Three for the price of one: Eucharistic Prayers for the Feast of All Saints (November 1)

It is truly right and a good and joyful thing that we should at all times and in all places, 
offer our thanks and praise to you, Holy God through Christ our Lord. 
You sit in holy array upon the throne as angels and archangels sing your praises, for you are overflowing with love. 
And so with the Church on earth, with the saints of all time and all places and all the hosts of heaven, 
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
The Sanctus is said or sung.

You are indeed holy, O God, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him we know that we are your beloved children and we shall be like him when he is revealed to us. 
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection, 
you gave birth to your church, 
delivered us from slavery to sin and death, 
and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

On the night before he suffered death,  our Lord Jesus gathered his friends around the table and as he took bread, he offered thanks to you;  breaking it, and giving it to all of them, saying: 
“Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” 

After all of them had eaten, he again took the cup and offered thanks to you, and gave it for all to drink, saying: 
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.” 

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, 
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving  as a holy and living sacrifice, 
in union with Christ’s offering for us, 
as we proclaim the mystery of faith: 
Christ has died. 
Christ has risen.
Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine. 
As they are the body and blood of Christ for us, 
so may we be for the world the body of Christ, 
redeemed by his blood. 
With great joy we remember our brothers and sisters who have gone before us and now dwell in your glorious kingdom.  (The honored dead of the congregation in the past year may be named.)  May we ever be united with them in death as in life as we await the Resurrection. 

By your Spirit bind us to Christ,
one to another, 
together in ministry to all the world, 
until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at the heavenly banquet. 
Through your son Jesus Christ,  with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, 
all honor and glory is yours,  Almighty God, now and forever. 
Amen.

And now, as God’s confident children, we boldly pray:
Our Father in heaven...
  or 
It is truly right and a good and joyful thing that we should at all times and in all places, offer our thanks and praise to you, Holy God through Christ our Lord. 
Blessed are you, God of creation and all beginnings, 
God of Abraham and Sarah, 
God of Miriam and Moses, 
God of Joshua and Deborah, 
God of Ruth and David, 
God of priests and prophets, 
God of Mary and Joseph, 
God of apostles and martyrs, 
God of our mothers and fathers,
God of our children to all generations, 
And so with the Church on earth, and all the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
The Sanctus is said or sung.
 
You are indeed holy, O God, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.
Through him we know that we are your beloved children, and that we shall be like him when he is  revealed to us. 
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection, 
you gave birth to your church, 
delivered us from slavery to sin and death, 
and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

On the night before he suffered death, our Lord Jesus gathered his friends around the table and as he took bread, he offered thanks to you; breaking it, and giving it to all of them, saying:  “Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
 
After all of them had eaten, he again took the cup and offered thanks to you, and gave it for all to drink, saying: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.” 

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and
thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, 
as we proclaim the mystery of faith: 
Christ has died. 
Christ has risen.
Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine. 
As they are the body and blood of Christ for us, 
so may we be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. 

Renew our communion with all your saints, especially those whom we name before you*, our brothers and sisters who have died in the faith confident in the hope of rising again;   
As we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, strengthen us to run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
By your Spirit bind us to Christ,
one to another, 
together in ministry to all the world, 
until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at the heavenly banquet. 
Through your son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honor and glory is yours, Almighty God, now and forever. 
Amen

And now, as God’s confident children, we boldly pray:
Our Father in heaven...

(*or “in our hearts” if a rite of naming the saints has already occurred in the liturgy)
 or

It is truly right and a good and joyful thing that we give you thanks, at all times and in all places, 
Holy Father, eternal and all-powerful God, through Christ our Lord, 
in whom you have brought us through the waters of baptism and made us one body, the church, the communion of saints. 
Therefore with the whole Church on earth, with angels and all the saints, we proclaim your glory and with one voice sing (say):
The Sanctus is said or sung.
 
You are indeed holy, O God, the fountain of all holiness. 
Over the waters of creation, you brought light from darkness. 
Out of the waters of the flood, you brought life from death. 
Through the waters of the Red Sea, you brought freedom from bondage. 
In the waters of baptism,  you bring communion from isolation. 
We thank you for creation, for redemption, and for your love that will reconcile and rule all in all. 
Especially we thank you for the gift of your Son, who is one with you and makes us one in him and one in the faith of your church.

On the night before he suffered death, our Lord Jesus gathered his friends around the table and as he took bread, he offered thanks to you; breaking it, and giving it to all of them, saying:  “Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” 
 
After all of them had eaten, he again took the cup and offered thanks to you, and gave it for all to drink, saying:  “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.” 

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 
Christ has died. 
Christ has risen.
Christ will come again.

Therefore, O God, with this bread and cup we remember the incarnation of your son, 
his prayer that we may be one, 
his death and resurrection,
his ascension and continual intercession for us,
his sending of the life giving spirit.
We cry out for the resurrection of our lives, when Christ will come again in beauty and power to share with us the great and promised feast.
Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

Send your Holy Spirit to bless us and these your gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break may be a communion in the body of Christ, and that the cup we share may be a communion in the blood of Christ.
Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.

In the waters of baptism you have made us one with him; 
give us unity in the faith, and enable us to grow in all things in him. 
Join our prayers with those of your servants of every time and every place,  especially our brothers and sisters who have died in the faith, confident of rising again at the last day and unite them with the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest until he comes as victorious Lord of all.
Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,  all honor and glory are yours almighty God, now and forever. Amen

And now, as God’s confident children, we boldly pray:  
Our Father in heaven...

The Eucharistic Prayer for the Feast of the Reformation (October 31)

It is truly right and a good and joyful thing that we should at all times and in all places, 
offer our thanks and praise to you, Holy God through Christ our Lord. 
You entered into a covenantal relationship with your people but they walked away. 
Through the work of Martin and Phillip and the other Reformers, 

your people rediscovered your will. 
And so, with the Church on earth, and all the hosts of heaven, 
we praise your name and join their unending hymn
The Sanctus is said or sung.
 

You are indeed holy, O God, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. 
He has fulfilled the law, justifying us to you through our faith in him.
But his message was lost by those who protected the Church as if it were their god. 
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection, 
you gave birth to your church, 
delivered us from slavery to sin and death, 
and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. 

On the night before he suffered death, our Lord Jesus gathered his friends around the table and as he took bread,  he offered thanks to you; breaking it, and giving it to all of them, saying:

“Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” 

After all of them had eaten, he again took the cup and offered thanks to you, and gave it for all to drink, saying: 
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.” 

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, 
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, 
in union with Christ’s offering for us, 
as we proclaim the mystery of faith:   

Christ has died. 

Christ has risen.
Christ will come again.
 

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine. 
As they are the body and blood of Christ for us, 
so may we be for the world the body of Christ,  redeemed by his blood. 
By your Spirit bind us to Christ,
one to another, 
together in ministry to all the world, 
until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at the heavenly banquet. 
Through your son Jesus Christ, 
with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, 
all honor and glory is yours, 
Almighty God, now and forever.  

Amen
 

And now, as God’s confident children,
we boldly pray: 

Our Father in heaven...  

The Eucharistic Prayer for the Commemoration of James Hannington and his companions, Martyrs (October 29)

 It is truly right and a good and joyful thing 
that we should at all times and in all places, 
offer our thanks and praise to you, Holy God through Christ our Lord.
You send disciples into all the world, promising to be with them in death as in life.
And so with the Church on earth, with James, Bishop Hannington,
his companions, 

and all the hosts of heaven, 

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
The Sanctus is said or sung.
 

You are indeed holy, O God, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. 
He purchased the road to you with his blood. 
By the baptism of Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, 
you gave birth to your church, 
delivered us from slavery to sin and death, 
and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

On the night before he suffered death, our Lord Jesus gathered his friends around the table and as he took bread, he offered thanks to you; breaking it, and giving it to all of them, saying: 
“Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” 

After all of them had eaten, he again took the cup and offered thanks to you, and gave it for all to drink, saying: 

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.” 

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, 
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, 
in union with Christ’s offering for us, 
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.  

Christ has died. 

Christ has risen.
Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine. 
As they are the body and blood of Christ for us, 
so may we be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed by his blood. 
Enable us to lead lives worthy of those who have gone before us and given their lives as a testimony of your love.

By your Spirit bind us to Christ,
one to another, 
together in ministry to all the world, 
until Christ comes in final victory and we
feast at the heavenly banquet. 

Through your son Jesus Christ, 
with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, 
all honor and glory is yours, Almighty God,
now and forever.  

Amen

And now, as God’s confident children, we boldly pray:  

Our Father in heaven...

Note: James Hannington was sent to Eastern Equatorial Africa early in his ministry in 1884 to
continue the evangelism work that began in the 1870’s with the favor of King Mutesa, who died in 1884. However, his son and successor, King Mwanga, opposed all foreign presence, including the missions. In 1885, Bishop Hannington and his entourage made a tragic error by entering Uganda from the east. As he was travelling toward Uganda, he was apprehended by emissaries of King Mwanga. He and his companions were brutally treated and, a week later, 29 October 1885, most of them were put to death. Hannington's last words were: "Go tell your master that I have purchased the road to Uganda with my blood."

The first native martyr was the Roman Catholic priest Joseph Mkasa Balikuddembe, who was beheaded after having rebuked the king for his debauchery and for the murder of Bishop Hannington. On 3 June 1886, a group of 32 men and boys, 22 Roman Catholic and 10 Anglican, were burned at the stake. Most of them were young pages in Mwanga's household, from their head-man, Charles Lwanga, to the thirteen-year-old Kizito, who went to his death "laughing and chattering." These and many other Ugandan Christians suffered for their faith then and in the next few years.

In 1977, the Anglican Archbishop Janani Luwum and many other Christians suffered death for their faith under the tyrant Idi Amin.

The Eucharistic Prayer for the Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles (October 28)

It is truly right and a good and joyful thing that we should at all times and in all places, offer our thanks and praise to you, Holy God through Christ our Lord; 
who after his resurrection sent forth his apostles to zealously preach the gospel and teach all nations, 
and promised to be with them always, even to the end of the age. 
And so with the Church on earth, with Simon, Jude, and all the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
The Sanctus is said or sung.

You are indeed holy, O God, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.
Your love for your children has been revealed in him. 
He was the cornerstone and his apostles the foundation of your church.
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection, 
you gave birth to your church, 
delivered us from slavery to sin and death, 
and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. 

On the night before he suffered death, our Lord Jesus gathered his friends around the table and as he took bread, 

he offered thanks to you; breaking it, and giving it to all of them, saying: 
“Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” 

After all of them had eaten, he again took the cup and offered thanks to you, and gave it for all to drink, saying: 
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.” 

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, 
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving 
as a holy and living sacrifice, 
in union with Christ’s offering for us, 
as we proclaim the mystery of faith: 

Christ has died. 

Christ has risen.
Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine. 
As they are the body and blood of Christ for us, 
so may we be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. 
May we, like Simon and Jude, make your word known in all the entire world.  

By your Spirit bind us to Christ,
one to another, 
together in ministry to all the world, 
until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at the heavenly banquet. 
Through your son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honor and glory is yours, 
Almighty God, now and forever.  

Amen

And now, as God’s confident children, we boldly pray: 

Our Father in heaven...

The Eucharistic Prayer for the Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist (October 18)

It is truly right and a good and joyful thing 
that we should at all times and in all places, 
offer our thanks and praise to you, 

Holy God through Christ our Lord. 
 

When your children hurt or are in pain you heal them, 
sometimes through miracles, 
sometimes through physicians and medicines 
and sometimes not in our sight but in your eternal kingdom. 
And so, with the Church on earth,  with Luke the evangelist and all the apostles, 
and all the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn
The Sanctus is said or sung.
 

You are indeed holy, O God, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. 

Your spirit was upon him to preach the good news to the poor, 
to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty the oppressed, 
and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people. 
He healed the sick, 
fed the hungry, 
and ate with sinners. 
 

By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection, 
you gave birth to your church, 
delivered us from slavery to sin and death, 

and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. 

On the night before he suffered death, 
our Lord Jesus gathered his friends around the table and as he took bread, 

he offered thanks to you; 
breaking it, and giving it to all of them,
saying: 
“Take and eat; this is my body, given for
you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
 
After all of them had eaten, 
he again took the cup and offered thanks to you, 
and gave it for all to drink, saying: 
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness
of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, 
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, 
in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith:  

Christ has died. 

Christ has risen.
Christ will come again.
 

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine. 
As they are the body and blood of Christ for us, 
so may we be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. 
By your Spirit bind us to Christ,
one to another, 
together in ministry to all the world,  

until Christ comes in final victory 
and we feast at the heavenly banquet. 
Through your son Jesus Christ, 
with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, 
all honor and glory is yours, 
Almighty God, now and forever.  

Amen
 

And now, as God’s confident children, we boldly pray: 

Our Father in heaven...
 

Remembering the lost

On this, the 12th anniversary of the death of Matthew Sheppard, members of the Rainbow Alliance and the Interfaith Center gathered outside Hillman to ponder the recent suicides of young gay men due to bullying. Fr. Ted Brown, the Roman Catholic campus pastor, and I offered prayers. Mine went as follows:
“Our hearts, O Lord, are grieved. You have created all things and called them good yet there are those who would defile your Creation through hate and unmitigated prejudice. We mourn the deaths of those who have taken their own lives in response to being unloved, badgered, and bullied. We are confident that they now rest in Your loving arms. Strengthen us, dear God, that we might stand firm in opposition to the evil around us, that we might come to the day when all of Your children, brothers and sisters all, stand together as one and Your reign of peace may come among us. Amen”
The Interfaith Center is a safe haven for the entire Post community regardless of orientation or circumstance.