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SermonStudio, a flagship product of SermonSuite, is home to thousands of sermon preparation and worship planning tools that include professionally written, edited, and published sermons, children's sermons, sermon outlines, sermon illustrations, worship resources, dramas and skits, prayers, preaching resources, youth resources, and more...

Thanksgiving & Advent 1 (A)

Devotional

First Sunday of Advent - A
Stephen P. McCutchan
Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Water From the Well: Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Stephen P. McCutchan
Romans 13:11-14
excerpted from Water From the Well: Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Stephen P. McCutchan
Psalm 122
excerpted from Water From the Well: Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Stephen P. McCutchan
Isaiah 2:1-5
excerpted from Water From the Well: Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A

Drama

First Sunday of Advent - A
John A. Tenbrook
Matthew 24:37-44, Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:8-14
excerpted from Thespian Theology : Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Robert F. Crowley
Matthew 24:37-44
excerpted from Lectionary Scenes : 57 Vignettes For Cycle A

Poems

First Sunday of Advent - A
Andrew Daughters
Matthew 24:37-44
excerpted from A Gospel Treasury : Poems Based on Lectionary Gospels
First Sunday of Advent - A
Andrew Daughters
Matthew 24:37-44
excerpted from A Gospel Treasury : Poems Based on Lectionary Gospels

Preaching

First Sunday of Advent - A
Elizabeth Achtemeier
Isaiah 2:1-5
excerpted from Preaching and Reading the Old Testament Lessons: With an Eye to the New
First Sunday of Advent - A
Carlos Wilton
Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Lectionary Preaching Workbook: Series VIII, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Jerry L. Schmalenberger
Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Lectionary Preaching Workbook: Series VII, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
James Evans
Psalm 122
excerpted from Hear My Voice: Preaching The Lectionary Psalms for Cycles A, B, C
First Sunday of Advent - A
E. Carver Mcgriff
Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Lectionary Preaching Workbook : Series VI, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
John R. Brokhoff
Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Lectionary Preaching Workbook : Series IV
First Sunday of Advent - A
George M. Bass
Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Lectionary Preaching Workbook : Series III, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Russell F. Anderson
Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Lectionary Preaching Workbook : Series V, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
John R. Brokhoff
Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Lectionary Preaching Workbook : Cycle A, THIRD EDITION
Thanksgiving Day - C
Carlos Wilton
Psalm 100
excerpted from Hear My Voice: Preaching The Lectionary Psalms for Cycles A, B, C
Thanksgiving Day - C
E. Carver Mcgriff
Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Philippians 4:4-9, John 6:25-35
excerpted from Lectionary Preaching Workbook: Series VI, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Carlos Wilton
Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Philippians 4:4-9, John 6:25-35
excerpted from Lectionary Preaching Workbook : Series VII, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Jerry L. Schmalenberger
Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Philippians 4:4-9, John 6:25-35
excerpted from Lectionary Preaching Workbook : Series VII Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Elizabeth Achtemeier
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
excerpted from Preaching and Reading the Old Testament Lessons: : With an Eye to the New
Thanksgiving Day - C
George M. Bass
Deuteronomy 8:1-20, 1 Timothy 2:1-8, Acts 14:8-18
excerpted from Lectionary Preaching Workbook : Series III, Cycle C

Sermon

First Sunday of Advent - A
Mark Wm. Radecke
Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from God in Flesh Made Manifest: Cycle A Gospel Lesson Sermons For Advent, Christmas, And Epiphany
First Sunday of Advent - A
Paul E. Robinson
Isaiah 2:1-5
excerpted from Hope Beneath the Surface: Cycle A First Lesson Sermons for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany
First Sunday of Advent - A
Linda Schiphorst Mccoy
Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from It's News To Me: Messages of Hope for Those Who Haven't Heard: Cycle A Gospel Sermons For Advent, Christmas, Epiphany
First Sunday of Advent - A
Dallas A. Brauninger
Romans 13:11-14
excerpted from Holy Email: Cycle A Second Lesson Sermons for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany
First Sunday of Advent - A
John N. Brittain
Romans 13:11-14
excerpted from Sermons On The Second Readings : Series II, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Tony S. Everett
Isaiah 2:1-5
excerpted from Sermons On The First Readings : Series II, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Charles L. Aaron, Jr.
Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Sermons On The Gospel Readings : Series II, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Stephen M. Crotts
Isaiah 2:1-5
excerpted from A Long Time Coming: Cycle A First Lesson Sermons for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany
First Sunday of Advent - A
Timothy J. Smith
Romans 13:11-14
excerpted from Christmas Grace: Cycle A Second Lesson Sermons for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany
First Sunday of Advent - A
Frank Luchsinger
Romans 13:11-14
excerpted from Moving At The Speed Of Light : Second Lesson Sermons For Advent/Christmas/Epiphany
First Sunday of Advent - A
William B. Kincaid, III
Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from And Then Came the Angel: Gospel Sermons For Advent/Christmas/Epiphany
First Sunday of Advent - A
R. Glen Miles
Isaiah 2:1-5
excerpted from Between Gloom and Glory: First Lesson Sermons For Advent/Christmas/Epiphany
First Sunday of Advent - A
Robert A. Beringer
Isaiah 2:1-5
excerpted from Something's Coming ... Something Great: Sermons For Advent, Christmas And Epiphany
First Sunday of Advent - A
John B. Jamison
Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Time's Up!: Sermons For Advent, Christmas And Epiphany
First Sunday of Advent - A
Joe E. Pennel, Jr
Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from FROM ANTICIPATION TO TRANSFIGURATION : Sermons For Advent, Christmas, & Epiphany
First Sunday of Advent - A
John T. Ball
Isaiah 2:1-5
excerpted from Sermons On The First Readings : Series I, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Susan R. Andrews
Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from SERMONS ON THE GOSPEL READINGS : Series I, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Romans 13:11-14
excerpted from Sermons On The Second Reading : Series I, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Thomas E. Ridenhour, Sr.
Isaiah 2:1-5
excerpted from Promise of Peace, Call for Justice : SERMONS FOR ADVENT, CHRISTMAS AND EPIPHANY
Thanksgiving Day - C
John W. Clarke
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
excerpted from Sermons on the First Readings : Series II, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Donna E. Schaper
Philippians 4:4-9
excerpted from Sermons on the Second Readings : Series II, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
John W. Clarke
John 6:25-35
excerpted from Sermons on the Gospel Readings : Series II, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Scott A. Bryte
John 6:25-35
excerpted from Sermons on the Gospel Readings : Series III, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Scott Suskovic
Philippians 4:4-9
excerpted from Sermons on the Second Readings : Series III, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
R. Kevin Mohr
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
excerpted from Sermons on the First Readings : Series III, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Robert R. Kopp
Philippians 4:4-9
excerpted from Don't Forget This! : Second Lesson Sermons For Sundays After Pentecost (Last Third) Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
John E. Berger
John 6:25-35
excerpted from Ten Hits, One Run, Nine Errors : Gospel Sermons For Sundays After Pentecost (Last Third) Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Mark Ellingson
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
excerpted from A Word That Sets Free : First Lesson Sermons For Sundays After Pentecost (Last Third) Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Robert S. Crilley
Philippians 4:4-9
excerpted from Sermons On The Second Readings : Series I, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Stephen M. Crotts
John 6:25-35
excerpted from Sermons On The Gospel Readings : For Sundays In Advent, Christmas, And Epiphany
Thanksgiving Day - C
Richard E. Gribble, CSC
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
excerpted from Sermons On The First Readings : Series I, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Paul W. F. Harms
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
excerpted from SEEK GOOD, NOT EVIL : that you may live

Stories

First Sunday of Advent - A
David E. Leininger
Isaiah 2:1-5
excerpted from Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit: Series VI, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Timothy J. Smith
Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit : Series II Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
John E. Sumwalt
Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from LECTIONARY STORIES : 40 Tellable Tales For Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter And Pentecost
First Sunday of Advent - A
Constance Berg
Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from LECTIONARY TALES FOR THE PULPIT : Series III, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Gregory L. Tolle
Isaiah 2:1-5
excerpted from Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit : Series IV, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
John E. Sumwalt
Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Shining Moments : Visions Of The Holy In Ordinary Lives
Thanksgiving Day - C
Gregory L. Tolle
Psalm 100
excerpted from Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit: Series V, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
David E. Leininger
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
excerpted from Lectionary Tales for the Pulpit : Series VI, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Constance Berg
John 6:25-35
excerpted from Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit : Series III, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
John E. Sumwalt
Marjorie K. Evans
Philippians 4:4-9
excerpted from Sharing Visions : Divine Revelations, Angels, And Holy Coincidences
Thanksgiving Day - C
Timothy F. Merrill
Philippians 4:4-9
excerpted from Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit : Series IV Cycle C

Worship

First Sunday of Advent - A
Thom M. Shuman
Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Aids, Cradled in God's Heart: Series VIII, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Amy C. Schifrin
Martha Shonkwiler
Matthew 24:36-44, Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Psalm 122
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Workbook: Series III, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
H. Burnham Kirkland
Psalm 25:1-10
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Aids: Series VI, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
H. Burnham Kirkland
Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Aids: Series VI, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
H. Burnham Kirkland
Romans 13:11-14
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Aids: Series VI, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
H. Burnham Kirkland
Isaiah 2:1-5
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Aids: Series VI, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Robert S. Jarboe
Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44, Psalm 122
excerpted from More Services for the Advent Wreath: For Lectionary Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Robert S. Jarboe
Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from More Services for the Advent Wreath: For Lectionary Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Robert S. Jarboe
Romans 13:11-14
excerpted from More Services for the Advent Wreath: For Lectionary Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Robert S. Jarboe
Psalm 122
excerpted from More Services for the Advent Wreath: For Lectionary Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Robert S. Jarboe
Isaiah 2:1-5
excerpted from More Services for the Advent Wreath: For Lectionary Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Dallas A. Brauninger
Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Aids: Series V, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Wayne H. Keller
Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Workbook: Series II, Cycle A Gospel Texts
First Sunday of Advent - A
B. David Hostetter
Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Psalm 122, Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS : Series III, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Dallas A. Brauninger
Psalm 122
excerpted from In the Beginning Was the Word: Scriptures For The Lectionary Speaking Choir, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Norman A. Beck
Psalm 122
excerpted from Scripture Notes : For use with Common, Lutheran and Roman Catholic Lectionaries
First Sunday of Advent - A
Paul A. Laughlin
Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS : Series II
First Sunday of Advent - A
Heth H. Corl
Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14
excerpted from LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS :
First Sunday of Advent - A
Beverly S. Bailey
Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Workbook: Series IV, Cycle A
First Sunday of Advent - A
Frank Ramirez
Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44
excerpted from LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS : Series VII, Cycle A
Thanksgiving Day - C
Frank Ramirez
John 6:25-35
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Aids: Series VII, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Frank Ramirez
Philippians 4:4-9
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Aids: Series VII, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Frank Ramirez
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Aids: Series VII, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Julia Ross Strope
Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Philippians 4:4-9, John 6:25-35, Psalm 100
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Workbook, Series IV, Cycle C : Soul Motion
Thanksgiving Day - C
Wayne H. Keller
Thessalonians 5:12-22, Psalm 95
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Workbook : Series II, Cycle C Gospel Texts
Thanksgiving Day - C
Dallas A. Brauninger
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Aids : Series V, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
James R. Wilson
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Aids : Cycle C, Series IV
Thanksgiving Day - C
H. Burnham Kirkland
Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Philippians 4:4-9, John 6:25-35
excerpted from Lectionary Worship Aids : Series VI, Cycle C
Thanksgiving Day - C
Hugh H. Drennan
Psalm 100
excerpted from Aids To The Psalms :

Related to Deuteronomy 26:1-11

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Related to Isaiah 2:1-5

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Related to John 6:25-35

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Related to Matthew 24:36-44

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Related to Philippians 4:4-9

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Related to Psalm 100

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Related to Psalm 122

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Related to Romans 13:11-14

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UPCOMING WEEKS
In addition to the lectionary resources there are thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
Christ the King Sunday
29 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
27 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Thanksgiving
14 – Sermons
80+ – Illustrations / Stories
18 – Children's Sermons / Resources
10 – Worship Resources
18 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Advent 1
30 – Sermons
90+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
20 – Worship Resources
29 – Commentary / Exegesis
4 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Christopher Keating
Thomas Willadsen
Katy Stenta
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
Dean Feldmeyer
George Reed
For November 30, 2025:
  • Time Change by Chris Keating. The First Sunday of Advent invites God’s people to tell time differently. While the secular Christmas machine keeps rolling, the church is called to a time of waiting and remaining alert.
  • Second Thoughts: What Time Is It? by Tom Willadsen based on Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 24:36-44.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Deuteronomy 26:1-11
According to Martin Luther our thanksgiving is brought about only by justification by grace:

But bringing of tithes denotes that we are wholly given to the service of the neighbor through love…  This, however, does not happen unless, being first justified by faith. (Luther’s Works, Vol.9, p.255)

The Reformer also wants us to be happy, what with all the generous gifts we have been given.  He wrote:
Wayne Brouwer
A schoolteacher asked her students to make a list of the things for which they were thankful. Right at the top of Chad’s list was the word “glasses.” Some children resent having to wear glasses, but evidently not Chad! She asked him about it. Why was he thankful that he wore glasses?

“Well,” he said, “my glasses keep the boys from hitting me and the girls from kissing me.”

The philosopher Eric Hoffer says, “The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings!” That’s true, isn’t it?
William H. Shepherd
Christianity is, among other things, an intellectual quest. The curriculum to know God truly. The lesson plans interact creatively with other aspects of faith: worship is vain if not grounded in truth, while service is misguided if based on faulty premises. While faith certainly cannot be reduced to knowledge, it cannot be divorced from it, either.

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (v. 6)

We just received word about the passing of our friend, Rosmarie Trapp. We had lost touch with her in recent years, so I was shocked when I stumbled onto her obituary in The New York Times from May 18, 2022.
David E. Leininger
John Jamison
Contents
What's Up This Week
"The Reason for the Season" by David Leininger
"Time's Up" by John Jamison


What's Up This Week

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: The activity for this message is the Be Thank You! game.

* * *

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Rosemary was 33 years old. She'd been married to James for four years and they had two children, Sam who was two and the baby, Elizabeth, who was just three weeks old. Apart from the baby blues and extreme fatigue, both of which got her down a bit when James was at work, Rosemary was happy. They had recently moved to the London suburbs and James commuted each day by train.

SermonStudio

Carlos Wilton
This brief psalm is among the most familiar in the psalter, but that is primarily because its verses have been excerpted in so many hymns and liturgical texts. There is something to be gained from looking at Psalm 100 in its entirety, and trying to recover its ancient liturgical context.

James Evans
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (v. 6). What better way could there be for us to begin the Advent season than by focusing our prayers on peace? The word, shalom, translated "peace," means much more than the mere absence of conflict. And of course, it is not only Jerusalem that is in need of peace; the whole world needs the shalom that the psalmist dreams about. So perhaps we should expand the breadth of this prayer, and deepen it with our awareness of the various meanings of the Hebrew idea of peace.

John R. Brokhoff
THE LESSONS

Lesson 1: Isaiah 2:1--5 (C, RC, E)
Tony S. Everett
A popular skit at church camps involves about a dozen folks lined up side-by-side, looking anxious and frustrated facing the audience. Each person rests a left elbow on the right shoulder of their neighbor. Then, from left to right, each member asks, "Is it time yet?" When the question arrives at the end of the line, the last person looks at his/her wristwatch and responds, "No." This reply is passed, one-by-one each with bored sighs, back to the first questioner. After a few moments, the same question is passed down the line (left elbows remaining on the right shoulders).
Linda Schiphorst Mccoy
Just a few days before writing this message, I conducted a memorial service for a 60-year-old man who was the picture of health until three months before his death. He was active, vibrant, only recently retired, and looking forward to years of good life with his wife and family and friends. Nonetheless, pancreatic cancer had done its work, and quickly, and he was gone. It was the general consensus that it was too soon for his life to end; he was too young to die.
John W. Clarke
In this the sixth chapter of John's Gospel, Jesus begins to withdraw to the east side of the Sea of Galilee. He has fed the 5,000, and he has walked on water. The press of the crowds had become all consuming and he needs some solitude to prepare himself for what lay ahead. Considering that the crowds that followed him more than likely knew of the feeding of the 5,000, and some may even have heard of the miraculous walking on water, it is difficult to explain why in these verses, they would doubt anything he had to say -- but they do.
Robert R. Kopp
My favorite eighth grader just confessed his aspiration for becoming President of the United States.

When I foolishly asked the inspiration of his lofty goal, he replied, "Bill Clinton." Then my hormone-raging adolescent proceeded to list perceived presidential perks that have nothing to do with God or country.

My prayer list has been altered.

And my attitude about prayer in public schools has changed too.

I used to be against prayer in public schools.
John E. Berger
Thanksgiving, according to one newspaper columnist, has kept its original meaning better than any other holiday. That original meaning, he wrote, was family reunions around large dinner tables.

In contrast, Christmas has changed into Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Easter has come to emphasize new spring clothes and the Easter bunny. Even our national holidays -- Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day -- have become cook-outs and summer travel get-aways.
Mark Ellingson
Thanksgiving: How do we say thanks authentically and not lapse into the platitudes so often associated with this holiday? There are several dangers associated with the holiday. Ever since it was instituted as a national holiday by Abraham Lincoln, and even before when various state governors instituted it in their states, Thanksgiving has not been a strictly Christian holiday. There has been a lot of nationalism and self-congratulations associated with this day. What is the distinctively Christian way to give thanks to God for all the good things that we have?

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