A Eucharistic liturgy I composed for use at my chaplaincy.

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As there are people from many Christian denominations at my retirement centre, using a straight-form Anglican liturgy seemed inappropriate. So, after talking with different people there, I composed something that has a basic form that most of them recognise (Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and other traditions often look similar, or derive from, Anglican roots), but has a character unique to our community.

This is simply the Eucharistic part (the second part of the service). The first part consists of readings from the Bible, community prayers, a homily, and hymns. It is followed by the Lord's prayer, distribution of communion, and some concluding prayers with a dismissal.



The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Lord of all, who calls out to believers to seek the living waters,
we give you our thanks and praise for the abundance
of your love and mercy.
You give the all of us who thirst
a taste of those living waters
that will sustain us and make us whole,
so that we may strive for justice and peace
and do your will in the world.
Your Spirit is with us always,
and we are reminded of your presence
every time we praise your naming,
joining with the community of saints on earth
and all the company of heaven, saying:

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.

You are holy, O God, and we bless your holy name.
And blessed is your Son, Jesus, by whose life, death, and resurrection
we too are called to be part of your Church, born in the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, sustained by the Holy Spirit through all history,
and continues for us as a stream of living water
that gives us assurance of our deliverance from sin and death
through your gracious gift of yourself
that made us all your people,
called to live our lives so to be members
of the body of Christ, and heirs of your eternal kingdom.

On the night in which he gave himself for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: 'Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'


When supper was over he took the cup, blessed it, gave it to his disciples, and said: 'Drink this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'

As we do this, so too do we remember the faithfulness of the disciples
in continuing according to Jesus words,
who found the presence of Christ in the breaking of the bread
and the sharing of the cup
such that the Church would be sustained.

In memory of the Christ’s offering of himself as sacrifice for us, we also offer ourselves, our souls and bodies, in praise and thanksgiving as a living and loving sacrifice,
as we proclaim the mystery of our faith for all the world:

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Send your Holy Spirit down upon these gifts of bread and wine, and upon those assembled here, that we may be partakers of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, that that we may be one body, redeemed by Christ, and sustained by the living waters of the Holy Spirit.

By your Spirit, bring all the world to that heavenly state where we can be united with one another as sisters and brothers, using our gifts to your service, recognising gifts in others, and sharing with each other the living waters of the Spirit until Christ’s coming again.

All this we ask through Jesus Christ your Son, by whom and with whom and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.



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This prayer may be freely used and distributed. Acknowledgement would be appreciated.