Note: this article was originally published on November 1, 2018.
Thanksgiving may not be known for its music, as the holiday often gets overshadowed by Christmas songs. However, there are many beautiful Thanksgiving hymns that can bring even more meaning to the holiday. Adding a few of these to your celebration can set the tone for reflection and remind everyone gathered just how much there is to be thankful for.
Powerful Thanksgiving Hymns To Express Gratitude
Here are nine traditional hymns to add to your Thanksgiving music playlist.
1. “We Gather Together”
“We Gather Together” was written in 1597 by a Dutchman to celebrate freedom after years of religious oppression. At the time, Dutch Protestants were forbidden from gathering for worship under the rule of the Catholic Spanish king. The hymn became a way to thank God for deliverance and to express the joy of finally being able to worship together openly. This hymn didn’t reach America until the early 20th century, but it grew in popularity after the Methodist-Episcopal Church published it in its 1935 hymnal.
These are the lyrics to the first stanza:
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.
Because of its message of unity and gratitude, “We Gather Together” has since become a beloved hymn for Thanksgiving celebrations and is traditionally sung the week before Thanksgiving in many churches. It reminds us that even in adversity, we can find reasons to be thankful.
2. “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come”
This beautiful song of the harvest was written by an English theologian, Henry Alford. Look for the version recorded by Cantus in 2014. The lyrics are based on Psalm 100:4. The first verse:
Come, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of harvest home!
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin;
God, our Maker, doth provide
For our wants to be supplied;
Come to God's own temple, come;
Raise the song of harvest home!
As one of the classic hymns for Thanksgiving, “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come” emphasizes gathering to give thanks for the harvest and the bounty of the earth. The lesson from this hymn is the importance of recognizing and celebrating the fruits of our labor and the abundance we enjoy.
Whether sung in a church service or during any Thanksgiving tradition, this song reminds us to be thankful for the food on our table and the community we share it with. It encourages everyone to “raise the song of harvest home” by appreciating all that has been safely gathered in, as well as those who made it possible.
3. “Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart”
The contemporary hymn “Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart” was written in 1978 by Henry Smith. It is usually credited to Don Moen because it was released on one of his albums. Smith wrote it at a time when he was having trouble finding work after his university graduation. The lyrics might be repetitive, but it’s a reminder to focus on giving thanks during the Thanksgiving season. The two main verses of the song say:
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son.And now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us;
Although written in modern times, “Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart” stands among Thanksgiving hymns and songs that highlight the power of gratitude. It teaches that expressing thanks, especially in hardship, can transform our perspective.
4. “For the Beauty of the Earth”
In 2006, BarlowGirl released a version of “For the Beauty of the Earth” that went to No. 20 on R&R's Christian Adult Contemporary chart, but the song first appeared in 1864. An English hymnist wrote it in response to the countryside where he lived. It’s sung throughout the year, but it’s fitting for Thanksgiving:
For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.
“For the Beauty of the Earth” is a cherished hymn of gratitude that lists the many gifts of creation, making it an ideal choice among Thanksgiving Day hymns. Its teaching lies in noticing the everyday wonders—from the skies above to the love around us—and being grateful for them.
During Thanksgiving, we can learn from this song to give thanks not only for the feast on our table, but also for the marvelous world we live in.
5. “This Is My Father’s World”
Rev. Maltbie Davenport Babcock, a pastor from upstate New York, wrote “This Is My Father’s World” to commemorate the wonderment he felt about his corner of the world. It was published posthumously, then a friend set the words to music. The lyrics are quite appropriate for Thanksgiving:
This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.
“This Is My Father’s World” may not mention Thanksgiving directly, but it celebrates the natural world and our connection to it. The hymn teaches that every part of nature is a gift, reflecting a sense of divine presence in the everyday scenes around us.
This Thanksgiving hymn also offers hope: even when “the wrong seems oft so strong,” goodness (and for those of faith, God’s guidance) still prevails. At Thanksgiving, this song encourages us to reflect on the wonder of the world we inhabit and to be grateful for the sense of peace and belonging it can bring.
6. “Count Your Blessings”
One of the most popular and well-known hymns of the 20th century, “Count Your Blessings” was written by Johnson Oatman, Jr. in 1897. He wanted to make a contribution to music, but felt he couldn’t measure up to his father’s singing voice. Instead, he wrote songs, ultimately contributing 5,000 compositions that preached the gospel. Some of the lyrics to “Count Your Blessings” are as follows:
When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
“Count Your Blessings” is one of those classic hymns of thanks that directly calls on us to practice gratitude in daily life. It teaches that when life troubles us, shifting focus to the blessings we have can lift our spirits. Each verse challenges the listener to rise above discouragement or envy by remembering the good things they’ve received.
During Thanksgiving, this hymn’s advice is especially timely: literally count your blessings one by one, and you'll find your heart filling with appreciation for what you might otherwise take for granted. In fact, studies show that actively being thankful can improve your mood and well-being, making the message of this song even more powerful.
7. “Now Thank We All Our God”
“Now Thank We All Our God” was written in the 1600s by Martin Rinkart, a German pastor who lived through war and plague. Despite hardship, he penned this hymn as an expression of gratitude and faith. The opening lines are:
Now thank we all our God
With heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom this world rejoices;
This hymn of thanks has stood the test of time, offering another reminder that gratitude is powerful even in seasons of difficulty. Among Thanksgiving Day hymns, it’s one of the most enduring, calling on us to praise God for blessings past, present, and future.
8. “All Things Bright and Beautiful”
Cecil Frances Alexander wrote “All Things Bright and Beautiful” in 1848, and it quickly became one of the best-loved hymns for children and adults alike. It celebrates God’s creation and the joy of life’s simple gifts. The refrain is familiar to many:
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
As one of the hymns for Thanksgiving, “All Things Bright and Beautiful” draws our attention to the everyday blessings around us. From the changing of the seasons to the beauty of nature, this hymn encourages gratitude for creation itself.
9. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
First published in 1923, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” was written by Thomas Chisholm and composed by William Runyan. It is inspired by Lamentations 3:22-23, which speaks of God’s mercies being “new every morning.” The opening verse says:
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.
Though not written specifically as a Thanksgiving hymn, its message of steady faith and provision has made it a beloved part of hymns of thanks sung during the holiday.
On Thanksgiving Day, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” reminds us that gratitude is rooted in recognizing ongoing care and blessings. Among hymns for Thanksgiving, this one stands out as a powerful anthem of assurance and thankfulness, which is perfect for reflecting on the past year’s blessings.
Carrying the Spirit of Thanksgiving Hymns Into Ministry
Thanksgiving hymns are more than seasonal songs; they’re reminders of gratitude, unity, and the blessings that surround us. Singing these hymns not only lifts voices but also brings people together in a moment of reflection and celebration.
That sense of gathering and gratitude is also at the heart of ministry. Ordination through the Universal Life Church opens a door to live out that spirit of Thanksgiving in a meaningful way.
Ministers often lead communities in song, prayer, and ceremony, becoming voices of encouragement and hope during life’s milestones. If you feel called to guide others in moments of joy and reflection, take the next step and get ordained today.
