A BRIEF GREAT THANKSGIVING FOR GENERAL USE

This text may be used by the pastor either in a congregational service or with sick or homebound persons as an alternative to the text on 52-53. Since it does not involve the verbal participation of the people, its use should be limited to situations where the people may be unable to participate easily.

Lift up your hearts and give thanks to God.

Blessed are you, O God, who with your Word and Holy Spirit
created all things and called them good.
In Jesus Christ your Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Through Jesus' suffering and death
you took upon yourself our sin and death
and destroyed their power for ever.
You raised from the dead this same Jesus, who now reigns with you in glory,
and poured upon us your Holy Spirit,
making us the people of your new covenant.

On the night before meeting with death
Jesus took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,
gave it to the disciples, and said:
"Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."

When the supper was over Jesus took the cup,
gave thanks to you, gave it to the disciples, and said:
"Drink from this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in 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.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts,
that in the breaking of this bread and the drinking of this wine
we may know the presence of the living Christ
and be renewed as the body of Christ for the world,
redeemed by Christ's blood,
until Christ comes in final victory
and we feast at your table for ever.

Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever.

Amen.

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Copyright: “A Brief Great Thanksgiving for General Use” Copyright © 1972 The Methodist Publishing House; Copyright © 1980, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1992 UMPH. Used by permission.”