THE COMMUNION LITURGY IV

Acclamation

Leader:
WE ARE YOUR PEOPLE, LORD
CALLED TOGETHER IN YOUR LOVE.
WE ARE YOUR CHILDREN,
CALLED AROUND THE TABLE OF YOUR WORD.
WE ARE YOUR DISCIPLES, LORD,
CALLED TO PRAISE – AND GIVE YOU THANKS.

All:
WE THANK YOU GOOD AND GRACIOUS GOD,
FOR CALLING US TO BE YOUR PEOPLE,
FOR GIVING US EYES TO SEE – EARS TO HEAR,
AND HANDS – TO TOUCH AND BLESS OUR WORLD.

Confession

All:
EVEN AS YOUR PEOPLE, GOD,
WE ARE SEPARATED FROM OURSELVES,
EACH OTHER,
AND YOU, THE CREATOR OF LIFE.

Leader:
LET US CONFESS OUR BROKENNESS.

All:
AS PEOPLE CAUGHT IN OUR TRADITION,
WE CONFESS THAT WE HAVE
HELPED PERPETUATE SYSTEMS THAT DENY
THE DIGNITY AND SACRED WORTH
OF ALL SORTS AND CONDITIONS OF PEOPLE.

WE HAVE PAID LIP SERVICE TO EQUALITY,
OUR LIVES ARE BASED ON
DISCRIMINATION OF THE OTHER.
WE HAVE BEEN OUR OWN WORST ENEMIES.
WE HAVE FAILED OURSELVES, OTHERS
AND WE HAVE FAILED YOU, GOD.
MOVED BY YOUR POWER,
WE ACCUSE OURSELVES
BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT ALLOWED YOU
TO FORM US AS A NEW PEOPLE.

WE CONFESS OUR SIN, AND
WE PLEDGE TO WORK
FOR RECONCILIATION WITH ONE ANOTHER.

Leader:
WE THANK YOU, GRACIOUS GOD,
FOR FORGIVENSS – AND THE CHANCE TO START AGAIN.
WE THANK YOU, GRACIOUS GOD,
FOR THE GIFT OF YOUR SPIRIT,
GIVEN TO US IN JESUS
IN WHOM WE ARE FREED FROM
THE PAST AND ITS OPPRESSION;
IN WHOM, THE GIFT IS COMPLETE.

Gathering at the Table

Leader:
GRACIOUS GOD
YOU ARE THE MOTHER OF CREATION
AND THE FATHER OF ALL LIFE.
WE ARE GATHERED AS YOUR PEOPLE
TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR BLESSINGS,
TO RECEIVE YOUR MERCY AND FORGIVENESS,
AND TO REMEMBER HOW JESUS DIED FOR US,
ACCEPTING DEATH TO SHOW HIS LOVE FOR US – AND YOU.

All:
WE REMEMBER HOW JESUS CAME TO US,
BECOMING ONE OF US,
BORN LIKE US,
OF FLESH – AND BLOOD – AND BONE,
A FULLY HUMAN PERSON,
LIKE US,
IN ALL THINGS BUT SIN.
WE REMEMBER HOW, ON THE NIGHT BEFORE JESUS DIED,
HE GATHERED WITH HIS FRIENDS
FOR ONE LAST MEAL.
AS JESUS LOVED THEM – THEN,
SO HE LOVES US – NOW.

Holy Communion

Leader:
SISTERS AND BROTHERS,

JESUS SAYS: I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE
THE PERSON WHO ALIGNS WITH ME
HUNGERS NO MORE AND THIRSTS NO MORE, EVER.
ANYONE EATING THIS BREAD WILL NOT DIE, EVER.

THIS IS MY BODY, BROKEN FOR YOU.
TAKE, EAT. REMEMBER ME.
(Leader breaks bread)

JESUS SAYS: I AM THE VINE, YOU ARE THE BRANCHES
WHEN YOU ARE JOINED WITH ME AND I WITH YOU
THE HARVEST IS SURE TO BE ABUNDANT.
I LOVE YOU THE WAY I HAVE BEEN LOVED,
ABIDE IN MY LOVE.

THIS IS MY BLOOD, SHED FOR YOU
TAKE, DRINK. REMEMBER ME.
(Leader pours wine)

[BREAD AND WINE ARE DISTRIBUTED]

JESUS, YOU ARE ALWAYS PRESENT, IN OUR MIDST
YOU COME TO US SIMPLY, LOVINGLY, HUMBLY
IN WORD AND SACRAMENT,
IN THIS BREAD AND WINE,
AND IN THE LOVE WE SHARE WITH ONE ANOTHER

LET US EAT AND DRINK OF THIS BREAD AND WINE
REMEMBERING JESUS,
HIS TEACHING – HIS LIFE,
HIS SUFFERING – AND HIS DEATH,
AND HIS RISING TO NEW LIFE.
[CONGREGATION PARTAKES OF BREAD AND WINE]

Prayer of Communion

Leader:
GRACIOUS AND LOVING GOD,
YOU HAVE MADE US ONE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST,
AND NOURISHED US AT YOUR TABLE
WITH HOLY FOOD AND DRINK.

All:
THANK YOU FOR FEEDING OUR HUNGER
 AND RELIEVING OUR THIRST.

WITH DEEP GRATITUDE, WE OFFER YOU
OUR LIVES – OUR LOVE – OURSELVES,
GATHERED IN JESUS – BY YOUR LIFEGIVING SPIRIT.

MAY WE BECOME A NEW PEOPLE
WHOLLY PLEASING TO YOU,
A PEOPLE GIVING GLORY TO YOUR NAME.

AMEN.