The Great Thanksgiving

The Great Thanksgiving is the name for the prayer which we pray before sharing communion. Very often, it is prayed in a trinitarian form: the first part is addressed to God our Maker, the second part recalls the ministry of Christ (particularly the Last Supper), and the third calls upon the Holy Spirit. Although it is addressed to God, it is often prayed while looking at the community of people who are gathered around the table. Over the centuries, this prayer and this practice of sharing a meal have taken many forms. Below I have linked some of the scriptures from which I have drawn this particular prayer. May we share many such prayers and meals with God and one another.

Almighty Maker, in the days after you had formed the heavens and the earth, and streams came up and watered the whole earth, you knelt in a land rich with onyx and gold and aromatic resin, and formed us in your image from the rich soil and breathed into us the breath of life. You made us to be salt for the earth and light for the world.

When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and spoke to us through the prophets.

In the fullness of time you sent your son, Jesus Christ, who healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners. When he left this earth, he promised he would always be with us in the Word and by the power of your Holy Spirit.

On the night in which Jesus gave himself up for us he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread and shared it with his followers saying, "Take, eat. This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

After the supper he took the cup, gave thanks to you, and shared it with his followers saying, "Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out of you and for many others for the forgiveness of sin. Do this in remembrance of me."

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of loaf and cup. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, so that we may be for the world the body of Christ redeemed by his blood. Make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world. Amen.