Every year I like to use Eucharistic Prayer C in worship if I have the opportunity. I know some people love this prayer; others do not care for it at all. My biggest difficulty is the dialogic nature of the prayer keeps people’s heads buried in the bulletin (or prayer book). Nevertheless, the Book of Common Prayer is for our advancement in faith and so we should use every means at our disposal to see Christ formed in our lives.
Confession time: The version we will be using over the next few weeks is a revised version of Prayer C approved for trial use. I like the use of more expansive language in this version; there are words and images that can deeper our relationship with God. Mostly, I like that the trial version has moved the epiclesis (the invocation of the Holy Spirit) after the words of institution, the model in most Western prayers. It also adds the second epiclesis asking that we God might sanctify us to be one body serving the world in Christ’s name.
While I have often dismissed Prayer C, I have a growing appreciation for the imagery. It is often mocked as the “Star Wars Prayer” with references to galaxies, but the images from the James Webb telescope make us wonder at the “vast expanse of interstellar space.” The extremes of weather we are experiencing are an acknowledgement that we dwell on this “fragile earth, our island home.” Moreover, I love the intentionality of what we are experiencing in communion with these words: “Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only and not for strength; for pardon only and not for renewal.” Holy communion is all about transformation – God’s grace at work in our lives to become what God calls us to be.
Join us this Sunday as we experience Eucharistic Prayer C in expansive language. Yes, you will need to read along and respond at the right places. If you so desire, we can geek-out and talk in depth over coffee.
Grace and peace to you!
Jerry+
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