When I began asking for your favorite prayers from the Book of Common Prayer more than six months ago, I had no idea whether anyone would respond at all. But I needn’t have worried: so many of you have sent me wonderful prayers and explained why you like them. The significance of these prayers in your lives has touched me deeply, and I hope that through this little project, we have all found some new favorites along the way!
Today’s prayer is from John Sandercock, who also contributed the very first prayer in this series (A Prayer of St. Chrysostom). This prayer is also from the Morning Prayer service in the BCP, pp. 75-102, and like Chrysostom’s Prayer, it is one of the concluding prayers:
The General Thanksgiving
Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
(BCP p. 101)
John writes: “I like the General Thanksgiving because of its beautiful language (‘for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory’), its broad scope and the acknowledgement that we must show our praise ‘not only with our lips but in our lives.'”
Amen!
(And if you feel so moved, please continue to send me prayers that you love from the BCP — they may make it into these meditations!)
