A New Zealand Prayer Book / He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa

The following is an alternative to The Great Thanksgiving on page 420.

An Alternative Great Thanksgiving

Celebrating the Grace of God

Seasonal additions as provided on pages 440-441 may be inserted where indicated.

It is recommended that the people stand or kneel throughout the following
prayer.

The presiding priest says or sings

The Lord is here.
God’s Spirit is with us.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to offer thanks and praise.

Honour and worship are indeed your due,
our Lord and our God, through Jesus Christ,
for you created all things;
by your will they were created,
and for your glory they have their being.

Trinity

In your loving purpose you chose us
before the foundation of the world
to be your people;
you gave your promises to Abraham and Sarah
and bestowed your favour on the Virgin Mary.

Saints

Above all we give you thanks and praise
for your grace in sending Jesus Christ,
not for any merit of our own
but when we had turned away from you.

Christmas, Epiphany

436 Liturgies of the Eucharist

We were bound in sin,
but in your compassion you redeemed us,
reconciling us to yourself with the precious blood of Christ.

Passiontide

In your Son you suffered with us and for us,
offering us the healing riches of salvation
and calling us to freedom and holiness.

Advent, Lent,
Easter, Ascension, Pentecost

Therefore with people of every nation, tribe and language,
with the whole Church on earth and in heaven,
joyfully we give you thanks and say:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.

All glory and honour to you, God of grace,
for you gave your only Son Jesus Christ
once for all on the cross
to be the one perfect sacrifice for the sin of the world,
that all who believe in him might have eternal life.
The night before he died,
he took bread, and when he had given you thanks,
he broke it, gave it to his disciples, and said:
Take, eat, this is my body
which is given for you;
do this to remember me.

After supper he took the cup,
and when he had given you thanks,
he gave it to them and said:
Drink this, all of you,
for this is my blood of the new covenant
which is shed for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins;
do this as often as you drink it,
to remember me.

Alternative Thanksgiving / The People of God 437

Therefore heavenly Father,
in this sacrament of the suffering and death of your Son,
we now celebrate the wonder of your grace
and proclaim the mystery of our faith.

Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come in glory.

Redeemer God, rich in mercy, infinite in goodness,
we were far off until you brought us near
and our hands are empty until you fill them.
As we eat this bread and drink this wine,
through the power of your Holy Spirit
feed us with your heavenly food,
renew us in your service,
unite us in Christ,
and bring us to your everlasting kingdom.
O the depths and riches of your wisdom, O God;
how unsearchable are your judgments
and untraceable your ways.

From you, and through you, and for you are all things.
To you be the glory for ever. Amen.

Silence may be kept.

The Lord’s Prayer (if it has not been used before) may be said here.

The priest breaks the bread.

Silence may be kept.

We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.

We who are many are one body,
for we all share the one bread.

Additional Prayers at Communion as provided on pages 425-427
may follow here.

438 Liturgies of the Eucharist

The Invitation

The priest invites the people saying

Draw near and receive the body and blood of our Saviour
Jesus Christ in remembrance that he died for us.
Let us feed on him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving.

The presiding priest and people receive Communion.

Prayer After Communion

The service continues with the Prayer after Communion on page 428.

Alternative Thanksgiving / The People of God 439

Additions to
the Alternative Great Thanksgiving

These additions are used as directed on page 421.

A
ADVENT

In his coming among us,
the day of our deliverance has dawned,
and through him you will make all things new
when he comes in power and majesty to judge the world.
B
CHRISTMAS

In him the light which shines for all
has come into the world,
and he has become one with us
that we may become one with you.
C
EPIPHANY

In him we see you, the eternal God,
revealing your glory in our flesh,
for he is the light of the nations
who illuminates our darkness.
D
LENT

Though tempted in every way as we are,
yet he did not sin;
through him therefore we may triumph over sin
and grow in grace.
E
PASSIONTIDE

Lifted high upon the cross,
he drew the whole world to himself;
the tree of shame became the tree of glory.
Where life was lost, there life has been restored.
440 Liturgies of the Eucharist
F
EASTER

You raised him to life triumphant over death;
you exalted him in glory.
By his victory over death,
the reign of sin is ended,
a new age has dawned,
a broken world is restored
and we are made whole once more.
G
ASCENSION

You raised him to life triumphant over death;
you exalted him in glory;
at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow
and every tongue confess that he is Lord.
H
PENTECOST

In him you have made us a holy people
by sending upon us your holy and lifegiving Spirit,
who came with signs from heaven
to lead your Church into all truth.
In the power of the Spirit,
and made ready with his gifts,
we take the joy of the gospel into all the world.
I
TRINITY

In the mystery of your Godhead
you have revealed to us
the fulness of your divine glory.
We praise you, Father, with the Son and the Spirit,
three persons,
equal in majesty,
undivided in splendour,
yet one Lord, one God,
ever to be worshipped and adored.
N
SAINTS

We give you thanks for the example
and encouragement of your saints (especially N),
for their witness to the truth of your gospel,
and for the hope of glory which we share with them.
Alternative Thanksgiving / The People of God 441