What form of grace before meals do you use?

Discussion in 'Faith, Devotion & Formation' started by Stalwart, Aug 15, 2018.

  1. Stalwart

    Stalwart Well-Known Member Anglican

    Posts:
    2,723
    Likes Received:
    2,563
    Country:
    America
    Religion:
    Anglican
    I'm trying to get into a better routine of saying grace. I just had a newborn baby boy, and fully intend to raise him in a pious Christian household. Do we have a standard form for saying grace, in the 1928 Prayerbook or the 1662 Prayerbook?

    Thanks! Stalwart
     
    Thomas Didymus and Magistos like this.
  2. Magistos

    Magistos Active Member Anglican

    Posts:
    179
    Likes Received:
    138
    Country:
    United States
    Religion:
    Anglican (ACNA)
    There are a couple in the 1928, both in the Family section

    Grace before Meat.

    BLESS, O Father, thy gifts to our use and us to thy service; for Christ’s sake. Amen.

    GIVE us grateful hearts, our Father, for all thy mercies, and make us mindful of the needs of others; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

    Three from Saint Augustine's Prayer Book, one of which is similar. For my family, we use the last two.

    GRACE AT MEALS

    THE EYES OF ALL DO TRUST IN THEE, O Lord, thou givest them their food in due season. Good Lord, bless us and these thy gifts. O God of peace and charity, vouchsafe always to dwell with us. Glory, honor, and praise be unto thee, O God, which hast fed us from our tender age and givest sustenance to every living thing. Replenish our hearts with joy and gladness that we, always having sufficient, may be rich and plentiful in all good works; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. — BASED ON AN ENGLISH PRIMER, 1559

    BLESS US, O LORD, and these thy gifts we are about to receive from thy bounty. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

    WE GIVE YOU THANKS, O Lord, for the food we are about to receive, for the hands that prepared it, and for all gathered at this table. Make us mindful of the needs of others and strengthen us in your service. Amen.
     
    Shane R, Stalwart and Ide like this.
  3. Religious Fanatic

    Religious Fanatic Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    609
    Likes Received:
    305
    Country:
    USA
    Religion:
    Christian
    "Father, Son, Holy Ghost, who eats the fastest, eats the most."

    It is a very theologically sound devotion to practice before meals, with strong scriptural backing. It will help you and your children become biblically literate. :laugh:
     
    DivineOfficeNerd likes this.
  4. Botolph

    Botolph Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    2,276
    Likes Received:
    2,529
    Country:
    Australia
    Religion:
    Anglican
    Blessed be God, and Blessed be his Kingdom!
    With thanks for food to eat and friends to share it with,
    Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
     
  5. DivineOfficeNerd

    DivineOfficeNerd Active Member Anglican

    Posts:
    110
    Likes Received:
    149
    Country:
    United States
    Religion:
    Laudian Anglo-Catholic
    Our Father &c.
    V. The eyes of all wait upon thee, O Lord:
    R. And thou givest them their meat in due season.
    V. Thou openest wide thine hand:
    R. and fillest all things living with plenteousness.
    Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which are about to receive of thy bounty: through Jesus Christ our Lord.
     
  6. Tiffy

    Tiffy Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    3,323
    Likes Received:
    1,626
    Country:
    UK
    Religion:
    CofE
    The shortest I can ever recall hearing was:

    "Ta Pa."

    Another favourite at Scripture Union Beach Missions was:

    Thank you for the the food we eat.
    Thank you for the friends we meet.
    Thank you for the birds that sing.
    Thank you God, for everything.
     
    Thomas Didymus likes this.
  7. Ide

    Ide Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    187
    Likes Received:
    258
    Thanks for these! Very helpful. :thumbsup:

    I've been trying to pray before every meal and always try to include the "Our Father" in addition to giving thanks for my food, drink, and health. I'm still pretty self-conscious about praying in public. It is so rare these days to see people pray before meals or in groups together unless it is a Christian cafe or restaurant.
     
    Magistos and Stalwart like this.
  8. Stalwart

    Stalwart Well-Known Member Anglican

    Posts:
    2,723
    Likes Received:
    2,563
    Country:
    America
    Religion:
    Anglican
    That's perfect. The good old 1928 BCP. I have heard the Grace before Meat before, but not the more general Grace At Meals. It's quite long. I like it!
     
  9. Lowly Layman

    Lowly Layman Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    2,722
    Likes Received:
    2,488
    Congratulations Stalwart! God's kindest blessings on your growing family!

    Here is what my children learned:

    BLESS, O Father, thy gifts to our use and us to thy service; for Christ's sake. Amen.
     
    Shane R and Stalwart like this.
  10. Shane R

    Shane R Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    1,138
    Likes Received:
    1,181
    Country:
    USA
    Religion:
    Anglican
    That's close to the form I use: "Bless us, O Lord, and these Your gifts, which we are about to receive from Your bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."
     
    Thomas Didymus and Botolph like this.
  11. Scottish Knight

    Scottish Knight Well-Known Member

    Posts:
    498
    Likes Received:
    569
    Country:
    Scotland
    Religion:
    Christian
    They sing this prayer at the baby and toddler group my son attends. I think it's a good one for children.


    The mealtime prayer we used at my school growing up was "For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful. Amen"