Commontide
The Consecration and Dedication of a Place of Worship — with the Bishop's concluding prayer
We praise you, almighty and eternal God, that for us and for our salvation, you sent your Son Jesus Christ to be born among us, that through him we might become your sons and daughters. Blessed be your Name, Lord God. We praise you for his life on earth, and for his death upon the Cross, through which he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice. Blessed be your Name, Lord God. We praise you for raising him from the dead, and for exalting him to be our great High Priest. Blessed be your Name, Lord God. We praise you for sending your Holy Spirit to make us holy, and to unite us in your holy Church. Blessed be your Name, Lord God. Either silently or aloud we now bring before Almighty God our petitions and intercessions: We give you thanks, O God, for the gifts of your people, and for the work of many hands, which have beautified this place and furnished it for the celebration of your holy mysteries. Accept and bless all we have done, and grant that in these earthly things we may behold the order and beauty of things heavenly; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Draft — AI-assisted research under editorial review.
This prayer comes from the service for dedicating and consecrating a church building. It first appeared in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, weaving together four acclamations of praise and a closing thanksgiving for "the work of many hands" that built the space; the 2019 ACNA Prayer Book rearranged these same 1979 texts into one flowing "Prayers of the People."