leadinginworship

Bread of life Communion Service

I invite you to this table
in the name of the One who said, “I am the bread of life.”
This is the table of our Lord Jesus Christ;
it is here that we remember
how he gave his body and his blood to save us.

On the night he was handed over,
our Lord Jesus Christ took bread
and after giving thanks to God
broke it and gave it to his disciples
He said, “Take, eat;
this is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”

Let’s pray together:
Thank you Jesus, for loving us, even unto death.
Send your Spirit upon us so that we may know
that all who eat and drink at your table
in our congregation and around the world
are one body, one holy people.

[The bread is distributed]
The bread of life, Jesus’ body, broken for you.

After supper Jesus took the cup of wine;
and after giving thanks,
gave it to them and said,
“Drink this, all of you;
this is my blood of the new covenant
which is shed for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever you drink it,
remember me.

Lets pray together:
Lord, give us clean hearts, forgiving hearts, praising hearts.
As we drink this, we join with our brothers in sisters in heaven and on earth,
giving thanks to you in an endless song of praise. Amen.

[the juice is distributed]
The blood of Christ was shed for you.

Concluding words:
We have come to the Lord’s table,
we have eaten the bread of heaven.
The Holy Spirit will transform us from within
so that we can see with Jesus’ eyes,
hear with Jesus’ ears,
speak with Jesus’ mouth,
feel the world as Jesus feels;
to taste and see that the Lord is good.
Go into your week,
nourished by the Bread of Life.

*I have put this service together, but it is not original, it draws from the many communion services from different traditions that I have participated in.

Thanksgiving Responsive Communion Service

Leader:  light print            People:  dark print

We come to this table with thankful hearts.
Why do we give thanks at this table?
We give thanks because God has invited us here!
All God’s children are invited to the Lord’s supper.
We come humbly to the table,
knowing that we have not earned our way here,
but are invited, guests at this feast of love. 

Why do we eat at this table?
We eat at this table to remember
that on the night before Jesus died, he ate with his friends.
Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it,
he broke it and gave it to them saying,
“Take, eat.  This is my body given for you.
Each time you do this, remember me.”

Let's pray:  God of grace,
give us repentant hearts, forgiving hearts, clean hearts.
With thanksgiving we come to your table.
Send your Spirit upon us so that we know
that all who eat and drink in this room and around the world
are one body, one holy people,
giving thanks to you in an endless song of praise.
Thanks be to you Lord Jesus Christ,
who gave your life freely for our salvation.

[the bread is broken and distributed and eaten]

We take the cup with thankful hearts.
Why do we take the cup at this table?
We drink because that same night Jesus also took a cup,
and after giving thanks,
passed it to his friends saying,  "Drink this cup.
This cup, poured out for you, is the promise of God.
Whenever you drink it, remember me.”
Thanks  be to you Lord Jesus Christ,
who  gave your life freely for our salvation.

Our presence at this communion table is a sign.
Here  we remember the gift that is Jesus;
the gift of his  birth, his life and his death on the cross.
At this table we celebrate Christ’s resurrection.
We remember that we are waiting in hope to see Jesus again.

[the cup is distributed, we  drink together]

Let us pray together:
Thank you for inviting us to this banquet!
Help us to remember the gift we have received
and to live as brothers and sisters,
members of one family.
All praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!

Advent Communion Service

Who is invited to the Lord's Table?
All are invited;
the young and the old,
the rich and the poor,
the lowest and the least;
sinners and saints together in communion.
Come find your place here
where there are no strangers or foreigners,
only brothers and sisters in the sight of God.

Why do we give thanks at this table?
We give thanks because Jesus showed us the way,
we give thanks because Jesus is the Way.
Jesus was a gift from God for the world.
He was called Immanuel, “God with us”.
He came to save us from our sins.
Jesus lived a life of thankfulness
and gave his life as a sacrifice for many.
We give thanks that he is our Saviour, Christ the Lord.

Why do we eat and drink at this table?
We eat because on the night before Jesus died,
he ate with his friends. 
He gave them bread and said,
“This is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”
At that same meal he took a cup of wine and said,
“Drink this cup. This is my blood of the covenant,
which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

What do we remember at this table?
We remember Jesus’ birth and his presence as God with us.
We remember Jesus’ life and his love.
We remember Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross.
We remember the resurrection and the promise of life.
We remember that we are waiting in hope to see Jesus again.

Let us pray:
God of grace, thank you for this bread and wine,
and for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. 
God of hope, fill us with your Spirit today
that we might have the wisdom to understand the mystery of this Table,
and the depth and  height and breadth and length of your love for us.
Through this meal, strengthen us to be followers of Jesus,
a community of peace in a broken world.

[communion is served]

Closing prayer:
Jesus, you truly are Immanuel “God with us”.
In this season of hope, may the meal we`ve shared together
nourish us to be your body in the world,
your kingdom come,
your will done on earth as it is in heaven.
With the angels in heaven we join in singing your praises,
Glory to God in the highest.
Alleluia!  Alleluia!
Amen.