The Season of Gratitude at St. Paul's is a mini-liturgical season within the long, green Season after Pentecost (also called "Ordinary Time" from Pentecost to Advent).

We celebrate this season in the late fall, in the weeks leading up to Advent. In 2025 our Season of Gratitude will last from October 20th through November 30th

Our Season of Gratitude is a time to celebrate and recall all of the blessings of our lives - all of that for which we give Thanks to God.

St. Paul's will incorporate worship and formation resources that focus on this spiritual practice as we journey through this season. Our Season of Gratitude is also our Stewardship season- this year themed by the apt phrase Walk in Love.

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The spiritual practice of gratitude is about recognizing and appreciating the blessings and gifts in our lives, both big and small. It involves intentionally noticing the good things that happen to us and acknowledging them with thankfulness. This practice helps us stay connected to God, who is the source of all blessings, and reminds us of our dependence on God's grace.

Gratitude as a spiritual practice can take many forms, such as:

1. Daily Prayer: Incorporating prayers of thanksgiving into your daily routine, such as thanking God for the blessings of the day before going to sleep.
2. Gratitude Journal: Keeping a journal where you regularly write down things you are thankful for can help you cultivate a habit of gratitude.
3. Expressing Thanks: Taking time to thank others for their kindness and generosity, whether through words or acts of appreciation.
4. Mindfulness: Being present and aware of the beauty and goodness around you, such as the natural world or the kindness of others.

Practicing gratitude helps us focus on the positive aspects of our lives, which can lead to a greater sense of joy and contentment. It also encourages us to share our blessings with others, fostering a spirit of generosity and connection within our communities (Source: Walk in Love: Episcopal Beliefs & Practices).

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Resources and Links for exploring Gratitude:

Listen: to Benedictine Monk and Author, David Steindl-Rast explore this practice in a conversation On How to Be Grateful in Every Moment (But Not for Everything) from the On Being Podcast. (52 minutes)

Explore that same author, David Steindl-Rast, share how gratefulness arises through surprises in a book excerpt from Common Sense Spirituality.

Read a Book Excerpt: by priest and theologian Ronald Rolheiser on how gratitude is a result of discipline. (from his book The Shattered Lantern: Rediscovering a Felt Presence of God)

Watch the video: Gratitude in Your Brain. In a presentation at the Greater Good Gratitude Summit, Dr. Christina M. Karns of the University of Oregon describes her research into the relationship between gratitude, social reasoning, decision-making, and the brain.

Read the Article: "How Gratitude Changes You and Your Brain" from Greater Good Magazine on how research has started to explore how gratitude works to improve our mental health.

Explore: this 12 minute video - How Parents Can Foster Gratitude in Kids. Dr. Andrea Hussong explores the role that parents can play in the development of children’s gratitude. (primarily geared towards 3-6 years old)

Spiritual Practices to Deepen your sense of Gratitude

The Honey Jar - a prayer practice of "giving thanks either in retrospect or in anticipation." Found in the book Crafting Gratitude by Maggie Oman Shannon

Memory Stacking - a spiritual practice of recalling the things in our lives worth remembering. Found in 365 Ways to Live Generously by Sharon Lipinski.

Seeing God in a piece of Bread - a gratitude practice of looking deeper and deeper into an item to find that God is there. In Stepping Stones to Jewish Spiritual Living by James Miral, Karen Bonnell Werth

A Grateful Day - video reflection with Brother David Steindl-Rast

AND, if you have small children in your life - this Picture and Board Book by Tomie DePaola - Look And Be Grateful (video here and board book here) is a child-friendly reflection that is similar to the above Grateful Day video reflection.

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And when you're not feeling particularly grateful... that is ok too - that is ALSO a prayer practice!

Gratitude that is not simply platitude:

• Video: Kate Bowler - "I have a complicated relationship with gratitude" - a reflection in which author, academic and podcast host Bowler, notes that "it's really important to put gratitude in it's place" and that it "is not a solution to the problem of pain."
• Grief Precedes Gratitude - two brief reflections on wholeness and healing as a part of the overall practice of gratitude. (Barbara Holmes and Marcie Alves Walker)
• Poem - The Gift by Mary Oliver.
• Read the article: Gratitude in an Unjust World - Jodi Belcher, writer, educator and theologian explores both the theology of gratitude and practical points for cultivating gratitude.

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