My brother-priest Sherman Hesselgrave over at Holy Trinity, Eaton Center, asked on the APLM List Serve whether anyone knew of Eucharistic Prayers written specifically for children. Kurt Huber pointed us all to Prayers 6 and 7 of the Holy Communion service authorized in 2004 by the Church of Wales. Here's an excerpt...
Eucharistic Prayer 7
Suitable for use when a significant number of 7–11 year-olds is present.
In place of the Proper Preface [Through him you made us …], three or four children may each read out a brief sentence of thanksgiving for the love of God in Christ.
The Lord be with you. or The Lord is here.
And also with you. or His 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 give our thanks and praise.
It is always right, wherever we are, to thank you and to praise you, God our Father and King for ever, through Jesus Christ, your Son.
[Through him you made us and the whole universe. When your Holy Spirit came to Mary,
Jesus was born as one of us. He loved us so much that he died for us; on the first Easter Day you raised him to life; and death and evil were conquered for ever. At Pentecost, you gave the Holy Spirit, as Jesus promised, to help us to live as your children.]
So here on earth, with the angels and archangels and with everyone in heaven
we praise your name and say / sing:
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.
Father in heaven, listen to the prayer we make in Jesus’ name; through the Holy Spirit’s power, gentle as a dove, may this bread and this wine be for us Jesus’ body and blood.
Father, we remember when Jesus had supper with his friends
the night before he died, he took the bread; he thanked you, broke it, gave it to his friends and said: Take this and eat it – this is my body, given for you.
Do this to remember me.
After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine; he thanked you, gave it to his friends and said: All of you drink from this cup, because this is my blood – the new promise of God’s love. Do this every time you drink it to remember me.
Together we remember that Jesus is always with us and say / sing:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come in glory.
Father, as we remember your Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and rose again,
we offer you these and all the gifts you freely give to us. Send your Holy Spirit to be with us and all who share this bread and drink from this cup. Help us to trust you, bring us closer together and welcome us, with all your people,
into Jesus’ glorious kingdom.
All honour and glory belong to you, Father, through Jesus, your Son, with the Holy Spirit: one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (source)
They also have a version intended for those 7 and younger. Nice and simple. I could imagine using this in the Children's Chapel some day (with the Bishop's permission, of course).
-t
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