German Old Catholic Prefaces
Preface of Advent I
We thank you, Father in heaven, and praise you through our Lord Jesus Christ.
You promised him as Saviour to lost humanity. His truth shines for those who seek, his power strengthens the weak, his mercy brings forgiveness to sinners. For he is the Saviour of the world whom you sent because of your faithfulness.
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with the cherubim and seraphim and all the choirs of angels, and sing the glory of your name:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Preface of Advent II
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you, Father in heaven, and to praise your mercy.
The day of redemption is shining, and the time of our salvation is at hand, as the saviour comes, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through him we praise the work of your love, joining the choirs of angels, to proclaim your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Preface of Christmas I
It is right to give you thanks, and a good and joyful thing to praise you, holy Father, through your only Son Jesus Christ.
For he, your eternal Word, became human. You, O God, have come to us in visible form in him, and you kindle in us the love for what no eye has ever seen.
Therefore we praise you with all the choirs of angels and join all Christians to proclaim your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...
Preface of Christmas II
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you, Father in heaven, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
For the mystery of his birth is great: Today he, the invisible God, appeared in visible form as a human. Born of you before all ages, he subjected himself to the laws of time. Everything has been recreated in him. He heals the wounds of all creation, lifts up what had fallen, and calls us into the kingdom of your peace.
Therefore heaven and earth, angels and humans praise you and proclaim your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Preface of The Epiphany
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God.
For today you unveil the mystery of our salvation, today you reveal the light to the nations, Jesus Christ, your Son. He has appeared on earth as a mortal and has created us anew in the splendour of his divine life.
Therefore we join all angels and saints in proclaiming the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Preface of the Baptism of Jesus
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you, Father in heaven, and to praise your greatness.
For at the baptism in the Jordan you reveal the mystery of your Son by wonderful signs: the voice from heaven proclaims him your beloved Son who has appeared on earth as your eternal Word living among humans. The Spirit alights on him and testifies him to be your servant whom you have anointed to bring the good news of joy to the poor.
Therefore we join the angels and archangels, the thrones and powers and all the throngs of heaven in praising your glory: 
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...
Preface of the Wedding at Cana
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you, all-merciful Father, and to praise you with all creation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
He did the first of his signs at the wedding at Cana; in the water become wine he shows us your power to save. He gives us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet and reveals himself to be the messiah whom you have sent.
Therefore we praise you full of joy and join heaven and earth proclaiming your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Preface of Lent I
We thank you, holy Father, for in these forty days of penitence you call us anew to follow your Son, that with him we might resist the evil and fulfil his commandment of love.
You strengthen our trust in your closeness, you set us free from the powers of everyday life, you open our hand for the needs of the poor. In this way you lead us with pure hearts to the joy of Easter and prepare us to meet your risen Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through him we praise your mercy and join the throngs of angels and all those redeemed in singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Preface of Lent II
We praise you, all-merciful, eternal God, in this time of the forty days, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
He calls us to turn around and to believe the gospel. He himself is your word, his death is our life.
Through him we praise your mercy and join the throngs of angels and those who live with you in joyfully singing:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...
Preface of the Passion of the Lord I
We thank you, Father in heaven, and praise you through our Lord Jesus Christ.
He has loved us and given himself to death for us. He has died for all that we might not perish but have eternal life.
Through him all those you redeemed magnify you and join the choirs of angels to sing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Preface of the Passion of the Lord II	
also on Palm Sunday and on the Feast of the Holy Cross
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you, all-merciful Father, and to praise you with all creation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
He was lifted up from the earth to the cross to draw all people to himself. Through his passion and his death he became the author of salvation for the entire creation.
Therefore we praise you with all angels and saints and proclaim your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Preface of Maundy Thursday	also on Corpus Christi Day
It is indeed right to joyfully thank you, great God.
For our Lord Jesus Christ has instituted this celebration as the memorial of his love, his death and his incorruptible life. He has given us a sign of the new and everlasting covenant and promised that it would find its fulfilment in the coming kingdom.
Therefore we praise you with your angels and saints and proclaim your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Preface of Easter I
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to give thanks to you, Father, always and everywhere, but chiefly to celebrate this night (this day) as our paschal lamb has been sacrificed, Jesus Christ.
For he is the true lamb who has taken away the sin of the world. By his death he destroyed death, and by his resurrection he created life anew.
Therefore in this night (today) all the world rejoices in paschal joy, therefore the company of heaven and the choirs of angels magnify you, singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Preface of Easter II
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to give thanks to you, Father, as our paschal lamb has been sacrificed, Jesus Christ.
The old is passed, the fallen world redeemed, life in Christ renewed.
Therefore we praise you in the joy of Easter and join the choirs of angels, singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Preface of the Good Shepherd	
also on Sundays throughout the year
We thank you, holy Father, and praise you through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In him you have shown yourself to be the Father of all peoples and accepted us as your beloved children. In his resurrection you have overcome the power of death and also called us to life eternal. Your Son, the Good Shepherd, nourishes us through the meal of his love and fills us with his Spirit that we might attain the goal of our lives.
Therefore we praise you with all your creation, singing in the joy of Easter:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Preface of Ascension
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you, Father in heaven, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
After his resurrection he appeared to his disciples. You raised him to your right hand before their eyes that he may raise us to be your children and heirs of your glory.
Therefore all the world rejoices (today) in paschal joy, and we join the praise of the angels and the company of heaven, singing with one voice:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Between Ascension and Pentecost	
also at confirmation services in Eastertide
We praise you, God, our Father, and magnify you through your Son Jesus Christ.
Risen from the dead, he sent the Holy Spirit to his disciples, his life in abundance, his salvation and his peace. Through him you give us the breath of life of your Spirit in whom we call you, "Abba, Father".
Therefore we praise you in paschal joy and join the praise of heaven and all Christians on earth:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Pentecost
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you, holy Father, always and everywhere, and to celebrate this day in festal joy.
For today you completed the paschal mystery, today you sent the Holy Spirit to all whom you raised with Christ and called to be your children. On Pentecost you fill your Church with life: your Spirit gives to all peoples the knowledge of the one living God and unites the many tongues in confessing the one faith.
Therefore all peoples on earth praise you in paschal joy, and we join the praise of heaven and magnify your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

The Holy Spirit
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to praise you, eternal God and Father, always and everywhere through our Lord Jesus Christ.
You have called the Church from among all peoples and have kept it by your Holy Spirit up to the day of today. You do not cease to call all of us to the unity of the Spirit.
Therefore we praise your mercy now and for ever, joining the choirs of angels in praising your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Holy Trinity
It is indeed right, holy God, to thank you, it is good to praise you, the source of all life.
You have created, redeemed and sanctified us. We adore you in your divine greatness and bow before the unsearchable mystery of your trinity.
We praise you with all your creatures, joining the praise of your angels and saints singing without end:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Day of Thanksgiving for the Eucharist	
also on Maundy Thursday
We thank you, holy Father, and praise you through our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is the bread coming from heaven to satisfy our hunger for life. He testified to your love and gave his life for us, like a piece of bread that is broken. You made him the head of a new humanity. We are members of his body and share in his indestructible life. He gave us the heritage of his love, we break the bread and share the cup.
In this way we honour you by celebrating his memorial, singing with all creation the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Last Sundays of the Liturgical Year
It is right to praise you, God, our Father, through Jesus Christ, your Son.
You exalted him as Lord of creation that he might present to you a kingdom, eternal and universal: the kingdom of truth and life, the kingdom of holiness and grace, the kingdom of justice, love and peace. Then every knee will bow at the name of Jesus, and heaven and earth will proclaim your glory.
Therefore we join all the angels and saints, singing in joy:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Ordinary Preface, I
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you, Father in heaven, and to praise you with all creation.
For in you we live, we move and we have our existence. Each day anew we know the works of your loving-kindness. In this life you already give us the Holy Spirit as pledge of eternal glory. Through him you raised Jesus from the dead and gave us the sure hope that the paschal mystery will be fulfilled in us.
Therefore we join the praise of heaven, singing with all your creatures the hymn of joy:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Ordinary Preface, II
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you, Father in heaven, and to praise you with all creation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
He suffered the darkness of this world and of death, but you raised him to new life. Therefore in him we are a new creation, overcome fear and prepare the way for his coming.
Through him we bless your mercy now and for ever, joining the choirs of angels and saints in singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...
Ordinary Preface, III
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you, Father in heaven, and to praise you with all creation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In living faith we remember his death, proclaim his resurrection and, full of hope and confidence, await his coming in glory.
We praise you with all those made perfect, joining the hymn of your angels:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Ordinary Preface, IV
We thank you, Father in heaven, and to praise you through our Lord Jesus Christ.
For he is the One who suffered death for all of us so that we may not perish in death. He is the One who died for all of us so that we may live with you forever.
Through him those whom you redeemed bless you, joining the choirs of angels in singing the praise of your glory: 
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Ordinary Preface, V	   God leads his church
We thank you, God our Father, for you called us to life.
You do not abandon us on our way and hear us when we cry to you. You once led your people Israel through the wilderness. Today you accompany the church in the power of your Spirit. You Son prepares us the road through this time to the joy of eternal life.
Therefore we join all the angels and saints in singing the praise of your glory: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Ordinary Preface, VI	Jesus, our way
We thank you, holy and strong God. You direct the destiny of this world and care for each person. You gather us to be a fellowship that we listen to your word and follow your Son in faith. He is the way, on this way we come to you; he is the truth, it alone sets us free; he is the life and fills us with joy.
Therefore we bless your mercy now and for ever, joining the choirs of angels and saints in singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Ordinary Preface, VII	Jesus, the brother of all
We thank you, faithful God and Father, for your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord and saviour. He had compassion for the poor and sick, the outcasts and sinners. He was a brother to those in need and despair. His life and message show us that you care for us humans like a good father and a loving mother.
Therefore we bless your loving-kindness and faithfulness, joining all the angels and saints in singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Presentation of the Lord	2 February
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you always and everywhere, Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God.
For today Mary brought your eternal Son to the temple; Simeon, illumined by the Spirit, praised him as the glory of your people Israel; Hanna, the prophet, proclaimed him as the saviour and blessed your name.
We join Simeon and Hanna in meeting our saviour in joy, and the angels and saints in singing the praise of your glory: 
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Annunciation of the Lord	25 March
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you, Father in heaven, and to glorify your love.
For the angel (today) brought tidings to Mary, and she accepted your word with faith in her heart. She conceived your eternal Word through the power of the Holy Spirit; it took flesh in her womb to living among us mortals. You fulfilled your promise to Israel and sent whom the peoples await, your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through him we bless your mercy, joining the choirs of angels in singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

John the Baptist	24 June
We thank you, Father in heaven, and glorify you through our Lord Jesus Christ.
John the Baptist prepared his way and proclaimed that this is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.
Therefore we raise our voices, joining the choirs of angels and the cloud of witnesses in praising your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

The Transfiguration of the Lord	6 August
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you, Father in heaven, through your beloved Son Jesus Christ.
In him you have shone upon us to give the light of the knowledge of your glory in his face.
Therefore we magnify you, joining the choirs of angels and saints in singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Michael and All Angels	29 September
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to bless and thank you, God our Father.
You send your heavenly messengers to repel the powers of darkness; you preserve your church through the ministry of your angels.
We join our voices with theirs, confessing without end:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

All Saints	1 November	also at special memorials of saints
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you, all-merciful Father, and to glorify you with all creation.
For today we see your holy city, our home, the heavenly Jerusalem, where our sisters and brothers brought to perfection praise you forever. To it we are on our way in faith and walk to the end of your promise with confidence.
Therefore we magnify you in the fellowship of your saints, joining the choirs of angels in singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

At the Anniversary of the Dedication of a Church
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you, holy God, whom heaven and earth cannot contain.
For your glory this house was built in which you gather your pilgrim church to show it an image of your presence and to give the grace of your communion. You build a temple for yourself from living stones. From all places you call us as your people and join us to the body of your Son. Here you direct our eyes to the heavenly Jerusalem and give us the hope to behold your everlasting peace.
Therefore we praise you in your church, joining the choirs of angels and saints in singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...
The Blessed Virgin Mary
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank you, Father in heaven, and to praise the work of your mercy.
You chose Mary from among all humans and blessed her before all women. The dawn of salvation shines in her. She bore Christ, the sun of righteousness.
Through him we bless your mercy now and forever, joining the choirs of angels and saints in singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Apostles
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank and praise you, holy Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
After his resurrection he sent his apostles to proclaim the good news and to teach all peoples. He promised to be present all the days until the end of time.
Therefore we magnify your holy name, joining the angels and saints and all Christians in singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Witnesses of Faith
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to thank and praise you, holy Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
He built his church through the ministry of prophets and apostles, of martyrs and evangelists. They glorified his name by the witness of their lives.
Therefore bless you, joining the choirs in heaven and all Christians on earth in singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Unity of Christians
We bless you, Father in heaven, and thank you through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In him you led us to the knowledge of truth and made us members of his body through one faith and one baptism. Through him you poured out your Holy Spirit on all the peoples that he might do great things with his gifts. He lives in the hearts of the faithful, he permeates and guides the whole church and works its unity in Christ.
Therefore we bless your mercy now and forever, joining the choirs of angels in singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Thanksgiving for the Harvest
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to praise you, almighty Father, and to bless you with your manifold creation.
We thank you for the fruits of our labour and for the harvest of this year. We thank you for keeping our lives in your loving-kindness.
We join the choirs of angels and saints in singing with great joy the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

The Turn of the Year, Anniversaries and Jubilees
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to praise you always and everywhere, God our Father.
We thank you that in your loving-kindness, you have led us through the years and receive us anew into the communion of your love through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore we bless you with all your creation and sing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...
Marriage
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to praise you, our Father, and to magnify the work of your creation.
For you created us humans in your image and gave us the gift of love. You join man and woman in matrimony to a holy fellowship in Christ and promise your blessing to their covenant.
Therefore we bless you, joining the choirs of heaven and all Christians on earth in singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Of the Departed I
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, to praise you, Father in heaven, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In him shines the hope that we will rise in glory. Even burdened by the fate of sure death, we are comforted by the promise of future immortality. For your faithful, O God, life will be changed, not taken. And when the tent of our pilgrimage on earth decays, an eternal home is prepared for us in heaven.
Therefore we join the angels and those made perfect in singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Of the Departed II
It is indeed right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to thank you, the living God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
For he is the salvation of the world, the life of the mortals, the resurrection of the dead.
Through him heaven and earth, angels and humans bless you, joining their voices in singing the praise of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Notes on Old Catholic Prefaces

These texts were discovered in the English translation of the Altar Book of the Old Catholic Church in Germany. Many Armed Forces Chaplains serving in British Forces Germany have had contact with this and other Churches of the Anglican Communion which form part of the Treaty of Utrecht. 
The full text of this book is at www.altkatholisch.de/altarbook/

These texts are not authorised by the Church of England; but may be judged suitable by the president; and will be accaptable to a braod range of Anglicans. The Prefaces of Ordinary time will usefully augment the provisions of Common Worship. Mark Eary of Praxis has offered this opinion, which I quote from a posting on Christians on the internet. www.coin.org.uk:

"When Promise of His Glory was being prepared the legal advice was that proper prefaces were not required to be authorised, and could be commended. On that basis, I was certainly taught that a president could make up or discover other suitable proper prefaces under Canon B5. It is this canon that covers the provision of commended texts - they are simply texts commended by the house of bishops as being, in their opinion, reverent and seemly and not contrary to the doctrine of the Church of England in any essential matter. It is this that also made the prefaces in Enriching the Christian Year (not even commended but pure private enterprise) usable.

I understand that legal (and, indeed, liturgical) opinion is not unanimous on this, and this may explain why the very permissive rubric in Prayer E was made safer by mentioning prefaces and giving page numbers without quite going as far as saying nothing else may be used. However, having historically treated prefaces as not  needing authorisation, it is hard to retreat from this position.  Hence, Times and Seasons will make the same assumption."