This prayer is based on an ecumenical prayer with its source in the liturgy of St. Basil.
The Lord is here.
God’s Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to offer thanks and praise.
It is right to glorify you
and to give you thanks, our holy and living God;
you dwell in light inaccessible
from before time and for ever.
Fountain of life and source of all goodness,
you made all things and fill them with your blessing;
you created them to rejoice
in the splendour of your radiance.
Now we praise you with the faithful of every time and place,
and give voice to every creature,
as we join in the eternal hymn:
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.
We acclaim you, holy one,
all your actions reveal your wisdom and love.
You formed us in your own image,
giving the whole world into our care,
so that, in obedience to you, our creator,
we might rule and serve all your creatures.
When our disobedience took us far from your friendship,
you did not abandon us to the power of death.
In your mercy you came to our help,
so that in seeking you we might find you.
Again and again you called us into covenant with you,
and through the prophets
you taught us to hope for salvation.
You loved the world so much
that in the fullness of time
you sent your only begotten one to be our Saviour.
Incarnate by the Holy Spirit,
born of your servant Mary,
Jesus lived as one of us, yet without sin.
To the poor Christ proclaimed the good news of salvation;
to prisoners, freedom; to the sorrowful, joy.
To fulfil your purpose, Christ accepted suffering and death
and, through the victory over the grave,
the whole creation was made new.
And that we might live no longer for ourselves,
you sent the Holy Spirit,
the first gift for those who believe,
to complete this work in the world,
and to bring to fulfilment
the sanctification of all.
To you indeed be glory, almighty God,
because on the night before he died,
your Son, Jesus Christ, took bread;
when he had given you thanks,
he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said:
Take, eat, this is my body
which is given for you;
do this to remember me.
After supper he took the cup;
when he had given you thanks,
he gave it to them and said:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood
poured out for you;
do this as often as you drink it
to remember me.
Gracious God, we now celebrate the memorial of our redemption.
From the gifts you have given us
we offer you this bread and this cup,
and proclaim the mystery of our faith,
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come in glory.
Therefore, loving God,
recalling now Christ’s death and resurrection,
we ask you to accept
this our sacrifice of praise.
Send your Holy Spirit upon us
and our celebration,
that we may be fed with the body and blood of your Son
and be filled with your life and goodness.
Strengthen us to do your work,
and to be your body in the world.
Unite us in Christ
and give us your peace.
[Remember, sovereign God,
your one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
Reveal its unity, guard its faith,
and preserve it in peace.] [Remember N.]
And grant that we may find our inheritance
with [your blessed servant Mary,
with prophets and patriarchs, matriarchs and martyrs,
(with N.) and] all the saints
who have found favour with you in ages past.
We praise you in union with them
and give you glory through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
we worship you, O God,
in songs of everlasting praise.
Blessing, honour and glory be yours,
here and everywhere,
now and forever. Amen.