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The Anglican Church in the British West Indies introduced their first edition of The Book of Common Prayer in 1995. It was a revision drawing from the Church of England's 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the BWI Order for Eucharist of 1959, and other contemporary Anglican and Episcopalian Prayer Books and Alternate Prayer Books. The following is an optional form from the 1995 Book of Common Prayer for use in the The Holy Eucharist. It is a litany deriving in part from an Eastern Orthodox litany well-known and frequently employed as a source for litanies in current Prayer Books.
Although I prefer the Eastern Orthodox original in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, this litany is a very serious effort to write a litany that is rooted historically in the liturgies of the Church but also speaks from the experience and to the concerns of a particular local church. A petition for 'human liberation and fulfillment' has special meaning when prayed by those whose ancestors had been enslaved and yet another depth of meaning when prayed in an age of human trafficking and widespread abuse of human beings of every age.
FORM C
LEADER
With all our heart and all our mind let us pray to the Lord. saying, “Lord have mercy.”
LEADER
For the peace from above, for the loving kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.
LEADER
For the peace and welfare of the world, for the witness and work of the Church, and for the unity of all peoples:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.
LEADER
For our Bishops and all ministers of God’s Word and Sacraments, that they may be filled with truth and love and be found without fault at the Lord’s coming:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.
LEADER
For the leaders of the nations and for those in authority among us, that they may serve justice and promote the freedom and dignity of all peoples:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.
LEADER
For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice and oppression, and for all who labour in the cause of human liberation and fulfilment:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.
LEADER
For the sick, the suffering, the sorrowful, and the dying; and for all who remember and care for them:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.
LEADER
For deliverance from the ravages of hurricane, earthquake, drought or flood, and for a just and proper use of God’s creation:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.
LEADER
For ourselves and all who confess the name of Christ, that we may show forth the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light:
Let us pray to the Lord.
ALL: Lord, have mercy.
Silence may be kept.
ALL
O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people in the multitude of your mercies. Look with compassion on us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O Lord of love, and to you we give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.
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