As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us pause to count our blessings and give thanks for the big things in life—family, friends, health, and provision. But gratitude can be so much more than a once-a-year reflection. It’s a spiritual practice that, when cultivated daily, deepens our awareness of God’s presence in the ordinary moments and fosters a spirit of joy and contentment within our communities.

So how can we help our congregations not only experience gratitude during Thanksgiving, but also nurture it as a daily spiritual discipline? Let’s explore some creative ways to guide your church into a habit of recognizing God’s goodness and expressing gratitude in every season.

Gratitude Journals

Encourage families or individuals to take a few minutes each day to jot down one or two things they’re thankful for, focusing on the everyday moments where they sense God’s presence. It could be the sound of laughter, the beauty of a sunset, a kind word from a friend, or even a challenging situation that led to growth.

Worship Integration: Set aside a few minutes for people to write in their journals or share one thing they’re grateful for. This can become a beautiful, shared ritual of thanksgiving that invites the entire community to pause and notice God’s gifts together.

Thankfulness Testimonies

Designating time during Sunday services for “Thankfulness Testimonies.” Invite members to share short stories about how they experienced God’s goodness in the ordinary moments of their week.

Idea for Sermon Series: Use these testimonies as part of an Advent or Thanksgiving-themed sermon series that emphasizes God’s presence in the small, often overlooked moments of our lives.

Prayer Prompts: Acknowledging God in the Day-to-Day

Incorporate gratitude prayers into your worship services. Ask congregants to reflect on specific prompts, such as, “Where did I feel God’s presence this week?” or “What everyday blessings can I thank God for today?” By guiding people to focus on the little things, they’ll begin to see God’s hand at work in all areas life.

Idea for Personal Practice: Create a take-home prayer card that congregants can use, encouraging them to pause each day and offer a prayer of thanks. Bonus - uses these prompts on social media as daily or week digital reminders to pause and give thanks.

Gratitude Wall

Set up a “Gratitude Wall” or “Thankfulness Tree” in a visible area of your church. Invite members to write down something they’re grateful for on sticky notes or paper leaves and attach them to the wall or tree throughout the week. This can serve as a powerful reminder of the many ways God is at work in your congregation.

Worship Integration: Start this project by inviting people to come forward with their notes as an act of worship and then continue to add notes/cards to the tree or wall through the year.