One more day and many of us will be seated around a table, mouths watering as we watch Dad or Grampa or Hubby carve a steaming, golden turkey. As I thought about the many Thanksgiving celebrations we’ve shared in my family–days of fellowship and laughter, gratitude and blessing–I remembered singing that wonderful old hymn, “We Gather Together.”

So join me, you lovers of words, you craftsman who create worlds and characters and stories that move and change us. Let’s read—and, if you want, sing!—together these powerful, beautiful words to celebrate this holiday:

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;

He chastens and hastens His will to make known;

The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing;

Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,

Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;

So from the beginning the fight we were winning;

Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,

And pray that Thou still our Defender will be;

Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;

Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=857F4ngV8TY