At our Christmas feast, December 25, 2013, we were gathered with family from near and far in my parents’ home in northeast Missouri. Candace, Rachel, Hannah and Susanna worked up this arrangement of the “Thanksgiving Song,” by Mary Chapin Carpenter, which represented our feelings perfectly.
The song is from one of our favorite Christmas albums, Come Darkness, Come Light. Here’s an Apple Music link, and a YouTube link. Below are the lyrics (as sung above, with two lines revised from Carpenter’s original). Sheet music is also available: SSA arrangement
from sheetmusicplus.com.
—–
Thanksgiving Song
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Grateful for each hand we hold
Gathered round this table.
From far and near we travel home,
Blessed that we are able.
Grateful for this sheltered place
With light in every window,
Saying welcome, welcome, share this feast
Come in away from sorrow.
Father, mother, daughter, son,
Neighbor, friend and friendless;
All together everyone, in the gift of loving-kindness.
Grateful for what’s understood,
And all that is forgiven;
life together, grace so good,
love that keeps on giving.
Father, mother, daughter, son,
Neighbor, friend, and friendless;
All together everyone, let grateful days be endless.
Grateful for each hand we hold
Gathered round this table.
Good to revisit this post. . . and the hope in it.