AN ALTERNATIVE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND CONSECRATION

This Prayer of Thanksgiving and Consecration may be used as an alternative to the prayer in the Holy Communion, Second Order. Like that prayer, it has two epicleses. The first epiclesis is a petition that those eating the bread and drinking the wine will be partakers of Christ’s body and blood, an allusion to 1 Corinthians 10:16. The second epiclesis is is taken from Philippians 1:27. It asks  God, by the power of his Holy Spirit, to help them to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ and to grant them grace to stand firm in one spirit, contending as one for the faith of the gospel.   

Like the prayer in the Holy Communion, Second Order, this prayer does not contain an invocation for the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the bread and wine nor does it contain an oblation of any kind.

Unlike that prayer, it has no special prefaces. While this feature makes the prayer particularly suitable for use in the season after Epiphany and the season after Pentecost, it may be used year around. It is a good choice for a congregation worshiping in a non-traditional setting or targeting a population group that is more comfortable with a simple or informal celebration of the Holy Communion. It is also a good choice for mission conferences and similar gatherings.

AN ALTERNATIVE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND CONSECRATION

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give him thanks and praise.

All glory and honor, thanks and praise be yours now and always, Lord, holy Father, might Creator, everliving God.

We give you thanks and praise for in the greatness of your love and the richness of your mercy you gave your only Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our salvation.

By this offering of himself once and for all time Jesus made a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world and commanded us to continue a remembrance of his precious death until his coming again.

Joining our voices with angelic hosts and with all the company of heaven we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever praising you and saying:

The minister and people say

Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

With heartfelt gratitude, Father, we pray that we who eat and drink these gifts of bread and wine according to our Savior’s command, in remembrance of his suffering and death, may be partakers of his body and blood.

The minister takes the bread into his hands and says:

On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took bread and, when he had given you thanks, he broke it, then gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me’.

The bread may be broken here.

The minister takes the cup into his hands and say:

In the same way after the meal, Jesus took the cup and, when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’

For whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim

the Lord’s death until he comes.

Christ has died,

Christ is risen,

Christ will come again.

In obedience to his command we commemorate his suffering and death on the cross and celebrate the redemption that he purchased there by his blood.

By the power of your Holy Spirit, Father, help us to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Grant us grace to stand firm in one spirit, contending as one for the faith of the gospel.

Accept our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing and honor and glory and power

are yours for ever and ever. Amen.