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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: We give you thanks, O God, for making your love evident since the very beginning of time when you spoke the word which replaced the darkness of chaos with life-giving light. A light which has nurtured generations of people, and plants and creatures, great and small. A light which also revealed the fear and powerlessness caused by corrupt and evil actions. And so you spoke the Word which would once and for all dispel the darkness of chaotic lives. Through your love for the world the Word became flesh and lived among us full of grace and truth. The angels caroled glory to you in the highest heavens and peace to all people on earth, and we join with them and with all people to praise your holy name saying together:

ALL:  Holy Lord, God of endless love, heaven and earth are surely full of your glory. The angels sang of it - we have been lavished with it. Blessed is he who was born that we might have life. Glory to God and on earth peace to all people.

ONE:  Holy God, as the travelers with their treasures were overwhelmed with joy on finding Jesus, so we also are overwhelmed on finding out the depth of his love for us. For Jesus showed just how beloved we are to him, by loving us and giving himself for us.

Send the power of your Holy Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine, O God, that we may experience the presence of the Word-made-flesh - Jesus Christ. Breathe your Spirit in us that we may be one body with him - living out his ministry in the world today and every day. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Words of Institution

Sharing of the Cup and Bread

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Generous God, You are the source of all life, creating and sustaining every living thing. You are the source of all food, material and spiritual, nourishing us in both body and soul. You are the light that goes before us, shining into the darkness. May we be filled with your breath, nourished by your food, renewed by your living water, and sustained by your love.