An Anglican High Altar

Image Source = Wikipedia

Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1940, of The Episcopal Church

Words by Josiah Conder (1789-1855), in 1824

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1.  Bread of heaven, on thee we feed,

For thy flesh is meat indeed;

Ever may our souls be fed

With this true and living Bread;

Day by day with strength supplied,

Through the life of him who died.

2.  Vine of heaven, thy supplied supplies

This blest cup of sacrifice;

Lord, thy wounds our healing give,

To thy cross we look and live:

Jesus, may we ever be

Grafted, rooted, built in thee.

Eucharistic Adoration

Image Source = Shark96z

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eucharistic_adoration_(lutheran).jpg)

Prayer Source = Common Service Book (1917), of the predecessor bodies of the United Lutheran Church in America (1918-1962), itself an ancestor of the Lutheran Church in America (1962-1987) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (1987-)

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We give thanks to Thee, Almighty God, that Thou hast refreshed us with this Thy salutary gift; and we beseech Thee, of Thy mercy, to strengthen us through the same in faith toward Thee, and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end.  Amen.

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This prayer is quite common in Lutheran hymnals and service books of North American origin across generations.  I have found in the 1930 American Lutheran Hymnal, the 1941 Lutheran Hymnal, and the 1958 Service Book and Hymnal.  And I have found updated variations of it in the 1993 Christian Worship:  A Lutheran Hymnal, the 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, the 1982 Lutheran Worship, the 2006 Evangelical Lutheran Worship, and the 2006 Lutheran Service Book.

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Here is the version from the Lutheran Service Book (2006), of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod:

We give thanks to You, almighty God,

that you have refreshed us through this salutary gift,

and we implore You that of Your mercy

You would strengthen us through the same

in faith in You and fervent love toward one another;

through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,

who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.  Amen.

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Here is the version from Christian Worship:  A Lutheran Hymnal (1993), of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod:

We give thanks, almighty God,

that you have refreshed us with this holy supper.

We pray that through it you will strengthen our faith in you

and increase our love for one another.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.  Amen.

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Here is the version from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:

We give you thanks, almighty God,

that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life.

In your mercy, strengthen us through this gift,

in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another;

for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Lamb of God

Image Source = Workman

Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1916 (1918), The Episcopal Church

Original words (800s or earlier) in Latin

English translation (1850, altered) by Robert Campbell (1814-1868), a member of the Scottish Episcopal Church (and later of the Roman Catholic Church) and a translator of many Latin hymns

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1.  At the Lamb’s high feast we sing

Praise to our victorious King,

Who hath washed us in the tide

Flowing from his pierced side;

Praise we him, whose love divine

Gives us sacred Blood for wine,

Gives his body for the feast,

Christ the victim, Christ the priest.

2.  Where the Paschal blood is poured,

Death’s dark angel sheathes his sword;

Israel’s hosts triumphant go

Through the wave that drowns the foe.

Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,

Paschal victim, Paschal bread;

With sincerity and love

Eat we manna from above.

3.  Mighty victim from the sky,

Hell’s fierce powers beneath thee lie;

Thou hast conquered in the fight,

Thou hast brought us life and light:

Now no more can death appall,

Now no more the grave enthrall;

Thou hast opened paradise,

And in thee thy saints shall rise.

4.  Easter triumph, Easter joy,

Sin alone can this destroy;

From sin’s power to thou set free

Souls new-born, O Lord, in thee.

Hymns of glory, songs of praise,

Father, unto thee we raise:

Risen Lord, all praise to thee

With the Spirit ever be.

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2011/07/28/first-day-of-easter-easter-sunday-year-b-principal-service/

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/great-vigil-of-easter-year-a/

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/first-day-of-easter-easter-sunday-year-a-principal-service/

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/first-day-of-easter-easter-sunday-years-a-b-and-c-evening-service/

Episcopal Church of the Common Ground, Atlanta, Georgia, May 16, 2010

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/atldiophotos/ChurchOfTheCommonGroundMay162010#5472002572382484690)

The mission of the Church of the Common Ground is to work with homeless people.

http://www.commongroundatl.com/

Words by Charles Wesley (1707-1788), a priest of The Church of England

Hymn Source = The Hymnal 1982, of The Episcopal Church

The Hymnal 1982 Companion states that the Standing Commission of Church Music changed one word:  “meet” to “right” at the end of the first verse.  I have restored the text to its original form.

“It is right and meet so to do.”–The Book of Common Prayer (1979)–Holy Eucharist, Rite One, page 333

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1.  Glory, love, and praise, and honor for our food

now bestowed render we the Donor.

Bounteous God, we now confess thee:

God, who thus blessest us, right it is to bless thee.

2.  Thankful for our every blessing,

let us sing Christ the Spring, never, never ceasing.

Source of all our gifts and graces,

Christ we own; Christ alone calls for all our praises.

3.  He dispels our sin and sadness,

life imparts, cheers our hearts, fills with food and gladness.

Who himself for all hath given,

as he feeds, us he leads to a feast in heaven.

Christ Episcopal Church, Macon, Georgia, April 3, 2011

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/atldiophotos/ChristChurchMacon02#5591473661655467298)

Original Words by Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225/1227-1274), circa 1260; English translation from The Hymnal 1940, of The Episcopal Church

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1.  Humbly I adore thee, Verity unseen,

Who thy glory hidest ‘neath these shadows mean;

Lo, to thee surrendered, my whole heart is bowed,

Tranced as it beholds thee, shrined within the cloud.

2.  Taste, and touch, and vision, to discern thee fail;

Faith, that comes by hearing, pierces through the veil.

I believe whate’er the Son of God hath told;

What the Truth hath spoken, that for truth I hold.

3.  O memorial wondrous of the Lord’s own death;

Living Bread, that givest all thy creatures breath,

Grant my spirit ever by thy life may live,

To my taste thy sweetness never-failing give.

4.  Jesus, whom now veiled, I by faith descry,

What my soul doth thirst for, do not, Lord, deny,

That thy face unveiled, I at last may see,

With the blissful vision blest, my God, of thee.

Above:  Icon of Jesus

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = Common Service Book (1917), of the predecessor bodies of the United Lutheran Church in America (1918-1962), itself a forerunner of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (1987-)

Original German words by Johann Franck (1618-1677), 1649 and 1653

English translation by John Caspar Mattes (1876-1948), 1913

There is also a Catherine Winkworth translation, “Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness.”

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1.  Deck thyself with joy and gladness,

Dwell no more, my soul in sadness;

Let the daylight shine upon thee,

Put thy wedding garment on thee,

For the Lord of life unending

Unto thee His call is sending:

Come! for now the King most holy

Stoops to thee in likeness lowly.

2.  Hasten, then, my soul, to meet Him,

Eagerly and gladly greet Him.

As without He standeth knocking,

Quickly thy soul’s gate unlocking,

Open wide the fast closed portal,

Saying to the Lord immortal,

“Come, and leave Thy servant never,

Dwell within my heart forever.”

3.  Now in faith I humbly ponder

Over the amazing wonder

That the Bread of Life remaineth,

Though it countless souls sustaineth;

That with the blest wine of heaven,

Christ’s own Blood to us is given.

O most glorious consolation,

Pledge and seal of my salvation!

4.  Jesus, source of life and pleasure,

Truest Friend and dearest Treasure,

Thou from Whom all life outgoeth,

Thou from Whom my being floweth,

Humbly now I bow before Thee,

And in penitence adore Thee;

Worthily let me receive Thee,

Perfect peace and pardon give me.

Bishop J. Neil Alexander Celebrates Holy Eucharist at St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, Oakwood, Georgia, February 20, 2011

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/atldiophotos/StGabrielSOakwood#5575856130173393314)

Prayer Source = Jonathan Montaldo, compiler, Lent and Easter Wisdom from Thomas Merton:  Daily Scripture and Prayers Together with Thomas Merton’s Own Words (Liguori, MO:  Liguori, 2007), page 93

Prayer by Jonathan Montaldo

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I unite myself with those who gather in your name

to receive the sacrament of your body and blood.

You have made me one with you and with them

by the power of your Holy Spirit.

Unworthy, I am called to your servant and your hospitality.

I shall gratefully sit and eat.

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2012/05/30/devotion-for-the-thirty-eighth-day-of-lent-maundy-thursday-lcms-daily-lectionary/

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/thirty-eighth-day-of-lent-maundy-thursday/

Bishop Keith Whitmore at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Trion, Georgia, June 2010

Image Source = Bill Monk, Diocese of Atlanta

(https://picasaweb.google.com/atldiophotos/StBarnabasTrion#5487561932833792722)

Prayer Source = Jonathan Montaldo, compiler, Lent and Easter Wisdom from Thomas Merton:  Daily Scripture and Prayers Together with Thomas Merton’s Own Words (Liguori, MO:  Liguori, 2007), page 75

Prayer by Jonathan Montaldo

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Let me bring to the table of Christ’s Eucharist my need for forgiveness.

Let me acknowledge with my fellow Christians our need for forgiveness.

Then, by your grace, Spirit of our redemption, let me forgive.

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2012/05/29/devotion-for-the-thirtieth-and-thirty-first-days-of-lent-lcms-daily-lectionary/

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/29/thirtieth-day-of-lent/

A Bowl of Fruit

Image Source = Yosarian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fruit_bowl.jpg)

Prayer Source = James G. Kirk, When We Gather:  A Book of Prayers for Worship, Year C (Philadelphia, PA:  Geneva Press, 1985)

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God of all creation, who caused the manna to rain from heaven, the land to bear fruit, and parched grain to sustain your people, we come bearing gifts in response to your goodness.  You are with us in lean times; when the bounty is great we shall not forget you.  As in Christ we feed daily on the bread of new life, so through Christ we dedicate ourselves to your abiding covenant.

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/devotion-for-the-fourth-sunday-in-lent-lcms-daily-lectionary/

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/fourth-sunday-in-lent-year-c/

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2011/07/26/fourth-sunday-in-lent-year-b/

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/fourth-sunday-in-lent-year-a/

An Altar Set for Eucharist in a Congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Image Source = Jonathunder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EucharistELCA.JPG)

Prayer Source = James G. Kirk, When We Gather:  A Book of Prayers for Worship, Year C (Philadelphia, PA:  Geneva Press, 1985)

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Said in unison:

We have tasted your goodness, O God, in Christ our Savior.  In that name we come asking forgiveness.  We confess that we are greedy, while others go hungry.  The daily bread you give is not enough; we must indulge our appetites.  Our egos need feeding as well; we crave recognition and ignore our neighbors.  Show us once more that Christ is our cup and our portion; may we find in him our heart’s delight.

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/devotion-for-the-fourth-sunday-in-lent-lcms-daily-lectionary/

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/fourth-sunday-in-lent-year-c/

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2011/07/26/fourth-sunday-in-lent-year-b/

http://lenteaster.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/fourth-sunday-in-lent-year-a/