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Day of General Thanksgiving
THE COLLECT
Spirit of life and mighty One of light, open our eyes that we may recognize the bounty of blessings which thou hast bestowed upon us, and grant that through our appreciation of that which is temporal we may be brought at length to that which is eternal. Praise be to thee for the wonder of the fire that bringeth warmth and brightness to the world and to our mind; praise be to thee for the freshness of air that bloweth where it listeth as the image of thy most holy Spirit; praise be to thee for the rich earth, the sustainer of all that lives; praise be to thee for water that refreshes the earth in stillness and in storm; praise be to thee for the courage of the heroes, the example of the saints and the splendor of all noble deeds; for the memory of our true home above the shadows of this world, and for the hope of our return to thy kingdom of life and light everlasting.
Amen.
THE LESSON
The lesson is taken from the Book of the Psalms of David:
Ye shall stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. At morning and at even. O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving and show ourselves glad in Him with psalms. The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands prepared the dry land. He is the Lord our God: and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord: I will direct my prayer unto Thee, and look up. I will sing of Thy power: and will praise Thy lovingkindness betimes in the morning. In the evening and morning and at noonday will I call: and He shall hear my voice. The tenderness of the Lord is new every morning: Great, O Lord, is Thy faithfulness.
THE GOSPEL
The gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Phillip:
There is a glory that is higher than glory, there is a power which is above power. Because of this the perfect things are open to us, and the hidden things of the truth; and the holy things of the holy ones are revealed, and the bridalchamber invites us in. Insofar as it is hidden, wickedness is indeed brought to naught, but it is not taken away from the midst of the seed of the Holy Spirit; they are slaves of wickedness. But when it is revealed, then the perfect light will pour out on everyone. And all those who are in it will receive. Then the slaves will be free, and the captives delivered.