Well, I've been doing a little experimentation with the Church of England texts
and drafted a couple of orders using mainly contemporary authorised texts. Here's one. Following a request from Jem's early reading [see comments] I've included a guide to the shape Lord's-prayer-wise by use of italics thusly !text!
The Lord is here.
His 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 give thanks and praise.
!Father ... hallowed ...!
You are worthy of our thanks and praise, Lord God of truth,
for by the breath of your mouth you have spoken your word,
and all things have come into being.
You fashioned us in your image and placed us in the garden of your delight.
Though we chose the path of rebellion you would not abandon your own.
Again and again you drew us into your covenant of grace.
You gave your people the law and taught us by your prophets
to look for your reign of justice, mercy and peace.
As we watch for the signs of your kingdom on earth,
we proclaim the death that Jesus suffered on the cross,
we celebrate his bursting from the tomb,
we rejoice that he reigns at your right hand on high
we long for his coming in glory
and we echo the song of the angels in heaven,
evermore 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.
[Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.]
!your kingdom come ....!
Look with favour on your people and in your mercy hear the cry of our hearts.
Bless the earth,
heal the sick,
let the oppressed go free
and fill your Church with power from on high.
Gather your people from the ends of the earth
to feast with [N and] all your saints
at the table in your kingdom,
where the new creation is brought to perfection
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.
!...dailybread.!
Pour out your Holy Spirit as we bring before you
these gifts of your creation;
as we recall the one, perfect sacrifice of our redemption,
Father, by your Holy Spirit let these gifts of your creation
be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;
form us into the likeness of Christ
and make us a perfect offering in your sight.
Christ is the bread of life:
When we eat this bread and drink this cup
we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,
until you come in glory.
!forgive... as we also ...!
As we gather at the Lord's table we must recall the promises and warnings given to us in the Scriptures. Let us therefore examine ourselves and repent of our sins.
Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.
As sharers in your divine mercy,
we forgive those who have sinned against us.
Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.
You then, who truly and earnestly repent of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, draw near with faith, and take this holy sacrament to your comfort.
Receive the body of our Lord Jesus Christ which he gave for you,
and his blood which he shed for you.
Eat and drink in remembrance that he died for you,
and feed on him in your hearts
by faith with thanksgiving.
We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.
people and president receive communion.
!Lead us ...!
we thank you that in this Eucharist you renew your promises within us.
Assist us with your grace, heavenly Father,
that we may continue in the holy fellowship of all believers,
Keep us from falling into sin or running into danger
and guide us to do always what is right in your eyes.
Amen.
Almighty God,
we thank you for feeding us
with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him we offer you our souls and bodies
to be a living sacrifice.
Send us out
in the power of your Spirit
to live and work
to your praise and glory.
Amen.
The other is even rougher, but these are texts that can and should be worked on further.
The Lord is here.
His 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 give thanks and praise.
!Our Father...hallowed...!
It is right to praise you, Father, Lord of all creation;
in your love you made us for yourself.
When we turned away
you did not reject us,
but came to meet us in your Son.
You embraced us as your children
and welcomed us to sit and eat with you.
In Christ you shared our life
that we might live in him and he in us.
He opened his arms of love upon the cross
and made for all the perfect sacrifice for sin.
!... kingdom come... will be done ...!
Lord of all life,
help us to work together for that day
when your kingdom comes
and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.
Look with favour on your people,
gather us in your loving arms
and bring us with [N and] all the saints
to feast at your table in heaven.
your Holy Spirit.
!...daily bread!
Father, with this bread and this cup
we celebrate the cross
on which Jesus died to set us free.
Defying death he rose again
and is alive with you to plead for us and all the world.
As we obey his command,
send your Spirit on us now
that that broken bread and wine outpoured
may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son
by these gifts may me feed on Christ
with opened eyes and hearts on fire.
!forgive...!
Most merciful Lord, your love compels us to come in.
Our hands were unclean,
our hearts were unprepared;
we were not fit even to eat the crumbs from under your table.
But you, Lord, are the God of our salvation,
and share your bread with sinners.
So cleanse and feed us with the precious body and blood of your Son,
that he may live in us and we in him;
and that we, with the whole company of Christ,
may sit and eat in your kingdom.
Draw near with faith, and take this holy sacrament to your comfort; Hear the words of comfort our Saviour Christ says to all who truly turn to him:
Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you, preserve your body and soul to everlasting life. Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving.
The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you, preserve your body and soul to everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ's blood was shed for you, and be thankful.
people and president receive communion.
!lead us ...!
Almighty and ever-living God, we thank you that you graciously feed us, who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ. By this you assure us of your favour and goodness towards us: we are incorporated into the mystical body of your Son, the blessed company of all faithful people; we are heirs, through hope, of your everlasting kingdom, by the merits of Christ's precious death and passion. Assist us with your grace, heavenly Father, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and walk in goodness the way you have prepared for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.
3 comments:
Interesting, I have a request: my brain is in slo-mo though, so perhaps for me, and maybe others, an explanation of how each section of the liturgy you've gleaned relates to which bit of the Lord's Prayer would be helpful.
I've done that in a minimalist way. Hope it helps, get back to me if not. Just hoping too that the typogrphy of the solution is clear enough too.
Took a moment to spot the italics, found them though! Yes that all makes good sense now ... I guess because you're so immersed in Lord's Prayer theology it may look glaringly obvious to you. I enjoyed the way you have patterned it out, many thanks.
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