Traditional Graces









For what we are about to receive,
May the Lord make us truly thankful,
For Christ's sake,  Amen
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Bless, O Lord, this food to our use
and us to your service,
For Christ's sake,  Amen
                         *  *  *  *
For health and strength and daily food,
We praise your name, O Lord.  Amen.
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                                                               Jewish grace
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe,
who feeds the entire world in his goodness
- with grace, with kindness and with mercy.
He gives food to all life for his kindness is eternal.
Blessed are you, God, who nourishes all.

                                                          All Creatures
                                                          H. Widdows
Thank you for the sunshine bright,
Thank you for the morning light,
Thank you for the rain and showers,
Thank you for the fruit and flowers,
Thank you for each tall green tree,
Thank you for the sand and sea.
Thank you for the winds that blow
Thank you for the frost and snow.
Thank you for the beasts so tall,
Thank you for the creatures small,
Thank you for all things that live
Thank you God for all you give.                      Amen.
                                                             

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            Other prayers
                                                     Phyllis Garlick
Lord of the loving heart,
May mine be loving to,
Lord of the gentle hands,
May mine be gentle too.
Lord of the willing feet,
May mine be willing too,
So may I grow more like to thee
In all I say and do.

                                             Anonymous
Day is done,
Gone the sun
From the lake,
From the hills,
From the sky.
Safely rest,
All is well!
God is nigh.
                                                    
                                                  Rev. W.H. Havergal (c. 1877)
Now the daylight goes away,
Saviour listen while I pray.
Asking thee to watch and keep
And to send me quiet sleep.

Jesus, Saviour, wash away
All that has been wrong today:
Help me every day to be
Good and gentle, more like thee.


                                                            Catherine Maccabe
We went to the beach, where the waves were so wild,
Much larger O Lord than one little child;
I know we are small, but please, can you see,
Teddy bear, piglet, kitten and me?

We went to the zoo, where the elephants stay,
They're bigger than houses, too big to play;
I know we are small, but please, can you see,
Teddy bear, piglet, kitten and me?

We went to the woods, where the trees grow so high,
I can tell if I look, that they reach to the sky;
I know we are small, but please can you see,
Teddy bear, piglet, kitten and me?

We've come to the stable, we followed the star,
Baby Jesus lies smiling, we know who you are --
You've made yourself small, so of course you can see,
Teddy bear, piglet, kitten and me!

                                                                       Mary S. Edgar
God, who touches the earth with beauty,
Make me lovely too;
With your Spirit, recreate me,
Make my heart anew.

Like your springs and running waters,
Make me crystal pure;
Like your rocks of towering grandeur,
Make me strong and sure.

Like your dancing waves in sunlight,
Make me glad and free;
Like the straightness of the pine trees,
Let me upright be.

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