In anticipation of Thanksgiving, here is a lovely sermon by the Rev. Nathan Woodliff-Stanley, who serves Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden, Colorado as the Minister of Social Responsibility, about saying “grace,” on special occasions and as an every day practice.

For consideration: Do you say grace before meals? Is this a meaningful practice for you?

Saying Grace

Nathan Woodliff-Stanley

Have you ever had the experience of sitting down to a meal with relatives or friends or some other group of people, and without advance warning, being asked to say grace? It may be something you do routinely–not a big deal–or the very thought might strike terror in your heart. I can assure you that it happens more often to ministers, especially at times like Thanksgiving, and it pays to be prepared. But I’ve still had my share of stumbles, and it can be disconcerting for anyone to be put on the spot unexpectedly. There is real value in spontaneous prayer, but being asked to say grace without warning can be especially awkward if you are someone who doesn’t normally say grace before meals, if you don’t know what the group expects, or if all you can think of are childhood formulas for saying grace that no longer fit your beliefs. I can imagine someone who is agnostic trying to pray as honestly as possible:

“Dear God, if there is a God, we thank you for this food, to whatever extent you were responsible for it. We ask for your blessings upon us, if that isn’t too presumptuous and if you really do specially bless people, and all this we pray in your holy name, whatever that might be.”

(Read on … )