Give Thanks

Give Thanks serves as a reminder to reflect on the countless ways in which God has covered everyone with His grace. It is a time to recall the moments of joy, the times of overcoming challenges, and the instances of unexpected blessings this semester, and all the days of our life. We all spend the night in food and fun, but we also remember our brothers and sisters worldwide who cannot. We had Shepherd of Egypt, a nonprofit organization that cares for the vulnerable in poverty-stricken areas in Egypt, teach us about the acceptable way of giving thanks to God, to serve His people. Below is a video of Shepherd of Egypt's work that we encourage everyone to watch and to donate to support the heavy laden. 

Below is a hymn sung during the midnight praises in the Coptic Orthodox Rite. It is a call to all of creation to give thanks to the Creator and the source of our lives.

The Second Hour

O give thanks to the Lord for He is good, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

O give thanks to the God of gods, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

O give thanks to the Lord of lords, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

To Him who alone does great wonders, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

To Him who by wisdom made the heavens, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

To Him who made great lights, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

The sun to rule by day, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

The moon and stars to rule by night, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

To Him who struck Egypt in their first-born, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

And brought out Israel from among them, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

With a strong hand and with an outstretched arm, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

To Him who divided the Red Sea in two, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

And made Israel pass through the midst of it, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

But overthrew pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

To Him who led His people through the wilderness, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

To Him who retrieved water from a rock, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

To Him who struck down great kings, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

And slew famous kings, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

Sihon the king of the Amorites, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

And Og the king of Bashan, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

And gave their land as a heritage, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

A heritage to Israel His servant, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

The Lord who remembered us in our lowly state, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

And rescued us from our enemies, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

Who gives food to all flesh, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

O give thanks to the God of heaven, alleluia His mercy endures forever.

O give thanks to the Lord of lords for He is good, alleluia His mercy endures forever.