Blessing of the Elements:
A couple of weeks ago, when we did our outdoor service, I mentioned that one pastor I knew said “When you share in Holy Communion, you hardly need a sermon. Communion should be a sermon in and of itself.” We’re going to trust that wisdom today.
I’ve been missing our liturgy, our rituals, our singing together, praying together, and reading together. I love the rhythms of congregational
worship and there’s so much we struggle to capture on video.
But, today, we’re going to try! We’re pulling out our hymnals and sharing in the liturgy. If you don’t have a hymnal at home, that’s ok, you can listen to the liturgy, or maybe follow on a parallel tab, but if you do have a hymnal, I invite you to turn to #618 Let Us Break Bread Together as we prepare our hearts for communion.
Hymn: Let Us Break Bread Together #618
And now let’s turn to page 12 as we share in our liturgy together.
L: Christ our Lord, invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.
All:
Merciful God,
we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have failed to be an obedient church.
We have not done your will,
We have broken your law,
We have rebelled against your love,
We have not heard the cry of the needy.
Forgive us, we pray.
Free us for joyful obedience,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.
Silence
L: Hear the good news: Christ died for us while we were yet sinners; that proves God’s love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
People: In the name of Jesus Christ you are forgiven.
All: Glory to God, amen.
(continuing with the Great Thanksgiving on page 13)
The Lord be with you
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord Our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty One, creator of heaven and earth.
And so, with your people on earth, and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn.
Holy, Holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord, Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, and blessed is your Son, Jesus Christ.
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said, “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ redeemed by his blood.
By your, Spirit makes us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty One, now and forever. Amen.
And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.