(Report of original posted in 2008)

There are plenty of lists out there talking about “thanksgiving” worship songs, as in giving thanks to the Lord. That’s all wonderful stuff, but I think the question people are really asking is, what does the church have to sing about the actual Thanksgiving dinner. America has some of the best holidays, and thanksgiving dinner deserves to be sung about. Here are the top 5 worship songs for Thanksgiving dinner:

1. Hungry (Kathryn Scott)

This song is a perfect set opener,  it acknowledges what we’re all here for. We’re hungry and we want turkey, it’s that simple. I think this song captures it perfectly:

Hungry I come to you for I know you satisfy
I am empty but I know your love does not run dry
So I wait for you, so I wait for you

Turkey always satisfies. Nothing better than a moist, properly cooked turkey, so I like the stance of faith this song takes and says, “turkey you will NOT run dry.” Lord knows there is also a lot of waiting, patience is so key on this holy turkey day. I end up repeating that last refrain over and over, “so I wait..for you…so I wait…”

2. O Taste and See (Jenn Johnson)

Romans 1:20 says that “God’s eternal power and divine nature have been clearly perceived since the creation of the world in the things that have been made.” Nowhere is that more clearly seen than in turkey meat. This song challenges us to taste and see God’s goodness, his eternal power and divine nature inside that turkey. And just as Romans says, once we do, we are without excuse.

O taste and see that the Lord is good
O taste and see that the Lord is good to me
You have turned my mourning into dancing put of my rags and clothed with gladness

The “clothing of gladness” sung here is obviously a metaphor for gravy. I love to clothe my entire plate with gladness gravy.

3. How Can I Be Satisfied (Kevin Prosch)

This song addresses a practical problem we all face in Thanksgiving. Not stuffing our fat stomachs to the absolute breaking point. Ecclesiastes 3 says there’s “a time to be born, a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to eat healthy and a time to eat turkey until you eat yourself into a coma and beg God for mercy on your bowels.” I love how Kevin hits this head on.

I as a son present my complaint
won’t you bend down your ears and hear me
I’ve cried out for more, there has to be more
enlarge my portion come near me
…How can I be satisfied?

4. All Creatures of Our God and King

We can’t minimize the turkey’s act of sacrifice and worship to God on this day. It really is a powerful example of laying our lives down for the glory of God. Thank you turkey for your obedience and for your tasty thighs.

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
O praise Him, Hallelujah

5. Obsession (Delirious)

Heart burn is a serious issue on Thanksgiving. I don’t think we as a church can choose to ignore it’s impacts in our culture, we have to be able to approach it with a Godly perspective.

You come and free my like a bird
And my heart burns for you
And my heart burns for you

When you’re reclining in your parents old, tattered, smelly, but incredibly comfortable lazyboy, with a bloated stomach and heart burn, remember what Paul says in Romans 5, “rejoice in our sufferings, knowing sufferings produces endurance…”

Any more suggestions for this compilation?

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