The Great Thanksgiving according to the Kenyan Liturgy Celebrant: All things come from you, O Lord. People: And of your own have we given you. Celebrant: Is the Father with us? People: He is. Celebrant: Is Christ among us? People: He is. Celebrant: Is the Spirit here? People: He is. Celebrant: This is our God: People: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Celebrant: We are his people: People: We are redeemed. Celebrant: Lift up your hearts: People: We lift them to the Lord. Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God: People: It is right to give him thanks and praise. Celebrant: We praise you and thank you, holy Lord, for the earth with all its beauty, for ourselves and our loved ones, for work to do and songs to sing, for your love that surrounds us and gives meaning to our lives. We praise you and thank you, merciful Lord, for calling us to be your people, for faithfully seeking, persistently knocking, asking us again and again to turn to you and join you in your community of love. 1
Thus, with great gratitude and joy, we join with all creation as we say: The Sanctus R. Bethancourt Part I Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of pow r, of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Part II Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Celebrant: Gracious God, we are often confused, and do not understand what you want us to do. We do not see your presence in our midst, nor the depths of your gracious love. But, from your immense mercy, you sent Jesus your Beloved One, to enlighten our minds and guide our hearts. Jesus is the light in whom we see the way to you. Jesus is the light in whom we see the truth of us, and the life we really share with one another. As we celebrate, in faith, your presence with us, we remember Jesus, your Beloved and our brother. We remember how, on the night before he died, Jesus gathered with his friends for one last meal. As he did then, so he does now. He speaks, in love and friendship, all his joy and sorrow, all his hopes and dreams, his call to each of us, to follow him. As he did then, so he does now, in the mystery of his Word and sacrament, through the mystery of his suffering and death. By the mystery of his final and complete YES to you, great God, he is the sign of your new covenant, your overcoming of sin and death for all, and your offering of light and life to all. And, we believe your promise in Jesus is forever. 2
So, with all your people, we celebrate this mystery of our faith. Christ has died Christ has risen Christ will come again Open our minds and hearts anew. Help us to listen to you without fear. May your Spirit in Jesus lead us to the life of love and service you desire. Thus, holy and gracious God, we bring you our own tiny yeses, our broken efforts, to be your faithful people. We pray for our church and its leaders. We pray for our families and friends. For our neighbors, and for all who are suffering. We pray for all who still wander far from you. We pray for those who have died, and for those not yet born. We pray for our world in all its need. Bless us and bring us all into the light of your eternal love. Weave us together as one, so that: Through him, with him, in him, In the unity of the Holy Spirit All honor and glory are yours almighty Father, For ever and ever. Amen. Celebrant: Now with joyful trust in our God, we pray: The Lord s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. 3
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Celebrant: These are the gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, and with thanksgiving. Music During Communion Prayer of Thanksgiving All: Eternal God, comfort of the afflicted and healer of the broken, you have fed us at the table of life and hope: Teach us the ways of gentleness and peace, that all the world may acknowledge the kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Blessing Celebrant: All our problems: People: We send to the cross of Christ. Celebrant: All our difficulties: People: We send to the cross of Christ. Celebrant: All the devil s works: People: We send to the cross of Christ. 4
Celebrant: All our hopes: People: We set on the risen Christ. Celebrant: Christ the Son of Righteousness shine upon us and scatter the darkness from before our path. People: Amen. The Dismissal: Go now to love and serve the Lord and one another. Go in peace. Thanks be to God. 5