Prayer in Space

Prayer in Space

¶ The Morning and Evening Service to be used daily in space, shall be the same which is appointed in the Book of Common Prayer.

At Matins

The following Antiphon maybe used with the Venite

 (Alleluia!) THE heavens declare the glory of the Lord * O come, let us adore him (Alleluia!)

The following Canticle may be used after the old testament reading in place of the Te Deum except on Sundays and other Feasts and during Lent

 LORD our Governor, how excellent is thy Name in all the world; * thou that hast set thy glory above the heavens!

Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, * that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

When I consider thy heavens, even the work of thy fingers; * the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained;

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? * and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

Thou madest him lower than the angels, * to crown him with glory and worship.

Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of thy hands; * and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet:

A Collect

O Almighty God, who’s power dost hold the planets in their courses and every particle in existence, we ask for the blessing and protection to cross the vastness of thy creation that we may make many worlds fit places for our habitation and to spread thy gospel to those creatures made in thine image that know it not, all this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord who with thee and Holy Ghost live and reign unto the ages of ages, Amen.

At Evensong

This hymn maybe sung as the opening hymn after the versicles

Eternal ruler of the all who’s power extends to great and small

Who guides the stars with steadfast law who’s least creation fills with awe

O Grant thy mercy and thy grace to those who venture into space

The following Canticle may be used after the old testament reading in place of the Magnificat except on Saturdays & Sundays and other Feasts and during Advent and Lent

O PRAISE the LORD from the heavens: * praise him in the heights.

2 Praise him, all ye angels of his: * praise him, all his host.

3 Praise him, sun and moon: * praise him, all ye stars and light.

4 Praise him, all ye heavens, * and ye waters that are above the heavens.

5 Let them praise the Name of the LORD: * for he spake

the word, and they were made; he commanded, and they were created.

6 He hath made them fast for ever and ever: * he hath given them a law which shall not be broken.

Additional Prayers

¶ This prayer is especially appropriate for use in ships of war.

O ETERNAL Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens, and rulest the whole of creation; who hast set the laws of nature to govern every particle, until the universe comes to an end; Be pleased to receive into thy Almighty and most gracious protection, the persons of us thy servants, and the Fleet [or Ship] in which we serve. Preserve us from the dangers of the space, and from the violence of the enemy; that we may be a safeguard unto the United States of America, and a security for such as pass through space upon their lawful occasions; that the inhabitants of our worlds may in peace and quietness serve thee our God; and that we may return in safety to enjoy the blessings of the green hills of earth, with the fruits of our labour; and, with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies, to praise and glorify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
  

At the Burial of the Dead in Space.

¶ The Office in the Common Prayer Book may be used; only instead of these words, [We therefore commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, &c.] say,

WE therefore commit the body or our brother/sister to the deapths, to be returned to the source from which its elements came, looking for the resurrection of the body, when space shall give up her dead, and the life of the world to come, through our Lord Jesus Christ; who at his coming shall change our vile body, that it may be like his glorious body, according to the mighty working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself. 

A Eucharistic Prayer for Use in Space

This Eucharistic Prayer may be used in Space and at Earth bound space facilities at the discretion of the celebrant.

After the Comfortable words, the Celebrant faces the people and sings or says

                     The Lorde be with you.
 Answer.       And with thy spirite.

Priest:            Lift up your hearts.
Answer:         We lift them up unto the Lord.
Priest:            Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
Answer:         It is meet and right so to do.

Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds

O’ God of all power, Ruler of the Universe, thou art worthy of glory and praise.

Glory to thee for ever and ever.

At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home.

By thy will they were created and have their being.

From the primal elements thou brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. Thou made us rulers of creation. But we turned against thee, and betrayed thy trust; and we turned against one another.

Have mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in thy sight

Again and again, thou called us to return. Through prophets and sages thou revealed thy righteous Law. And in the fullness of time you sent thy only Son, born of a woman, to fulfill thy Law, to open for us the way of freedom and peace.

By his blood, he reconciled us.

By his wounds, we are healed.

And therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with all those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn:

Celebrant and People

 HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God of, hosts,

Heaven and earth are full of thy glory:

Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High. 

Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord:

Glory to thee, O lord in the highest.

The Celebrant continues

And so, Father, we who have been redeemed by thy Son, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring before you these gifts. Sanctify them by thy Holy Ghost to be the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.

At the following words concerning the bread, the Celebrant is to hold it, or lay a hand upon it; and at the words concerning the cup, to hold or place a hand upon the cup and any other vessel containing wine to be consecrated.

On the night he was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper, he took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the

forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Remembering now his work of redemption, and offering to thee this sacrifice of thanksgiving,

We celebrate his death and resurrection, as we await the day of his coming.

Lord God of our Fathers; God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: Open our eyes to see thy hand at work in the world about us. Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal. Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the

world in his name.

Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the Bread.

Accept these prayers and praises, Father, through Jesus Christ our great High Priest, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, your Church gives honor, glory, and worship, from generation to generation. AMEN.