Bishop Eric Menees
The General Thanksgiving
As we continue our examination of the 2019 BCP and
specifically the office of Morning Prayer, we approach the close of the service
with the option of praying the General Thanksgiving, the Prayer of St.
Chrysostom, or as I generally do, both!
This morning I would like to examine the General
Thanksgiving. The General Thanksgiving was not in the original 1549 prayer book
but was added to the 1662 BCP at the behest of the Bishop of Norwich, Edward
Reynolds. Bishop Reynolds represented the Puritan, more Protestant wing of the
church. He felt that the office of Morning Prayer, then the primary form of
worship on the Lord’s Day, did not have a sufficiently robust prayer of
thanksgiving for our creation, salvation, and daily mercies. Bishop Reynolds is
said to have penned this prayer and argued vociferously for its inclusion in
the “new” Book of Common Prayer. Obviously, he was successful and lived to not
only see its inclusion but to see its great reception.
Before I close, today is All Hallows’ Eve, and I pray you
all a very blessed celebration of All Hallows or All Saints Day tomorrow.
Bishop Menees
Before the close of
the Office one or both of the following prayers may be used.
THE GENERAL THANKSGIVING
Officiant and People
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 ourselves 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.
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