything.Lord, grant me grace, then,and a portion of your spiritthat I may live as to give others cause to be thankful for me, thankful because I have not forgotten

how to hope, how to laugh, how to say, “I’m sorry,” how to forgive, how to bind up wounds, how to dream, how to cry, how to pray, how to love when it is hard, and how to dare when it is dangerous.


Week ThreeSMALL GROUP STUDY

Opening

Discussion

Practice

Closing


Slowly read through this weekend’s Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11





Throw a party! Celebrating together is one of the ways we can not only honor and enjoy God, but also express gratitude for one another. Talk to your group about finding a time to throw a party together. Invite friends from outside your group to join you. It doesn’t have to be fancy – just focus on being welcoming and fun!

Take a moment to intercede in prayer for one another.

Week FourDEVOTIONS

Read & Respond

Sing

Day One

Day Two

Pray through 2 Timothy 1:3-10 by following these steps:





“The Doxology”

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!


Lord, thank you for each moment, for the charged moment, the confrontation, the accurate demand, for the hard decision, the breathless gamble, the unexpected growing, for my intense heart and the truth expanding in me.Excite me to be open to whatever comes as a gift and to praise you in it.

- Ted Loder, Thank You for Each Moment

Week FourSMALL GROUP STUDY

Opening

Discussion

Practice

Closing


Slowly read through this weekend’s Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:3-10





It sounds simple, but praying for one another is one of the easiest ways we can show our love for one another in community. This week, find a friend and commit to pray for each other daily. Or, in your group, put everyone’s name in a hat and draw a name to pray for in the coming week. You could even check in to see specific needs for prayer and encouragement.

Take turns praying in the group, as the members feel comfortable.

Documents

During this time of the year, we set the table, invite