By Dot Hall,

Lord God we come today in a state full of Thanksgiving for the abundance of blessings you have given us. We thank you for the many Veterans among us who have served and sacrificed our Country and brought us the freedoms we enjoy today. We thank you for the chance to learn how you are using the gifts you gave Gabriel Deng in the Hope for Ariang school in Africa. We thank you for surrounding the congregation and community of the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas with your love this week as they grieve the tragic shooting of 26 of their loved ones. Remind us that while we are awaiting your answers to the question “why did this happen?”, you give us each other to love and hold on to.  We thank you for holding our own congregation in your loving arms this week, especially Julie, Lisa, Mary, Hugh, Kristen, Dottie, Mark, Pete, Morgan, Grace, and all their caregivers, families and friends.

Lord, as we reflect and learn about the gifts you have given to us, we ask that you open our minds and our hearts to recognize those gifts that make us the special unique person you created us to be. Thank goodness you made us all different! What a boring world it would be if we were all alike!

But don’t let us stop with just the knowledge about our gifts. Give us enthusiasm, passion, and commitment to use our gifts to do your work wherever we can. Help us overcome our fear and hesitation, and trust your lead! Put our gifts to work here at DCC so that we can change lives for the better and lead people to you. Help us be rivers with your gifts and love, and not reservoirs.

Now Lord, we bring our individual concerns and celebrations to you. Please hear us as we come to you silently.