Invitation
Christ invites all the peoples of the world to this meal. Everyone is welcome to eat and drink in remembrance of Him who is our teacher, mentor, and friend. From north and south, east and west, we are invited to share in the hope and promise of peace found in Jesus Christ.
Confession and Pardon
God of mercy and compassion, hear us as we pray. You give us responsibility for the earth, water, air, and all living creatures and we are destroying your creation. You give us each other to love and our anger, jealousy, and greed fractures our relationships. You give us hearts for compassion and we ignore opportunities to touch others with kindness. We ask for your forgiveness, Abba! Give us the will to care for all of your creation so that your Kingdom might finally take root here on earth. Amen.
Hear the good news;
Christ has called you by name and invited you to follow him. His love and his spirit lives within you. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven and transformed!
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven and transformed!
The Great Thanksgiving
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,
Holy One, creator of all that we see
and all that we do not see.
Your hand separated the light and dark; you parted
the land and water; and out of the dust
you populated the earth with people of every hue.
Families grew into tribes and tribes into nations,
having their own language, customs, and traditions.
The world became rich with diversity of color,
thoughts, and ideas.
Humankind, unfortunately, could not sustain the beauty
of your creation. Pride, lust for power,
fear of differences, and divisions of every kind
caused neighbors to hate neighbors,
countries to build walls,
the world to war against itself.
Even in the face of such cruelty and destruction,
you continued to proclaim your love for us
through your prophets.
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 he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Out of your mercy and grace, you sent your Son,
Jesus, to teach and live out the life you
meant for us: to respect differences, delight
in commonalities, build relationships, and
minister with our neighbors so all can
live a safe and joyful life.
Jesus defined for us your kingdom on earth
and how it might be achieved. In sermons,
stories, and acts of healing and mercy, he
demonstrated your peace as it was meant
to be – from the first humans, to us, and beyond.
At the final meal with his friends, Jesus shared
the goodness of life and the coming of his
spirit with bread and the fruit of the vine.
As the aroma of freshly baked bread filled the room,
he passed it to the disciples, saying “Take and eat;
this is my body which is given for you. Do this
in remembrance of me.”
The people who loved Jesus drank from the cup
he passed to them, saying “Drink from this, all
of you; this is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many for the
forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.”
In this act of communion there continues to
be the thread that binds us together as the
Body of Christ. Today, taken together with
the people of the world, we are reminded that
this is the table of friendship, representing
God reaching out yet again to unite us
through Jesus the Christ.
And so,
as we eat and drink with our neighbors, we
rejoice and are grateful for the life Jesus lived
and the death he suffered on our behalf.
We offer ourselves as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Christ,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on all who are
partaking of these gifts throughout the world.
Make us of one mind, body, and heart,
preparing us for ministry with all
who struggle for justice, basic needs,
and assistance.
Spirit, flow in us, and through us, surrounding
us and guiding us towards
a life of peace for all.
Through your Son Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit in your holy church,
all honor and glory is yours, almighty God,
now and for ever.
Amen.
Liturgy for This and That 