9. PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS

You are now before the table which you have set with a cloth, maybe a candle, and where you have the other implements ready.

First, put a small piece of bread on the plate.

You hold up the plate with the bread on it and say:

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have this bread to offer,
which earth has given and human hands have made.
It will become for us the bread of life.

If there are more than one of you, the other(s) may respond:

Blessed be God for ever.

Now place the plate with the bread in the centre of the cloth.

Now pour a little wine into the cup; next, add a drop of water to the wine and say as you do so:

By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in
the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.

Now, raising the cup say:

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have this wine to offer,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands.
It will become our spiritual drink.

If there are more than one of you, the other(s) may respond:

Blessed be God for ever.

Now place the cup back on the cloth, beside the plate

Now bowing slightly, say:

With humble and contrite hearts, Lord God,
we ask you to receive us
and to be pleased with our sacrifice this day.

Next, using the water and the finger bowl at your side, wash your hands (symbolically), then dry them with a napkin while saying:

Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleanse me from my sin.

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS

With extended hands, pray (n-o-a):

May our sacrifice
and that of all our sisters and brothers
be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.



May the Lord accept the sacrifice at our hands
for the praise and glory of God’s name,
for our good, and the good of all the Church.

Then:

Lord,
through the passion of your only-begotten Son
draw near to us with your forgiveness,
that we who can merit nothing of ourselves
may through the unique sacrifice of Christ
experience the healing power of your mercy.
Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

☞ Now move on to the next section