In the United States, we’ll soon be celebrating Thanksgiving, so I’ve created a new worship service video on gratitude. (I also include mention of other countries that celebrate their own Thanksgiving, including Canada in October, China, Japan, South Korea, Liberia, Ghana, and more.)

As always, this service is designed for older adults with Alzheimer’s and other dementias — but please enjoy it along with them. Especially this week, I encourage you to pause the video and take as much time as you need to list every single thing you and your elders are grateful for. Trust me, it’s a fun exercise 🙏🏼

Watch the 47-minute church service on Thanksgiving and gratitude here.

Contributors to this video

I’m indebted to writer and activist Jacqueline Keeler of the Diné/Ihanktonwan Nations for excerpts from her essay, “Thanksgiving: A Native American View,” which I encountered on Instagram.

I’m also grateful to Megan Carnarius, who shared her father’s Thanksgiving Prayer with me a long time ago.

Thank you

I’m grateful to all of you for your encouraging words and support for these videos and the other resources on Spiritual Eldercare. Please continue to let me know if there’s anything you need.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash