This Eucharistic Prayer is the culmination of a lengthy process by the Liturgical Advisory Committee, in response to a request to provide a prayer that can be used where children comprise a significant part of the congregation. The House of Bishops has approved the use of this prayer for a period of seven years with effect from December 2010. 

In considering examples from across the Anglican Communion, the Committee felt such a prayer worked best where a child (or children) was involved in the offering of the prayer. Consequently, the rubric in italics explains the reasoning behind the form used, and a suggested way of offering the prayer. As always, local custom and liturgical space will determine where best to position those involved, such that they complement the worship offered to God by all present, rather than be a distraction. 

The Committee was also very clear in its understanding that this prayer is not intended to be used regularly Sunday by Sunday as a “fourth” prayer under the heading of The Great Thanksgiving in Holy Communion Two. It has been prepared for use only where, “a significant number of children is present”. 

In offering this prayer for use with your congregation, the LAC hopes that it will enable children to more readily engage with this element of the Eucharistic celebration in a way that is both inclusive and makes the prayer more easily understood. 
 

A EUCHARISTIC PRAYER  

WHICH MAY BE USED WHEN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CHILDREN IS PRESENT 
 

This eucharistic prayer contains echoes of the tradition of teaching within the family at the Passover.

Therefore it is appropriate that the questions be asked by a child and the answers given by someone senior in their discipleship. 
 

The Lord is here.

His Spirit is with us.

or

The Lord be with you

and also with you. 

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord. 

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise. 

Q. WHY DO WE GIVE OUR THANKS AND PRAISE?

A.  GOD IS LOVE AND DOES WONDERFUL THINGS. 

Lord of all life,

you created the universe

where all things reflect your glory.

You give us this great and beautiful earth

to discover and to cherish. 

One of the following or another short preface may be used. 

You give us the starry sky above,

the sun and the moon

and everything that gives us light.

or

You give us the fish in the sea,

the birds of the air, all the animals

and every plant and tree.

or

You give us love that lasts for ever

in your Son Jesus Christ,

and in him you bring us close to you.

or

In times of sadness

You give us your love,

and, even when we are unhappy,

you wipe away our tears

and fill us with your peace.

or

In times of celebration

You give us happy times

and things to celebrate;

In these we see your kingdom

and taste a feast for all to share. 
 

You made us all

to love and to serve you;

and so we join with the angels

to sing your praise:

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 thank you, loving Father,

because you sent Jesus, your Son,

to be born and to live among us.

He gave his life for us on the cross

and shows us the way to live. 

Q. WHY DO WE SHARE THIS BREAD AND WINE?

A. THEY SHOW THE LOVE OF JESUS FOR US. 

On the night before he died

Jesus took bread.

He gave thanks, broke it,

and shared it with his disciples.

This is my body, he said,

given for you.

Do this to remember me. 

After they had eaten,

he took the cup of wine,

gave thanks, and shared it with his disciples.

This is my blood, he said,

poured out for you and for all people

to save them from their sins.

Do this to remember me. 

Father, send your Holy Spirit,

that this bread and this wine

may be to us the body and blood

of your only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ,

and change us more and more

to be like him. 

Make us joyful as we celebrate

his death for us on the cross

and his rising from the dead;

and share these gifts

which strengthen us to follow him. 

Q. HOW DO WE FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST?

A. BY LOVING GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOUR. 

Help us to love all people

and to work together for that day

when all the needs of the world are met,

suffering is ended,

and the whole of creation

is gathered into your loving arms. 

With all your saints

we give you glory

through Jesus Christ,

in the strength of the Spirit

for ever and ever. Amen.