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.