Stories from the four churches
♥
St Ann’s Evening Praise replaced Evening Prayer some years ago when people were looking for something much freer in their worship. The service this evening includes some teaching in preparation for an evangelistic event in a few weeks’ time, and is punctuated at intervals by one of the acclamations:
Christ in you, the hope of glory:
this is the gospel we proclaim.
A Service of the Word provides the structure which holds everything together, including some dance to the psalm, interviews with a couple just moving to a new job and wanting to thank the congregation for their support, some praise songs and a time of extempore thanksgiving. The service moves to a climax of sung and spoken praise using one of the longer Thanksgivings, ending with the Sanctus. Other things they have used at the climax of the service have been traditional sung texts like the Te Deum and the Gloria, and the first section of one of the Eucharistic Prayers, ending with the Sanctus.
♣
The Worship Planning Group at St Bartholomew’s are leading worship based on Evening Prayer on Sunday from Common Worship. They have been grappling with the problem – and opportunity – of how to deal with the Advent theme of heaven, when one of the older people in the village has just died. While preparing for the funeral they came across the thematic material for a vigil on pages 247–252 of Common Worship: Pastoral Services and decided to use the psalm (116), with its psalm prayer (‘We walk through eternity in your presence’), and the canticle ‘A Song of the Justified’ from Romans 4 and 5, concluding with the Prayers of Thanksgiving from the Memorial Service (Pastoral Services, page 340) and one of the Resurrection Thanksgivings (G38 below) as an alternative Thanksgiving section for the end of Evening Prayer. At the end of the service there is an almost tangible silence as people feel they have been caught up to heaven and are reluctant to come back to earth again.
♦
The Eucharist at St Christopher’s today uses two items from this section of New Patterns. The theme is justification by faith, using the first of the two lectionary modules from Romans (here). They have been using the acclamation there (‘I am not ashamed of the gospel …’) for the last two weeks, and today they use one of the responsive acclamations on this theme (G45) as a Gospel acclamation, and one of the Thanksgivings (G75) replaces the preface in Eucharistic Prayer E. The clergy have read Note 18 to Common Worship Holy Communion, which says that Extended Prefaces may be used with Eucharistic prayers A, B and E for Order One and that they replace the entire text between the opening dialogue and the Sanctus.
♠
The St Dodo’s Praise Service has no apparent structure at all – and so, one or two people say, must be led by the Spirit. There is little content, with only one of the lectionary readings (irrelevant to the theme of praise) and the sermon is replaced by long introductions by four different people to four of the hymns. People in the congregation are encouraged to suggest items to give thanks for or to sing (sometimes without the congregation having the words because it is assumed everyone knows them), with the inevitable result that there is no development in the service and no one quite knows when it should come to an end. But a liturgical structure used without preparation can produce equally bad results. Last week the president got a bit lost in Eucharistic Prayer E, used a Short Preface rather than an extended one, with the result that no one knew when to come in with ‘Holy, holy …’
Notes to the resources
Acclamations and praise responses
Where to use them
These may be used
* at the beginning of the service;
* at the end of worship;
* after a reading; or
* acclamations may be repeated at various points in a service as a reminder of the theme.
Finding some more
There are more acclamations and responses in the Gathering and Greeting section.
See the Lectionary modules in Resource Section C for some specific acclamations which relate to the readings there.
Further appropriate forms can be devised locally. The key principles in constructing your own are:
* look at the readings for the service and especially the psalm as a possible source for words and ideas;
* keep the length of sentences short (especially for the congregation’s part);
* match the length of the response to the length of the leader’s text;
* take care over words that people may not be sure how to pronounce in the congregation’s text (even something like ‘blessed’ can cause uncertainty).
Songs
Some of the praise responses are suitable for saying or singing together, rather than in responsive form. These are marked with an asterisk*.
Thanksgivings
* These may be used at any suitable point in A Service of the Word, but they are particularly appropriate for use as the climax to the service or part of the response to the Liturgy of the Word.
* They may also be used as a proper preface in the Eucharistic Prayer: in this case, the introduction ‘Father, we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord’ should be used only where indicated.
* The Benedictus qui venit (‘Blessed is he who comes …’) may be added to the Sanctus in any of these thanksgivings where it is not printed.
* If it is desired to shorten the Thanksgivings, the lines in brackets may be omitted.
* If the Preface is specially composed, the president says,
‘And now we give you thanks …’
and then offers brief thanksgivings in the form ‘We thank you that …’ or similar words. They normally include thanksgiving for
* creation;
* redemption;
* the continuing work of the Spirit.
* They should not conclude with ‘Amen’. The president concludes by saying
‘Therefore with angels and archangels ….’ (Prayers A, B and C)
(or)
‘And so we gladly thank you, with saints and angels …’ (Prayer E)
Eucharistic Prayers D, G and H are not suitable for this approach.
Short Prefaces
These short seasonal or thematic Prefaces are for use at the appropriate points in any authorized Eucharistic Prayer on suitable occasions. They may be inserted in Prayers A, B and C in Order One and, suitably amended, in both prayers in Order One in Traditional Language. They may also be used (suitably amended: see Note 28 to the Common Worship services of Holy Communion) with Order Two and Order Two in Contemporary Language.
G I Praise
Acclamations
General
G1
Rejoice in the Lord always
and again I say,‘Rejoice’.
cf Philippians 4.4
General
G2
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
cf Psalm 46.7
Christ’s coming
Incarnation
G3
Jesus Christ is the Light of the world:
a light no darkness can quench.
cf John 8.12
Incarnation
G4
The Word was made flesh and lived among us
and we have seen his glory.
cf John 1.14
Cross
G5
The Son of man came not to be served, but to serve:
to give up his life as a ransom for many.
cf Mark 10.45
Cross
G6
Jesus is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sins of the world.
[Alleluia.]
cf John 1.29
Resurrection
Heaven
G7
Jesus is the resurrection and the life:
those who believe in him shall never die.
Alleluia.
cf John 11.25
Ascension
G8
We have a great high priest who has passed
through the heavens.
We come boldly to the throne of grace.
cf Hebrews 4.14,16
Word
Living in the world
G9
Your word is a lantern to my feet
and a light upon our path.
cf Psalm 119.105
Word
G10
O Lord, your word is everlasting:
it stands firm for ever in the heavens.
cf Psalm 119.89
G11
The love of Christ compels us.
We are ambassadors for him.
cf 2 Corinthians 5.14,20
Church and mission
Cross
G12
God forbid that we should glory
save in the cross of Christ our Lord.
cf Galatians 6.14
Church and mission
Holy Spirit
Father, Son and Spirit
G13
Jesus said, ‘Receive the Spirit:
as the Father sent me, so I send you.’
Alleluia. Thanks be to God.
cf John 20.21,22
Christian beginnings
Church and mission
Christ’s coming
G14
Christ in you, the hope of glory.
This is the gospel we proclaim.
cf Colossians 1.27,28
Christian beginnings
Incarnation
G15
Christ has brought us out of darkness
to dwell in his marvellous light.
cf 1 Peter 2.9
Christian beginnings
Church and mission
G16
There is one body and one Spirit,
one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
cf Ephesians 4.4,5
Relationships and healing
Cross
G17
Christ himself carried our sins in his body on the cross.
By his wounds we have been healed.
cf 1 Peter 2.24
Relationships and healing
General (morning)
G18
God’s saving power will rise like the sun
bringing healing like the sun’s rays.
cf Malachi 4.2
Living in the world
G19
A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
We are the light of the world.
cf Matthew 5.14
Living in the world
Church and mission
G20
Declare God’s glory among the nations,
his wonders among all peoples.
cf Psalm 96.3
Heaven
Christian beginnings
Resurrection
G21
We have died together with Christ.
We rise united with him.
cf Romans 6.5
Praise responses
Responses which are suitable for saying or singing together, rather than in responsive form, are marked with an asterisk*.
General
G22
Let us give thanks to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing.
Before the world was made, God chose us in Christ,
that we might be holy and blameless before him.
Let us praise God for the glory of his grace,
for the free gift he gave us in his dear Son.
To Father, Son and Holy Spirit
give praise and dominion, honour and might,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
cf Ephesians 1.3–6
General
Incarnation
G23
See what love the Father has given us,
that we should be called the children of God.
You are my sons and daughters,
this day I have begotten you.
See what love the Father has given us.
As many as received him,
to them he gave power to become the children of God.
See what love the Father has given us.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
See what love the Father has given us,
that we should be called the children of God.
cf 1 John 3.1
General
Heaven*
G24
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised,
there is no end to his greatness.
One generation shall praise your works to another
and shall declare your power.
All your works praise you, Lord,
and your faithful servants bless you.
They make known the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your power.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord:
let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.
cf Psalm 145.3,4,10–12
General (evening)
God in creation
G25
Blessed are you, Lord God, King of the universe.
Your word calls forth the dusk of evening.
Your wisdom creates both night and day.
You determine the cycles of time.
You arrange the succession of seasons
and establish the stars in their heavenly courses.
Lord of the starry hosts is your name.
Living and eternal God, rule over us always.
Blessed be the Lord, whose word makes evening fall.
Permission to reproduce this item is required from GIA Publications or Decani Music (see here for details).
Father, Son and Spirit
God in creation
Heaven
G26
You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honour and power.
For you have created all things,
and by your will they have their being.
You are worthy, O Lamb, for you were slain,
and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from every tribe and language and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests
serving our God,
and they will reign with you on earth.
To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour, glory and might,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
cf Revelation 4.11; 5.9,10,13
Christ’s coming
G27
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The Lord is the strength of my life.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Incarnation*
G28
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel.
He has come to his people and set them free.
Light has sprung up for the righteous
and joyful gladness for those who are faithful.
Glory to God in the highest
and peace to his people on earth.
Incarnation
G29
I bring you good news of great joy:
a Saviour has been born to you. Alleluia.
Unto us a child is born, a Son is given. Alleluia.
G30
This may be used on Christmas Day with G67 below, or as a Greeting.
Today [This night/day] Christ is born:
Alleluia.
Today [This night/day] the Saviour comes:
Alleluia.
Today [This night/day] the angels sing on earth:
Alleluia. Glory to God in the highest.
Incarnation
G31
The glory of the Lord has been revealed
and all flesh shall see it together.
[A candle may be lit.]
Jesus Christ is the light of the world,
a light no darkness can quench.
The shepherds kept watch by night
and your glory shone around them.
The darkness is not dark to you,
the night is as bright as the day.
Let your light scatter the darkness
and fill your Church with your glory.
Incarnation
G32
‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ says the Lord.
Now the Word is made flesh
and laid in a narrow manger.
From eternity to eternity you are God,
and now we see you as a newborn child.
Incarnation
G33
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light.
For to us a child is born,
to us a Son is given.
His name will be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God,
the Everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace.
Glory to God in the highest
and peace to his people on earth.
cf Isaiah 9.2,6
Church and mission
Word
Incarnation
G34
This may be used with G52 below.
The Word of life which was from the beginning
we proclaim to you.
The darkness is passing away
and the true light is already shining;
the Word of life which was from the beginning.
That which we heard, which we saw with our eyes,
and touched with our hands,
we proclaim to you.
For our fellowship is with the Father,
and with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Word of life which was from the beginning
we proclaim to you.
cf 1John 1.1–3
Cross
Lament
Relationships and healing
G35
Christ became obedient unto death for us,
even death upon a cross.
He was pierced for our sins,
bruised for no fault but our own.
His punishment has brought us peace.
By his wounds we are healed.
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power and riches and wisdom,
strength and honour, glory and praise.
Amen.
Cross
Church and mission
Relationships and healing
G36
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
When we were still helpless
Christ died for the ungodly.
The proof of God’s amazing love is this:
while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
cf Romans 5.6,8
Resurrection
Church and mission
G37
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He has given us new life and hope.
He has raised Jesus from the dead.
God has claimed us as his own.
He has brought us out of darkness.
He has made us light to the world.
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
G38
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Blessed are those who have not seen him
and yet have believed.
He is our Lord and our God.
We have seen his glory,
the glory which he had as the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
The Lord says to us, ‘Do you love me?’
Our hearts reply,‘You know that we love you.’
Jesus says, ‘Whoever comes to me shall never hunger.
Whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’
This is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sins of the world.
Jesus is the resurrection and the life:
those who believe in him shall never die.
Yes! Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Ascension
G39
[Christ has gone up on high.
Alleluia.]
God raised Christ from the dead
and enthroned him at his right hand in the
heavenly realms.
God put all things in subjection beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the Church.
We died, and our life lies hidden with Christ in God.
We set our minds on things above.
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed,
we too will be revealed with him in glory.
[Christ has gone up on high.
Alleluia.]
cf Ephesians 1.20,23; Colossians 3.1–4
Church and mission
Christ’s coming
Incarnation
G40
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe.
To you be glory and praise for ever.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
your name is proclaimed in all the world.
To you be glory and praise for ever.
When the time had fully come
you sent the Sun of Righteousness.
In him the fullness of your glory dwells.
To you be glory and praise for ever.
Church and mission
Holy Spirit
G41
There are varieties of gifts,
but the same Spirit.
There are varieties of service,
but the same Lord.
There are different kinds of working,
but the same God is at work in all.
cf 1 Corinthians 12.4–6
Church and mission
Holy Spirit
G42
This may be used with G41 above.
There is one body, one Spirit, one hope in God’s call,
one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
There is one God, Father of all, over all and in all,
to whom Christ ascended on high.
And through his Spirit he gives us gifts:
some are apostles, some are his prophets.
Evangelists, pastors and teachers he gives us,
so we can minister together
to build up his body,
to be mature in the fullness of Christ.
cf Ephesians 4.4–13
Church and mission
Holy Spirit
G43
The love of God has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
We dwell in him and he in us.
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him,
and speak of all his marvellous works.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty,
who was and is and is to come.
Christian beginnings
Resurrection
Heaven
G44
Here are words you may trust.
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead:
he is our salvation, our eternal glory.
If we die with him, we shall live with him;
if we endure, we shall reign with him.
If we deny him, he will deny us;
if we are faithless, he keeps faith.
For he has broken the power of death
and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
cf 2 Timothy 2.11–13
Christian beginnings
Holy Spirit
G45
Now that we have been put right with God through faith,
we have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ.
He has brought us by faith into the grace of God.
We rejoice in the hope of sharing God’s glory.
This hope does not deceive us:
God has poured his love into our hearts
by the gift of his Spirit.
cf Romans 5.1-2
Christian beginnings
Cross
Resurrection
G46
Since we have died with Christ,
we believe that we will also live with him.
For we know that Christ has been raised from death:
he will never die again.
We have been buried with him by baptism into death,
so that we might walk with him in newness of life.
cf Romans 6.4,8,9
Lament
Christ’s coming
G47
Restore us, Lord God of hosts.
Turn the light of your face to us and save us.
Will you not give us life again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your mercy, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.
Lament
G48
Lord, we are clay
and you are the potter.
We are all the work of your hand;
do not remember our sins for ever.
Look upon us in your mercy,
for we are your people.
cf Isaiah 64.8,9
Lament
Relationships and healing
G49
Cast your burden upon the Lord:
he will sustain you.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
renew a right spirit within us.
Cast us not away from your presence;
take not your Holy Spirit from us.
Give us the joy of your saving help;
sustain us with your life-giving Spirit.
[Blessed be the Lord day by day:
the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens.]
G50
This is love, not that we loved God,
but that he loved us and sent his Son.
He is the sacrifice for our sins,
that we might live through him.
If God loves us so much
we ought to love one another.
If we love one another
God lives in us.
cf 1 John 4.10-12
Relationships and healing
G51
I saw water flowing from the threshold of the temple.
Where the river flows everything will spring to life.
On the banks of the river grow trees
bearing every kind of fruit;
their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail.
Their fruit will serve for food,
their leaves for the healing of the nations,
for the river of the water of life
flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
cf Ezekiel 47.1,9; Revelation 22.1-3
Relationships and healing
Living in the world
G52
God is light.
In him there is no darkness.
If we live in the light,
as God is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another
and the blood of Jesus, his Son,
purifies us from all sin.
cf 1 John 1.5,7
Living in the world
General (morning)
G53
A thousand years in God’s sight are like a single day:
like an evening that has already gone.
Christ is the first and the last,
the beginning and the end.
You hold the key to God’s way of justice.
Open to us your kingdom of peace.
G54
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe.
You have given us a share in the inheritance
of the saints in light.
In the darkness of this age
your saints proclaim the glory of your kingdom.
Chosen as lights in the world,
they surround our steps as we journey on
towards that eternal city of light
where they sing the triumphal song.
Open our eyes to behold your glory
and free our tongues to join their song:
Great and wonderful are your deeds,
Lord God almighty;
just and true are your ways, King of the ages.
To you be praise and glory,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Heaven
G55
In the city of God, night shall be no more:
the people of God need no light of lamp or sun.
For the Lord God will be their light
and they will reign for ever and ever.
cf Revelation 22.5
G II Thanksgiving
Thanksgivings
General
G56
Father, we give you thanks and praise
through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord.
Jesus is Lord of all creation.
We worship and adore you.
A
Jesus made his home among us.
We worship and adore you.
B
Jesus died to set us free.
We worship and adore you.
C
Jesus was raised to life again.
We worship and adore you.
D
Jesus reigns in glory now.
We worship and adore you.
We worship and adore you with angels and archangels
and all the company of heaven, saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
One or more sentences in the following form, with the response‘We worship and adore you’, may be used at the points indicated by the letters in the text above. Choosing one from A, one from B etc. will maintain the balance; choosing more than one will provide the opportunity for seasonal and thematic emphasis.
A
He was born of the Virgin Mary.
He was cradled in a manger.
He’s our Saviour, Christ the Lord.
He is God in human flesh.
Jesus is Emmanuel.
He was lifted up for us.
Jesus stretches out his arms.
Jesus died for a dying world.
Jesus bore our sins and griefs.
C
Jesus lay within the tomb.
Jesus rose to life in triumph.
Jesus conquers death for us.
D
He is Lord of life and death.
He’s the Lamb upon the throne.
He is crowned, in glory seated.
Jesus always pleads for us.
Jesus comes again in glory.
Jesus claims his kingdom here.
B, C, D
Jesus is the Son of God.
He’s the Light of all the world.
Jesus is the bread of heaven.
He’s our way, our truth, our life.
Jesus is the door to life.
Jesus is the first and last.
Jesus is the Lord of all.
He’s our wisdom from above.
Jesus is the King of kings.
Jesus is our friend and brother.
He’s the healer of the sick.
Alleluia. Praise the Lord!
G57
Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you most humble and
hearty thanks
for all your goodness and loving kindness.
We bless you for our creation, preservation, and
all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ,
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And give us, we pray, such a sense of all your mercies
that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful,
and that we show forth your praise,
not only with our lips but in our lives,
by giving up ourselves to your service,
and by walking before you in holiness and
righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be all honour and glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
General
G58
Glory to the Father, the God of love,
who created us;
who continually preserves and sustains us;
who has loved us with an everlasting love,
and given us the light of the knowledge of his glory
in the face of Jesus Christ.
Blessed be God for ever.
Glory to Jesus Christ our Saviour,
who, though he was rich,
yet for our sake became poor,
and was tested in every way as we are,
yet without sin;
who proclaimed the good news of the kingdom,
and was obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross;
who was raised from the dead and is alive for ever,
and has opened the kingdom of heaven
to all who trust in him;
who is seated at God’s right hand in glory,
and will come to be our judge.
Blessed be God for ever.
the Lord, the giver of life,
by whom we are born into the family of God,
and made members of the body of Christ;
whose witness confirms us;
whose wisdom teaches us;
whose power enables us:
who will do for us more than we can ask or think.
Blessed be God for ever.
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
General
G59
Let us give thanks to God.
For the love of our Father, the maker of all,
the giver of all good things,
let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
For Jesus Christ our Saviour,
who lived and worked among us,
let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
For his suffering and death on the cross
and his resurrection to new life,
let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
For his rule over all things
and his presence in the world,
let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
For the Holy Spirit, the giver of life,
who teaches and guides us,
let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
For the grace of the Spirit
in the work of the Church
and the life of the world,
let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
G60
We thank you, O God,
for you are gracious.
You have loved us from the beginning of time
and you remember us in times of trouble and of joy.
Your mercy endures for ever.
We thank you, O God,
for you came to us in Jesus Christ,
who has redeemed the world
and saves us from our sins.
Your mercy endures for ever.
We thank you, O God,
for you have sent your Holy Spirit,
who comforts us and leads us into all truth.
Your mercy endures for ever.
Amen.
General
God in creation
G61
Blessed are you, Holy God,
creator, redeemer and life-giver;
you have spoken the world into being
and filled it with wonder and beauty.
For every blessing we have received
we give you thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, Holy God,
for people of every language and culture
and for the rich variety you give to life.
For every blessing we have received
we give you thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, Holy God,
for Jesus Christ our Saviour,
truly divine and truly human,
living and dying for us,
and going before us into heaven.
For every blessing we have received
we give you thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, Holy God,
for your Spirit,
the fire of love burning in our hearts,
bringing us to faith,
and calling us to holiness
in the Church and in the world.
For every blessing we have received
we give you thanks and praise.
Other thanksgivings, appropriate to the season or the situation, may be added here. Prefaces for eucharistic prayers, suitably adapted, may provide appropriate material.
Therefore, we worship you
with all the company of heaven.
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
General
God in creation
G62
We thank God for the world he has made,
and for all his love and care.
For the warmth of the sun,
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
For the rain which makes things grow,
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
For the woods and the fields,
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
For the sea and the sky,
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
For the flowers and the animals,
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
For families and holidays,
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
For all your gifts,
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
Amen.
G63
We give thanks to God for all his gifts to us.
Father, we give you thanks and praise
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For birth and life and strength of body,
for safety and shelter and food,
we give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
For sight and hearing and the beauty of nature,
for words and music and the power of thought,
we give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
For work and leisure and the joy of achieving,
for conscience and will and depth of feeling,
we give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
For grace and truth in Jesus Christ,
for the gifts of the Spirit and the hope of heaven,
we give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Father, Son and Spirit
G64
This may be said or sung in three voices.
1 Glory to the Holy and Undivided Trinity;
2 Father, Son and Holy Spirit;
3 Three persons and one God.
1 Perfectly one from before time began;
2 One in being and one in glory;
3 Dwelling in love; three persons, one God.
1 Incarnate Son, in suffering forsaken;
2 Father, giving and forgiving;
3 Spirit, bond in joy and pain.
1 Eternal Father, the Fountain of Life;
2 Risen Son, the Prince of Life;
3 Spirit of freedom, Giver of Life.
1 Truth, Word and Power;
2 Lover, Beloved and Friend;
3 Hope without end; Joy beyond words.
All Glory to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Father, Son and Spirit
Ascension
G65
Father, we are in your Spirit and hear your voice:
‘I am the first and the last,
who is, who was, and who is to come.’
Before the worlds were made,
Jesus Christ the living one was reigning with you and the
Holy Spirit.
Through Christ you created everything
in heaven and earth,
the whole universe created through him and for him.
Lord of glory
we worship and adore you.
You sent him,
the visible likeness of the invisible God,
to reflect the brightness of your glory,
to sustain the universe with his word of power,
to achieve forgiveness for the sins of all.
Lord of glory
we worship and adore you.
And now he rules in heaven, mighty risen Lord,
[his hair as white as snow, his eyes like fire,
his feet like polished brass, his hands full of stars,
his face bright as the noonday sun,]
his voice like a roaring waterfall:
‘I am the living one!
I was dead but now I am alive for ever and ever.’
So, with angels and archangels,
and all the company of heaven,
we praise you for ever, saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
The acclamation ‘We worship and adore you’ may be repeated between each line of the paragraph beginning ‘And now he rules’.
cf Colossians 1.15-20; Hebrews 1.3; Revelation 1.14-18
God in creation
G66
You, Christ, are the image of the unseen God,
the firstborn of all creation.
You created all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and everything invisible,
thrones, dominions, sovereignties, powers,
all things were created through you and for you.
Lord of all creation
we worship and adore you.
You are the radiant light of God’s glory:
you hold all creation together by your word of power.
we worship and adore you.
You are the first to be born from the dead.
All perfection is found in you,
and all things were reconciled through you and for you,
everything in heaven and everything on earth,
when you made peace by your death on the cross.
Lord of all creation
we worship and adore you.
The Church is your body,
you are its head.
You take your place in heaven
at the right hand of the divine majesty,
where we worship and adore you
with all your creation, singing:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
cf Colossians 1.15-18
If this Thanksgiving is used as an extended preface to a eucharistic prayer it should be in this form
Father, we give you thanks and praise
for your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
He is the image of the unseen God,
the firstborn of all creation.
He created all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and everything invisible,
thrones, dominions, sovereignties, powers,
all things were created through him and for him.
Lord of all creation
we worship and adore you.
He is the radiant light of your glory:
he holds all creation together by his word of power.
Lord of all creation
we worship and adore you.
He is first to be born from the dead.
All perfection is found in him,
and all things were reconciled through him and for him,
everything in heaven and everything on earth,
when he made peace by his death on the cross.
Lord of all creation
we worship and adore you.
he is its head.
He takes his place in heaven
at your right hand,
where we worship you with all of your creation, singing:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
cf Colossians 1.15-18
Incarnation
G67
Blessed are you, God of all glory,
through your Son the Christ.
His name is Jesus,
because he saves his people from their sins.
He will be called Emmanuel:
God is with us. Alleluia.
Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel:
he has come to his people and set them free.
He gave up all the glory of heaven
and took the form of a servant.
In humility he walked the path of obedience,
even to death on the cross.
God raised him to the highest place above
and gave him the name above every name:
Jesus Christ is Lord!
So all beings in heaven and earth will fall at his feet,
and proclaim to the glory of God:
Jesus Christ is Lord!
[So, with angels and archangels,
and all the company of heaven,
we praise you for ever, saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.]
cf Matthew 1.21,23; Philippians 2.9-11
G30 could be inserted before the final section on Christmas Day.
G68
Gracious God,
we give you thanks and praise for Jesus Christ our Lord,
for he was the Word before all creation.
Through him all things come to be;
not one thing has its being but through him.
Jesus, light of the world,
we worship and adore you.
His life is the light that shines in the dark,
a light that darkness cannot overpower.
Jesus, light of the world,
we worship and adore you.
[The Word was the true light coming into the world.
He was in the world
that had its being through him,
and the world did not know him.
Jesus, light of the world,
we worship and adore you.]
He came to his own, and they did not accept him.
But to all who accept him
he gives power to become children of God.
Jesus, light of the world,
we worship and adore you.
The Word was made flesh and lived among us,
and we have seen his glory,
as the only Son of the Father,
full of grace and truth.
Jesus, light of the world,
we worship and adore you.
To God our creator,
born as one of us,
be all praise and glory.
With all the company of heaven, we worship you, saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
cf John 1
G69
Blessed are you, God of all glory,
through your Son Jesus Christ.
We worship and adore you.
He is the heavenly king, born of Mary.
We worship and adore you.
He is the Word of the Father, crying as a baby.
We worship and adore you.
He is robed in glory, wrapped in infant clothes.
We worship and adore you.
He is Lord of heaven and earth, laid in a manger.
We worship and adore you.
Strong in weakness,
glorious in humility,
to him be all praise and glory.
We join with all the company of heaven,
worshipping you and saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Incarnation
G70
Glory to Christ, Son of Mary;
born a child,
he shares our humanity.
Glory to God in the highest.
Glory to Christ, Son of David;
born to rule,
he receives gifts from the wise.
Glory to God in the highest.
Glory to Christ, Son of Man;
born our Saviour,
he is the light of the world.
Glory to God in the highest.
We celebrate the coming of our God
with all the voices of heaven:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
G71
Glory to Christ, Son of Mary;
born a child,
you are one with us.
Glory to God in the highest.
Glory to Christ, Son of David;
born to rule,
you reign in our hearts.
Glory to God in the highest.
Glory to Christ, Son of man;
born to save,
you are the light of the world.
Glory to God in the highest.
Incarnation
G72
Blessed are you, God our Father,
through your Son the Christ.
His name is Jesus.
God is with us. Praise the Lord.
Jesus came and shared our life.
God is with us. Praise the Lord.
Jesus’ touch made people whole.
God is with us. Praise the Lord.
Jesus raised the dead to life.
God is with us. Praise the Lord.
Jesus died to set us free.
God is with us. Praise the Lord.
Jesus rose to life again.
God is with us. Praise the Lord.
Jesus is our King on high.
God is with us. Praise the Lord.
Cross
Lament
G73
We give you thanks and praise, Father in heaven,
through Jesus Christ, your only Son, our Lord.
Through him you created the world.
Through his word the universe is sustained.
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
Through him we come near to you,
with sincere heart and sure faith.
Because of the death of Jesus
we come into the holy place.
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
He knows and feels our weaknesses.
He was tempted in every way, like us, but did not sin.
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.]
By his own blood
he entered once and for all into the holy place.
He obtained eternal salvation for us.
He is our perfect sacrifice.
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
So we come by that living way,
the new way he opened for us,
to receive mercy and grace,
and to join with angels and archangels
and all the company of heaven, saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
cf Hebrews 1.3; 4.15,16; 9.12; 10.19-22
Cross
Lament
G74
Blessed are you, Lord our God:
through your Son Jesus Christ
you have known our pain
and show us your mercy.
Surely he has borne our griefs;
he has carried our sorrows.
Surely he has borne our griefs;
he has carried our sorrows.
He was despised, he was rejected;
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
Surely he has borne our griefs;
he has carried our sorrows.
He was pierced for our sins,
bruised for no fault but ours.
Surely he has borne our griefs;
he has carried our sorrows.
His punishment has bought our peace,
and by his wounds we are healed.
Surely he has borne our griefs;
he has carried our sorrows.
We had all strayed like sheep,
but the Lord has laid on him the guilt of us all.
Surely he has borne our griefs;
he has carried our sorrows.
So, with angels and archangels
and all the company of heaven,
we praise you for ever, saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
cf Isaiah 53
Cross
G75
Thanks and praise be to you, almighty God.
You justify us through faith
and give us peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through faith
we are saved by grace.
Through him you brought us by faith
into this experience of grace in which we live,
where we rejoice in the hope of sharing your glory.
Through faith
we are saved by grace.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Through faith
we are saved by grace.
And hope does not disappoint us,
because you have poured out your love
into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
Through faith
we are saved by grace.
You show us how much you love us:
while we were helpless, Christ died for the ungodly;
while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Through faith
we are saved by grace.
And through faith we stand in heaven and worship you
with angels and archangels, saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
cf Romans 5.1-9
G76
Father, you loved the world so much
that you sent your only Son
to die that we might live through him.
For his words from the cross,
we bring you thanks and praise:
‘Forgive them …’
He forgave in the face of bitter hatred.
We give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
‘Today you shall be with me in paradise.’
He promised heaven to the forgiven sinner.
We give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
‘Mother, behold your Son …’
He loved his Mother to the last.
We give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
‘I thirst.’
He shared in our physical suffering and longing.
We give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
‘Why have you forsaken me?’
He entered into our testing and desolation.
We give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
‘It is finished!’
He completed his saving work,
and made the new covenant of love between God
and his world.
We give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
‘Into your hands I commit my spirit.’
He won the victory over sin and death for ever.
We give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
The words of Jesus from the cross could be omitted if necessary. Not every section need be used.
G77
Our Lord Jesus Christ, risen from death,
we praise you for changed lives and new hopes at Easter.
You come to Mary in the garden,
and turn her tears into joy.
For your love and mercy we give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
You come to the disciples in the upper room,
and turn their fear into courage.
For your love and mercy we give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
You come to the disciples by the lakeside,
and turn their failure into faith.
For your love and mercy we give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
You come to the disciples on the Emmaus road,
and turn their despair into hope.
For your love and mercy we give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
You come to your people now,
and turn our weakness into triumph.
For your love and mercy we give you thanks:
we praise your holy name.
Resurrection
G78
We give you thanks and praise
for the gospel we have received.
Christ died for our sins. Alleluia.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Death comes to all through Adam,
and sin reigns for a time.
New life without end comes through Christ,
and he reigns for ever. Alleluia.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Death, where is your victory?
Death, where is your sting?
Death is swallowed up in victory,
the victory you give us in Christ. Alleluia.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
We have been crucified with Christ,
and live his risen life,
to praise you for ever with angels and archangels:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
cf 1 Corinthians 15
G79
Thanks and praise to you,
Jesus Christ, Lord of all,
given the name above every other name.
Jesus, Lord of all,
we worship and adore you.
King of righteousness, King of peace,
enthroned at the right hand of Majesty on high;
Jesus, Lord of all,
we worship and adore you.
Great high priest, living for ever to intercede for us;
Jesus, Lord of all,
we worship and adore you.
Pioneer of our salvation, you bring us to glory
through your death and resurrection;
Jesus, Lord of all,
we worship and adore you.
Every knee bows to you;
every tongue confesses, you are Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
If this Thanksgiving is used as an extended preface to a eucharistic prayer, it should follow this form
Thanks and praise be to you, Lord of heaven,
for Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
You gave him the name above every name,
so that we say:
Jesus is Lord of all:
we worship and adore you.
King of righteousness, King of peace,
enthroned at the right hand of Majesty on high;
Jesus is Lord of all:
we worship and adore you.
Great high priest, living for ever to intercede for us;
Jesus is Lord of all:
we worship and adore you.
Pioneer of our salvation, bringing us to glory
through death and resurrection;
Jesus is Lord of all:
we worship and adore you.
Every knee bows to him;
every tongue confesses, Jesus is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
G80
Father, while all your creation groans with pain
like the pain of childbirth,
and longs to share the freedom of the children of God,
your Spirit pleads for us
in groans words cannot express.
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
The law of the Spirit brings us life in Christ,
and sets us free from the law of sin and death.
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
Like all who are led by your Spirit,
we are your children.
By your Spirit’s power we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
[The Spirit confirms that we are your children,
fellow-heirs with Christ,
sharing his suffering now,
that we may share his glory.
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.]
So by your Spirit we praise you for ever
and proclaim your glory with all the company of heaven,
saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
cf Romans 8.2,14–25
Church and mission
G81
If this Thanksgiving is used as an extended preface to a eucharistic prayer it begins with the first section, and ‘Almighty God …’ is omitted. If not, it begins with ‘Almighty God. …’
[Father, we give you thanks and praise
through Jesus Christ our Lord
because you are God almighty,
creator of the world and everything in it,]
[Almighty God, creator of the world
and everything in it,]
Lord of heaven and earth,
you made the whole human race.
You have shown to us in Christ the mystery
of your purpose:
to praise his glory.
You will bring all things together under Christ,
all things in heaven, all things on earth,
under him as head:
you chose us all in Christ
to praise his glory.
We have heard the word of truth,
the good news of salvation,
you have stamped us with the seal of your
Spirit of promise:
you chose us all in Christ
to praise his glory.
We who once were far away
have been brought near by the blood of Christ:
you chose us all in Christ
to praise his glory.
He is the peace between us,
and has broken down the barrier of hostility.
He has made us one new humanity
and reconciled us to you by the cross:
you chose us all in Christ
to praise his glory.
He killed hostility and brought peace,
peace to all near at hand, peace to all far away:
you chose us all in Christ
to praise his glory.
Through him we come, by the Spirit,
to you, our Father in heaven, singing:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
cf Acts 17.25,26; Ephesians 1.9–13; 2.13–17
Church and mission
G82
Sovereign Lord, creator of heaven and earth and sea,
and everything in them,
we are your people, we give you thanks.
We praise your holy name.
You shake us and fill us with your Spirit,
you stretch out your hand to heal,
to do signs and wonders through the name of Jesus.
We are your people, we give you thanks.
We praise your holy name.
handed over to be killed for us.
You raised him from the dead,
and made us whole in him.
We are your people, we give you thanks.
We praise your holy name.
Not many of us are wise by human standards,
not many are influential,
not many of noble birth.
We are your people, we give you thanks.
We praise your holy name.
You choose the foolish to shame the wise,
you choose the weak to shame the strong,
the lowly and despised so no one may boast before you.
We are your people, we give you thanks.
We praise your holy name.
Your strength is made perfect in our weakness.
Your grace is enough for us.
We are your people, we give you thanks.
We praise your holy name.
cf Acts 4.24,30,31; 3.15,13;
1 Corinthians 1.26–29; 2 Corinthians 12.9
Christian beginnings
Holy Spirit
G83
Father, for your gift of water in creation
we give you thanks and praise.
For your Spirit, sweeping over the waters,
bringing light and life
we give you thanks and praise.
For your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
baptized in the river Jordan
we give you thanks and praise.
For your new creation,
brought to birth by water and the Spirit
we give you thanks and praise.
For your grace bestowed upon us your children,
washing away our sins
we give you thanks and praise.
[So, Father, accept our sacrifice of praise;
by the power of your life-giving Spirit
bless these waters of your new creation.
Lord, receive our prayer.
May your servants who are washed in them
be made one with your Son,
who took the form of a servant.
Lord, receive our prayer.
May your Holy Spirit,
who has brought us to new birth in the family of
your Church,
raise us in Christ, our anointed Lord,
to full and eternal life.
Lord, receive our prayer.]
For all might, majesty and dominion are yours,
now and for ever.
Alleluia. Amen.
The paragraphs in brackets should be omitted when this section is not being used in connection with sacramental water.
Christian beginnings
Resurrection
G84
Blessed are you,
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
By your great mercy we have been born anew
to a living hope
through the resurrection of your Son from the dead,
and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled,
and unfading.
Once we were no people, but now we are your people,
declaring your wonderful deeds in Christ,
who called us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
By the baptism of his death and resurrection
you gave birth to your Church,
delivered us from slavery to sin and death,
and made with us a new covenant.
At his ascension
you exalted him to sit at your right hand,
where according to his promise he is with us always,
baptizing us with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
The joy of resurrection fills the whole world,
and therefore we join with angels and archangels
and the whole company of heaven,
in the song of unending praise, saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
G85
Father, you gave up your Son for us all.
You give us all things with him;
you call us, justify us, glorify us.
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
Jesus Christ died, was raised to life,
and pleads for us at your right hand.
Who can separate us from your love?
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
For your sake we face death all day long.
In your world we face trouble and hardship,
persecution, famine, nakedness, danger and death.
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
But nothing separates us from your love:
neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future,
nor any heavenly powers,
neither the world above nor the world below:
nothing in all creation can separate us
from your love in Jesus Christ.
Father in heaven
we give you thanks and praise.
In all these things we are more than conquerors
through him who loves us,
and has freed us from our sins
and made us a kingdom and priests
to serve you for ever,
with all the company of heaven, saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
cf Romans 8.23–39
G86
Living God, Father of light,
hope of nations, friend of sinners,
builder of the city that is to come:
your love is made visible in Jesus Christ,
you bring home the lost, restore the sinner
and give dignity to the despised.
In the face of Jesus Christ
your light shines out,
flooding lives with goodness and truth,
gathering into one a divided and broken humanity.
With people from every race and nation,
with the Church of all the ages,
with apostles, evangelists and martyrs
we join the angels of heaven
in their unending song:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Heaven
G87
Blessed are you, gracious God,
creator of heaven and earth.
In the multitude of your saints,
you have surrounded us with a great
cloud of witnesses.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
We your holy Church acclaim you.
In communion with angels and archangels,
and with all those who have served you
in every age,
and worship you now in heaven,
we raise our voices to proclaim your glory,
for ever praising you and saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Short prefaces
General
G88
And now we give you thanks
because as a mother tenderly gathers her children
you embraced a people as your own,
that with all the powers of heaven
we might find a voice to sing your praise.
God in creation
G89
And now we give you thanks
because all things are of your making,
all times and seasons obey your laws,
but you have chosen to create us in your own image,
setting us over the whole world in all its wonder.
You have made us stewards of your creation,
to praise you day by day
for the marvels of your wisdom and power:
so earth unites with heaven
to sing the new song of creation:
All Holy, holy, holy Lord …
Christ’s coming
G90
And now we give you thanks
as we look forward to the day
when you will make all things new
as you come to judge the world.
Christ’s coming
G91
And now we give you thanks
because when he humbled himself
to come among us in human flesh,
he fulfilled the plan you formed long ago
and opened for us the way of salvation.
So now we watch for the day,
knowing that the salvation promised us will be ours
when Christ our Lord will come again in glory.
Christ’s coming
G92
And now we give you thanks
because you prepared the way of your Son Jesus Christ
by the preaching of your servant John the Baptist,
who proclaimed him as the Lamb of God, our Saviour.
Christ’s coming
G93
And now we give you thanks
because your Son our Lord was awaited by the prophets,
announced by an angel,
conceived by a virgin,
and proclaimed at last to men and women of every race.
G94
And now we give you thanks
because in his coming the day of our
deliverance has dawned;
and through him you will make all things new,
as he comes in power and triumph to judge the world.
Christ’s coming
G95
And now we give you thanks
because you sent him to redeem us from sin and death
and to make us inheritors of everlasting life;
that when he shall come again in power and great triumph
to judge the world,
we may with joy behold his appearing,
and in confidence may stand before him.
Christ’s coming
Heaven
G96
And now we give you thanks
that he is the King of glory,
who overcomes the sting of death
and opens the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
He is seated at your right hand in glory
and we believe that he will come to be our judge.
Christ’s coming
G97
And now we give you thanks
because he came among us as a servant,
to be Emmanuel, your presence with us.
Christ’s coming
G98
And now we give you thanks
as we await the promise of salvation,
the desire of all the nations,
and the fulfilment of your good purposes
before the world began.
Incarnation
G99
And now we give you thanks
because he shared our life in human form
from the warmth of Mary’s womb
to the stillness of the grave.
Incarnation
G100
And now we give you thanks
because he was born in the poverty of a stable,
to make known the riches of your kingdom.
G101
And now we give you thanks
because, in the incarnation of the Word,
a new light has dawned upon the world;
you have become one with us
that we might become one with you in your
glorious kingdom.
Incarnation
G102
And now we give you thanks
because, by the power of the Holy Spirit,
he took our nature upon him
and was born of the Virgin Mary his mother,
that being himself without sin,
he might make us clean from all sin.
Incarnation (Epiphany)
G103
And now we give you thanks
because you have brought us from darkness to light
and made your light shine in our hearts.
You bring us to know your glory
in the face of Jesus Christ.
cf 2 Corinthians 4.6
Incarnation (Epiphany)
G104
And now we give you thanks
because in the wonder of the incarnation
your eternal Word has brought to the eyes of faith
a new and radiant vision of your glory.
In him we see our God made visible
and so are caught up in love of the God we cannot see.
Cross
G105
And now we give you thanks
because he is the true passover lamb offered for us
to take away the sin of the world.
Cross
G106
And now we give you thanks
because you give us the spirit of discipline,
that we may triumph over evil and grow in grace,
as we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery
with mind and heart renewed.
Cross
G107
And now we give you thanks
because each year you give us this joyful season
when we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery
with mind and heart renewed.
You give us a spirit of loving reverence for you
and of willing service to our neighbour.
As we recall the saving acts that give new life in Christ,
you bring the image of your Son to perfection within
our hearts.
G108
And now we give you thanks
because, for our salvation,
he was obedient even to death on the cross.
The tree of shame was made the tree of glory;
and where life was lost, there life has been restored.
Cross
G109
And now we give you thanks
because for our sins he was lifted high upon the cross,
that he might draw the whole world to himself;
[and, by his suffering and death,
became the source of eternal salvation
for all who put their trust in him].
Cross
Ascension
G110
And now we give you thanks
because you anointed Jesus Christ, your only Son,
as priest and king.
Crowned with thorns, he offered his life upon the cross,
that he might draw all people into that kingdom
where he now reigns in glory.
Cross
G111
And now we give you thanks
because you anointed Jesus Christ, your only Son,
as the eternal priest and king of all.
As a priest he offered up his life on the cross,
that by his one sacrifice he might present to you an
eternal kingdom;
a kingdom of truth and life;
a kingdom of justice, love and peace.
Resurrection
G112
And now we give you thanks
because Christ is the victim who dies no more,
the Lamb, once slain, who lives for ever,
our advocate in heaven to plead our cause,
exalting us there to join the angels and archangels,
with all the company of heaven for ever praising you
and saying:
All Holy, holy, holy Lord …
Resurrection
G113
And now we give you thanks
because by his death he broke the power of sin
and made us holy through his blood.
G114
And now we give you thanks
because by his death he has destroyed death,
and by his rising again he has restored to us eternal life.
Resurrection
G115
And now we give you thanks
because by his victory over the grave
he burst the gates of death for ever.
Resurrection
G116
But chiefly are we bound to praise you
because you raised him gloriously from the dead.
For he is the true paschal lamb who was offered for us,
and has taken away the sin of the world.
By his death he has destroyed death,
and by rising to life again he has restored to us
everlasting life.
Ascension
G117
And now we give you thanks
because you have highly exalted him,
and given him the name which is above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.
Ascension
Living in the world
G118
And now we give you thanks
because Jesus has been given all authority,
in heaven and on earth,
to present to you, his Father,
a kingdom of truth, holiness and everlasting love.
Ascension
G119
And now we give you thanks
because he humbled himself to die on a cross;
but you raised him high
and gave him the name above all other names,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
cf Philippians 2.8,9
Ascension
G120
And now we give you thanks
because, after his most glorious resurrection,
he appeared to his disciples,
and in their sight ascended into heaven
to prepare a place for us;
that where he is, thither we might also ascend,
and reign with him in glory.
G121
And now we give you thanks
because through him we receive the Spirit of adoption,
affirming us as your children,
and crying ‘Abba, Father’.
cf Romans 8.15
Holy Spirit
Ascension
G122
And now we give you thanks
that, after he had ascended far above all heavens,
and was seated at the right hand of your majesty,
he sent forth upon the universal Church your holy
and life-giving Spirit;
that through his glorious power
the joy of the everlasting gospel might go forth
into all the world.
Holy Spirit
Church and mission
G123
And now we give you thanks
because he breathed upon his disciples
the power of your Spirit
to proclaim the good news to all peoples.
cf John 20.21,22
Word
G124
And now we give you thanks
because the wisdom of your word sustains all things
and reveals you to us in your fullness.
Church and mission
G125
And now we give you thanks
because by the Holy Spirit you lead us into all truth,
and give us power to proclaim your gospel to the nations
and to serve you as a royal priesthood.
Church and mission
G126
And now we give you thanks
because he is the true vine, your chosen one,
in whom we are joined to bear fruit in plenty.
Christian beginnings
G127
And now we give you thanks
because through him we are saved for ever
and baptized into your service.
Lament
Cross
G128
And now we give you thanks
because he was tempted in every way as we are,
yet did not sin.
By his grace we are able to triumph over every evil,
and to live no longer for ourselves alone,
but for him who died for us and rose again.
Relationships and healing
Incarnation
G129
And now we give you thanks
because in his earthly childhood
you entrusted him to the care of a human family.
In Mary and Joseph you give us an example of love and
devotion to him,
and also a pattern of family life.
Relationships and healing
G130
And now we give you thanks
because [a man leaves his father and mother
and is joined to his wife:
you make them one flesh;
and because] you put us together in families,
to grasp your love and forgiveness,
reflected in those around us,
and as we grow,
you prepare to bring us into the glorious freedom
of your children,
as brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.
Genesis 2.24; Romans 8.17,22
Relationships and healing
G131
And now we give you thanks
because you have made the union between Christ
and his Church
a pattern for the marriage between husband and wife.
Relationships and healing
G132
All glory, honour, thanks and praise
be given to you, creator of heaven and earth.
When you made us in your image,
creating us male and female,
you gave us the gift of marriage.
When sin marred that image
you healed our brokenness,
giving your Son to die for us.
Therefore we raise our voices,
with all who have served you in every age,
to proclaim the glory of your name:
All Holy, holy, holy Lord …
Relationships and healing
G133
And now we give you thanks
because in the covenant of marriage
you show us your divine love,
a mirror of your will for all creation
made new and united to you for ever.
G134
And now we give you thanks
because you provide medicine to heal our sickness,
and the leaves of the tree of life
for the healing of the nations,
anointing us with your healing power
so that we may be the first fruits of your new creation.
Relationships and healing
G135
And now we give you thanks
that, taking upon himself our human nature,
he shared our joy and our tears,
bore all our sickness,
and carried all our sorrows.
Through death he brought us
to the life of his glorious resurrection,
giving for frailty eternal strength,
and restoring in us the image of your glory.
Relationships and healing
Lament
G136
And now we give you thanks
that you have shown the greatness of your love for us
by sending him to share our human nature
and accomplish our forgiveness.
He embraces us in our weakness,
he suffers with the sick and the rejected,
and, bringing your healing to the world,
he rescues us from every evil.
Relationships and healing
G137
And now we give you thanks
that through him the sick are healed:
the blind regain their sight,
the deaf hear,
the lame walk,
and the outcast are brought home;
the poor receive good news
and the dead are raised to life.
Relationships and healing
Lament
G138
It is right to give you thanks
in sickness and in health,
in suffering and in joy,
through Christ our Saviour and our Redeemer,
who, as the Good Samaritan,
tends the wounds of body and spirit.
He stands by us and pours out for our healing
the oil of consolation and the wine of renewed hope,
turning the darkness of our pain
into the dawning light of his kingdom.
And now we join with saints and angels
for ever praising you and saying:
All Holy, holy, holy Lord …
G139
And now we give you thanks
because he broke bread with those whom others scorned
and when the multitude were hungry
he fed them abundantly.
Living in the world
G140
And now we give you thanks
because you are one God in three persons
and you draw us into the unity of your kingdom,
where all divisions of age or achievement,
race or language
are overcome by your love.
Living in the world
G141
And now we give you thanks
because you call us to live in your city
while we look for the city which is to come,
designed and built by you,
with eternal foundations,
to which we journey as citizens of heaven.
Hebrews 13.14; 11.10
Living in the world
G142
And now we give you thanks
because he gave up his life outside the city gate
and opened for all the way to heaven.
Hebrews 13.12
Heaven
G143
And now we give you thanks
because in him you have received us as your sons
and daughters,
joined us in one fellowship with the saints,
and made us citizens of your kingdom.
Heaven
G144
And now we give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In him who rose from the dead
our hope of resurrection dawned.
The sting of death has been removed
by the glorious promise of his risen life.
Heaven
G145
Blessed are you, gracious God,
creator of heaven and earth,
giver of life, and conqueror of death.
By his death on the cross,
your Son Jesus Christ offered the one true
sacrifice for sin,
breaking the power of evil
and putting death to flight.
we give you thanks and praise.]
Through his resurrection from the dead
you have given us new birth into a living hope,
into an inheritance which is imperishable,
undefiled, and unfading.
[With all your saints
we give you thanks and praise.]
The joy of resurrection fills the universe,
and so we join with angels and archangels,
with [N and] all your faithful people,
evermore praising you and saying:
All Holy, holy, holy Lord …
Heaven
G146
And now we give you thanks
for the hope to which you call us in your Son,
that following in the faith of all your saints,
we may run with perseverance the race that is
set before us,
and with them receive the unfading crown of glory.
Heaven
G147
And now we give you thanks
because through him you have given us the hope of a
glorious resurrection;
so that, although death comes to us all,
yet we rejoice in the promise of eternal life;
for to your faithful people life is changed, not taken away;
and when our mortal flesh is laid aside
an everlasting dwelling place is made ready for us in heaven.
Heaven
G148
And now we give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In him who rose from the dead
our hope of resurrection dawned.
The sting of death has been drawn
by the glorious promise of his risen life.
New Patterns for Worship, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2002 and published by Church House Publishing.