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Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
Preparation of the Table
Invitation and Great Prayer of Thanksgiving 5
Welcome to the delight that is this table. Our Lord's table. Welcome to the table where the love of God meets Humanity. We welcome everyone to this table, no matter your church background, your knowledge of biblical ideas, no matter your sexual orientation or gender truth, no matter your mood. Wherever and whoever you are you are welcome here, you belong, you are worthy.
This is for you, but it may change you from one who is anxiously concerned about their own redemption into one who knows that Christ's body is the earth and all who walk upon it, are one in Him. Into knowing that we are not redeemed by our being good but by our being connected. Into knowing that daring to eat at the table of Jesus Christ has unimaginable consequences.
So come, come to be made whole, and to participate in the work of making us one with God and each other.
ONE: The Lord be with you
ALL: And also with you
ONE: Lift up your hearts
ALL: We lift them up to the Lord
ONE: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
ALL: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
ONE: It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise, eternal God, creator of the universe. You made us from the dust of the earth, Breathed into us the breath of life, And set us in your world to love you. We rejected your love, your peace. We chose to live in enmity with one another Rather than peace with you and all creation. But you did not reject us, and you called us back to you over and over again. We thank you for the prophets like John who prepared the way of peace. Therefore we praise you, Joining our voices with the heavenly choirs And with all the faithful of every time and place, Who forever sing to the glory of your name, saying together:
ALL: 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.
ONE: We give you thanks for Jesus at whose birth the angels sang of the coming reign of peace on earth, who fed the hungry, humbled the mighty, and proclaimed the good news. With thanks and praise we offer ourselves to you, sharing this holy meal, Remembering Christ's dying and rising, And praying: Come, Lord Jesus! Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us— this bread, this cup, this people— Christ's body and blood, that brings us peace. As you make us one in the Spirit, grant us the strength and wisdom to seek peace in the world. Keep us in the peace of Christ until you gather us at your table in glory Guide us in the path of peace. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.
Words of Institution
Sharing of the Cup and Bread
Prayer of Thanksgiving
God our hope, we give you thanks that you have given us this foretaste of the heavenly realm of justice and peace. Strengthen us with this food from your table as we seek to serve you. Lead us in lives of purpose and joy as we await the coming again in glory of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.
