I Come with Joy

(The United Methodist Hymnal – #617)

I come with joy to meet my Lord, 

forgiven, loved and free, 

in awe and wonder to recall

his life laid down for me,

his life laid down for me.

It is with a light and joyous heart that I kneel at this communion rail, Lord.  Your words, your life, your love have transformed me.  The bread and cup, your body and blood, have freed me from all darkness and sin.  I am one with you, Lord, fused together by the simple act of this eucharist.  I am ready now to hear your call and do your bidding.

I come with Christians far and near 

to find, as all are fed,

the new community of love

in Christ’s communion bread,

in Christ’s communion bread.

This act of eating and drinking together has made us family.  We are connected to each other by the gifts Christ offers us – the bread of life and the cup of salvation.  We are no longer strangers but friends; people bound together by Christ’s cords of love.  We are each different from the other yet united in the one body and one spirit of Christ.

Together met, together bound,

we’ll go our different ways,

and as his people in the world,

we’ll live and speak his praise,

we’ll live and speak his praise.

Today I will remember.  I will remember to give Jesus the credit for all the blessings in my life.  I will remember to thank him for the turning points, hard as they were, that made me a better person.  I will remember the people he placed in my path whose time and attention gave me purpose and direction.  And I will remember to speak Jesus’ name to others, people eager to know the joy and the love he extends to all.  Today I will remember.