A teller at the drive-in window of a bank was having difficulty with the glaring sun. He lowered the shade. Behind the shade he could see customers as they drove up, but they could not see him. As one woman drove in, he punched a button. The money drawer opened just as the woman came to a stop. She put in her check, closed the drawer, and it withdrew. Seconds later the drawer rolled out again with her money in it. She took the money, and stared at the window. She could not see anyone. "I know you are completely automated," she said, "but I want to thank you anyway."

The Bible says of our response to God's goodness, "Give thanks to Him and praise His name" (Ps. 100:4, HCSB).

Here are five practical suggestions for helping your congregation express gratitude to God.

1. Thankful pastor and staff

Would you agree that attitudes are caught rather than taught? A church family's sense of gratitude often parallels that of the pastor and staff. I preach positively. I state publicly my personal gratitude to God for His blessings. I show enthusiasm for God's activity within our congregation. With God's help, I try to practice James 1:2, though I do not profess to have the practice of this verse mastered. I do my best to model the attitude I want our church family to have.

What about you? Think about the words that come from your mouth? Do they model thanksgiving? Think about your attitude. Does it reflect enthusiasm and gratitude to God? Do you express gratitude toward your staff and the people you serve? Does not your attitude reflect itself in that of your congregation?

2. Thanksgiving missions banquet

Our church schedules two annual events that are "don't miss" happenings—our summer picnic and our Thanksgiving Missions Banquet. We can expect big crowds for both. On the night of our banquet our social committee prepares the meat, drinks, and paper goods, while our members bring covered-dish food items of all kinds. It's really quite a spread! Tables are decorated colorfully. We do our best to create a festive, exciting atmosphere.

During the banquet we sing songs that express thanks. We have a large college ministry. Each year about a dozen of our students participate in short-term missions projects. We ask them to share testimonies of their missions experiences. We also enlist one or two Thanksgiving testimonies from persons within our congregation. Some years we celebrate the Lord's Supper at the banquet.

Our missions committee also takes time during the banquet to highlight missions opportunities that will be available during the coming year. We promote short-term mission trips, a food pantry ministry, area projects, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, and opportunities for helping build Habitat for Humanity houses in our area.

Our church has grown rapidly in recent years. We feel the annual Thanksgiving Missions Banquet offers a prime fellowship time for getting to know people who are new to the church. We send invitations to selected prospects and new members urging them to attend. Our experience shows this banquet builds fellowship, elevates the importance of giving thanks, highlights missions, and creates a generous spirit in our church family.

3. Thanksgiving banner

I can think of at least two possibilities with a banner. To emphasize the importance of missions, our missions committee recently taped up a graffiti banner with the title "A day without missions is like …" People were encouraged to write on the graffiti banner and complete the sentence. For several Sundays groups of church attendees gathered in front of that graffiti banner to write their comments. Why not take a similar approach with a Thanksgiving graffiti banner? "A day without thanks is like …"

Another idea is to tape a banner to a prominent wall in the church in a high-traffic area. At the top of the banner write, "Thank You Letters to God." Ask people to write a thank you note to God, then tape it to the banner. Leave the banners up for a few weeks, and allow people to add to them. Another slant would be to use the "Thank You Letters to God" idea with children's Sunday School classes instead of with the whole church.

4. Thanksgiving projects

Encourage classes or groups in the church to conduct a ministry project during the Thanksgiving season. Cook a meal at a homeless shelter, work at a soup kitchen, prepare bags of food for needy families, help a family in need, visit shut-ins at a local nursing home, participate at a local Thanksgiving service sponsored by area churches, or offer to babysit children for single parents who need an outing.

What ministry needs exist in your church or area? A list of possible ministry projects is endless. You are limited only by your creativity.

5. Thanksgiving theme worship service

Here are two orders of service for the Sunday before Thanksgiving Day, with some words of explanation, for worship gatherings with a Thanksgiving theme. One is for a traditional style of worship, while the other can be used in a contemporary worship service.

Service option 1

Traditional

Opening Choir AnthemPrayerTestimony: "I Am Thankful for My Church"Thanksgiving Hymn Medley:"Come, Ye Thankful People, Come""My Tribute""Praise Him! Praise Him!"Welcome/Greeting One AnotherTestimony: "I Am Thankful for My Family"Hymn: "We Gather Together"OfferingTestimony: "I Am Thankful for My Lord"Special MusicMessageSong of Response: "I Surrender All"ClosingClosing Song: "Count Your Blessings"

Service option 2

Contemporary

Worship led by Worship Team Ensemble:"We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise""Come Into His Presence""He Is the King of Glory""You Are Crowned With Many Crowns"Welcome/Greeting One AnotherWorship led by Worship Team Ensemble:"I Will Bless Thee, O Lord""Give Thanks""I'm Forever Grateful""I Exalt Thee"DramaMessageTime of ResponseOffering "Celebrate Jesus"

  • Select a Thanksgiving theme song for the special music by the ensemble that opens the service.

  • The praise and worship songs shown give energy at the beginning of the service, then gear down to a more worshipful mood.

  • The drama needs to emphasize thanks.

  • Preach about being thankful.

Mother Theresa told this story during an address at the National Prayer Breakfast in 1994: "One evening we went out, and we picked up four people from the street. And one of them was in a most terrible condition. I told the sisters, 'You take care of the other three; I will take care of the one who looks worst.' So I did for her all that my love could do. I put her in bed, and there was such a beautiful smile on her face. 'Thank you,' she said. Then she died. I could not help but examine my conscience before her. And I asked, 'What would I say if I were in her place?' But my answer was very simple. I would have tried to draw a little attention to myself, I would have said, 'I am hungry, I am dying, I am in pain,' or something. But she gave me much more.

God's Word challenges us to "Give thanks in everything" (1 Thess. 5:18, HCSB). These ideas are offered with a prayer that God will use them to help your congregation give thanks.

Gary Hardin is pastor of Enon Grove Baptist Church, Cedar Bluff, Alabama.