November 19, 2015 WBB Feast Days & Holidays, WBB Primary, WBB Intermediate, REL Seasons - Feast Days/Holidays, REL Catechetical - K–6, REL Catechetical - Jr High, REL Asset - Prayer Experience
By: Allie Johnston
This Thanksgiving, families and friends will gather to share a meal and to be grateful for the people and things they hold dear. Though it is a secular holiday, Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on and show our gratitude for the many gifts God has given to each of us. One of the ways that we do this is by gathering together to pray.
When we thank God in prayer, we call these prayers of thanksgiving. In this special Thanksgiving Prayer Service, children of all ages will come together to remember that all good things come from God. This Thanksgiving Prayer Service will guide children to think about and thank God for the wonderful lives they have as they pray with grateful hearts. The Thanksgiving Prayer Service begins with an opening prayer and a reading from Scripture. It includes a multi-age activity that combines art and prayer. The product of this prayer service is a mural of a tree with leaves that are student prayers of thanksgiving, representing the gratitude of all the children in the religious education program. This prayer service is ideal for a Catholic school or a parish religious education program in which many children are enrolled, but it can also be adapted on a smaller scale for use in the home or individual classroom.
Before you begin the Thanksgiving Prayer Service you will need to gather some simple materials. Each participating child will need one colored paper leaf for the prayer service. Pre-cut leaves (or use a die cut machine if available) of autumn colors. Consider designating a single color to each grade or group of students for a more colorful end result. As an alternative to pre-cutting the leaves, have individual religious education classes prepare their leaves in advance, designing and cutting out the shapes to then be used during the prayer service. You’ll also need to design the trunk and (bare) limbs of a tree that the leaves will be affixed to in the gathering space.
Download the Thanksgiving Prayer Service now for the full list of materials, and step-by-step instructions for implementation.
You may also be interested in a beautiful download of the Grace Before Meals prayer on Sadlier’s We Believe & Share blog. Visit to read more about gratitude as a spiritual practice that spawns generosity and enriches our lives well beyond the Thanksgiving table!