Thursday, October 10, 2019

Proper Prayers for Thanksgiving Sunday (13 October 2019)

The following proper prayers, with the exception of the prayer from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, are based on the readings from the RCL and BAS lectionaries.

Proper Prayers for Thanksgiving Sunday C


RCL & BAS 

Deuteronomy 26.1-11; Psalm 100; Philippians 4.4-9; John 6.25-35

ELW

Deuteronomy 26.1-11; Psalm 65; 2 Corinthians 9.6-15; Matthew 13.24-30 [36-43]

Collect of the Day


Creator of the fruitful earth, you made us stewards of all things.  Give us grateful hearts for all your goodness, and steadfast wills to use your bounty well, that/so that the whole human family, today and in generations to come, may with us give thanks for the riches of your creation.  We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.  Amen.  [1]
or
O Lord, maker of all things, you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living creature.  We praise you for crowning the fields with your blessings and enabling us once more to gather in the fruits of the earth.  Teach us to use your gifts carefully, that/so that our land may continue to yield its increase, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen.  [2]
or
Creator God, you made the goodness of the land, the riches of the sea, and the rhythm of the seasons.  As we thank you for the harvest, may we cherish and respect this planet and its peoples; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  [3]
or
God, whose word is engrained in all we eat and drink: free us from the greed that destroys the roots of life; teach us to eat the living bread in whom all hungers are satisfied by the life that gives of itself and is never sapped, Jesus Christ, the living Word.  Amen.  [3]
or
Generous God, you brought us into the abundance of our inheritance.  Grant us the faith to be people blossoming with honour and truth, so that we may produce bountifully the first-fruits of justice and compassion, which are pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ the Lord.  Amen.  [6]

Prayer over the Gifts


Source of all life, the heaven and earth are yours, yet you have given us dominion over/stewardship of all things.  Receive the symbols of our labour and love which we offer you this day, n the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  [1]
or
Holy God, gracious and merciful, you bring forth food from the earth and nourish your whole creation.  Turn our hearts toward those who hunger in any way, so that all may know your care; and prepare us now to feast on the bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen.  [3]
or
God of all creation, all you have made is good, and your love endures forever.  You bring forth bread from the earth and fruit from the vine.  Nourish us with these gifts, so that we might for the world signs of your gracious presence in Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen.  [3]
or
Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things.  Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts:  our selves, our time and our possessions.  Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen.  [3]
or
God of mercy and grace, the eyes of all wait upon you,  and you open your hand in blessing.  Fill us with good things at your table, so that we may come to the help of all in need, through Jesus Christ, our redeemer and Lord.  Amen.  [3]
or
Merciful God, as grains of wheat scattered upon the hills were gathered together to become one bread, so let your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom, for yours is the glory through Jesus Christ, now and for ever.  Amen.  [3]

Preface


It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.  And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn. [2a]
or
Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; you are the source of light and life for all your creation, you made us in your own image, and call us to new life in Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Therefore we praise you, joining our voices to proclaim the glory of your name.  [1]
or
Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord, who on this first day of the week overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.  In our unending joy we echo on earth the song of the angels in heaven as we raise our voices to proclaim the glory of your name.  [1]
or
Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; by water and the Holy Spirit you have made us a holy people in Jesus Christ our Lord; you renew that mystery in bread and wine and nourish us, to show forth your glory in all the world.  Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the holy people who have served you in every age, we raise our voices to proclaim the glory of your name.  [1]

Prayer after Communion


God our hope, in this eucharist we find the source of all your blessings.  Nourished in these holy mysteries may we, with our lives, give you continual thanks and praise.  This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  [1]
or
We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life.  In your mercy, strengthen us through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  [3]
or
O God, we give you thanks that you have set before us this feast, the body and blood of your Son.  By your Spirit strengthen us to serve all in need and to give ourselves away as bread for the hungry, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  [3]
or
God of abundance, with this bread of life and cup of salvation you have united us with Christ, making us one with all your people.  Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, so that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world and continue forever in the risen life of Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.  [3]
or
Gracious God, in this meal you have drawn us to your heart, and nourished us at your table with food and drink, the body and blood of Christ.  Now send us forth to be your people in the world, and to proclaim your truth this day and evermore, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen.  [3]
or
O God, our life, our strength, our food, we give you thanks for sustaining us with the body and blood of your Son.  By your Holy Spirit, enliven us to be his body in the world, so that more and more we will give you praise and serve your earth and its many peoples, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen.  [3]

Notes


[1]       The Book of Alternative Services 1985
[2]       Evangelical Lutheran Worship 2006
[2a]      Evangelical Lutheran Worship:  Leaders Desk Edition 2006
[3]       Alternative Collects for Years A, B & C of the RCL and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion 2019
[4]       Opening Prayers:  Collects in Contemporary Language 1997
[5]       Prayers for an Inclusive Church 2009
[6]       Revised Common Lectionary Prayers 2002

N.B.  Text in italics are possible alternatives suggested by the Ven. Richard Geoffrey Leggett, Ph.D.

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