The Structure Of The Prayer Of Thanksgiving

The following examples are intended to provide the reader with a sense both of the structure and of the content of the prayer of thanksgiving. For more examples, see Models of Renewing Worship in Sunday Morning Worship.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving Structure and Commentary The Lord be with you Sursum Corda And also with you.   Lift up your hearts This ancient opening dialogue is now used universally We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise.   Minister: The Preface Prayer It is right, and a good an joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.   Here the minister continues with a Preface The content of the preface prayer is Prayer suited to the particular occasion of Trelated to the Sunday in the church worship. This prayer ends with words such as: year or to the theme of the celebration. And so, with your people on earth, and all the company of heaven, we praise your name, and join their unending hymn:   Minister and People Say or Sing: Sanctus Holy, holy, holy Lord, The Sanctus has been set to many different God of Power and might, heaven and earth tunes available in denominational hymnbooks. are full of your glory Contemporary, creative, praise tradition, and Hosanna in the highest charismatic may replace the traditional Sanctus Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. with contemporary Holy, Holy, Holy (or a stanza from a familiar hymn) Hosanna in the highest   The people stand or kneel as the minister Commemoration continues with the prayer:   Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love Here, saving events in Jesus Christ are recalled. you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you in your mercy sent Jesus Christ, y our only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God an Father of all. He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.   At the following words concerning the bread, the Words of Institution minister may hold it or lay a hand upon it; and at the words concerning the cup, to hold or place a hand upon the cup and any other vessel containing wine to be consecrated.   On the night he was handed over to suffering and It is universally taught that a proper death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when Communion cannot take place without he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it the words of institution. to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me." After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, " Drink this, all of you. This is my blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me." Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:   Minister and People respond: Memorial Acclamation   Christ has died The memorial acclamation provides an opportunity Christ is risen for the people to respond to the Prayer of Christ will come again Thanksgiving   The Minister continues: Anamnesis and Oblation We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, A prayer containing the remembrance O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanks- and an offering of gifts, as well as an giving. Recalling his death, resurrection and offering of sacrifice and praise. ascension, we offer you these gifts.   Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your Epiclesis people the body and blood of your Son, the holy A prayer invoking the Holy Spirit to be food and drink of new and unending life in him. present with the people, confirming faith Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this and bringing healing to mind, body, and soul. Holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all ood saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom. All this we ask through your Song Jesus Christ. Minister and People: By him, and with him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever. Amen.   And now, our savior Christ has taught us, we are The Lord's Prayer bold to say. Here minister and people say or sing the Lord's In ancient church, prayers of intercession were prayer. often said at the end of the Eucharistic prayer. Today the Lord's Prayer serves that place in Western worship. The text of the prayer is from The Book of Common Prayer.