On November 26, 1789, President Washington called for a “day of public Thanksgiving.” This is a prayer based on that proclamation:
Our Father, we confess that it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge your providence, to obey your will, to be grateful for your benefits, and humbly to implore your protection and favor. Let us then acknowledge with grateful hearts the many great favors You have shown us. Let us worship and serve You, who alone are the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. Let us all unite in rendering unto You our sincere and humble thanks,
• for Your kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to our becoming a Nation,
• for Your great and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of Your providence, which we experienced in the War we fought for our independence,
• for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed,
• for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly our Federal Government,
• for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge,
• and in general for all the great and various favors which You have been pleased to confer upon us.
Grant, Our Lord, also that we may unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to You, the great Lord and Ruler of Nations. Lord, we beseech You
• to pardon our national and other transgressions,
• to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually,
• to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed,
• to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace and concord,
• To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and increase of science among them and Us,
• and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as You alone know to be best.
