An Outline of a Eucharistic Prayer The Eucharistic Prayers used in the Episcopal Church are based on an ancient outline of prayer found in something called “The Text of Hippolytus.” Though the actual words of the eucharistic prayer may vary, every eucharistic prayer contains the same elements. Presider: The Lord be with you. The opening versicles and responses. Here the People: And also with you. presider greets the congregation, reminds them of the joyous purpose that brings us to the table, Presider: Lift up your hearts. and then asks their permission to offer the People: We lift them up to the Lord. eucharistic prayer on their behalf. Known as the “Sursum Corda,” meaning “Lift up your hearts.” Presider: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to give God thanks and praise. Presider: Good morning, Lord. We are Eucharistic prayers generally include a short your people, gathered at your table to give your recitation of salvation history. Here, the prayer thanks and praise. Thank you for always gives thanks for the ways God reveals God’s self, revealing yourself: in Creation; in your people, fully and completely in Jesus, the Word made gathered and sent; in your Word spoken through flesh. While sometimes the eucharistic prayer the Scriptures; and above all in the Word made may emphasize the offering made on the cross, flesh, Jesus, your Son. You sent him to be this one emphasizes the incarnation…God incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior becoming human in Jesus Christ. and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life. And so, with grateful hearts, with our The Words of Institution. We always pray the brothers and sisters stretching through space story of the last supper, when Jesus instituted the and time, at your table we again pray this ancient Lord’s Supper. story: On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.” Therefore, according to his command, O Father, People: We remember his death, The Memorial Acclamation. We remember. It We proclaim his resurrection, is a powerful kind of remembering, one through We await his coming in glory; which we are present to what we are remembering. Also called “anamnesis.” Presider: And we offer ourselves to you; presenting to you this bread and this wine. They The oblation; the offering. We offer the bread represent our work, and will, and wisdom, and and wine, and offer ourselves. every gift you have given us. We pray you to send your Holy Spirit The Invocation of the Holy Spirit over both the upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament gifts, that “they may be the Sacrament of the of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, Covenant,” but also over the people, “that we that we may be acceptable through him, being may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” time, may all Creation dwell in peace under Christ; and, we pray, bring us to that heavenly country where, with all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your daughters and sons; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation. By him, and with him, and in him, in the The Doxology; a closing word of praise. unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. All: Amen! The congregational “amen;” the congregational assent to this offering of prayer over the gifts. 6 .