GATHERING
ENTRANCE
REFLECTION
Certainty is missing the point entirely.
Anne Lamott, Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith, p 257.
CANDLE LIGHTING
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Always-present One, whom we are always seeking,
we stumble blindly on our way to you.
People: Holy One beyond our imagining,
closer than our breath,
we abandon our answers
for the questions that are you.
Leader: Bread of life, thirst-quenching Spring,
we find eternal life in this very moment with you.
People: Signpost, mile-marker, our way home,
we follow your parables into the unknown,
where we are fully known and loved.
Leader: God of miracles and mystery, we are your Body.
All: Fill our hearts and minds,
that we may share you with all the world.
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN
WORD FOR THE CHILDREN
SILENCE
PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader: God of mystery and miracles,
we know we are called to trust in you.
People: Yet we trust in the limited power of our own minds.
Leader: Your truth is beyond human understanding,
People: But we believe that we know what is best.
We think we know it all, fooling only ourselves.
Leader: You are the creator and lover of all living things.
People: Still, we are convinced
that we are right and others are wrong,
forgetting that all are your creatures.
Leader: We are mere humans in this vast realm of yours.
All: Forgive us our self-centeredness,
and restore in us a humble heart.
ASSURANCE
Leader: God knows our flaws, our sins, and our shortcomings,
and loves us all the same.
By the power of God’s grace we are forgiven,
even before we know we need it.
All: Amen.
THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE
INTERCESSION AND PETITION
COMMITMENT
All: O Holy One, we come today
to claim our relationship with you.
We pray for the commitment to grow together,
sharing the gifts you give us with others
here and in the wider world.
Forgive us for the hurt we have inflicted,
and help us forgive those who have hurt us.
Give us strength and discipline
to nurture our relationship with you;
to care for every part of your creation;
to foster justice and be in solidarity with those in need;
to work to end all war, and violence, and discord;
and to respond joyfully when you call,
freely giving our selves as you have shown the way.
We open our hearts to you and your creation
in the name of Jesus, who is the Christ. Amen.
HYMN
THE WORD
SCRIPTURE
SERMON
SILENT REFLECTION
OFFERING
COMMUNION
PREPARATION
Leader 1: This is the table of the Heavenly Feast,
the joyful celebration of the people of God.
Leader 2: We gather now as one body, joined around the table.
Here we celebrate God’s presence among us
united in Christ’s spirit, broken and whole all at once;
All: Nourished and hungry, loved and loving,
sinner and forgiven; we make one circle of knowing,
believing, rejoicing, being,
as God lights and rests among us.
GREAT THANKSGIVING
Leader 1: God of mystery and miracles,
we give you thanks for all that is seen and unseen,
for the gifts of faith and forgiveness,
even when all seems lost.
People: We give you thanks
for the parables and teachings of Jesus,
who held up bread and said it was his body,
and passed the cup and said it held his blood.
Leader 2: We give you thanks for the Holy Spirit,
who opens us to new questions
every time we are sure we have the answers.
People: We give you thanks for your Holy Church,
where we become what we already are,
the Body of Christ.
BLESSING THE ELEMENTS
Leader 1: Christ invites everyone to eat the bread of life,
to drink the cup of the new covenant.
Leader 2: Jesus said, I am the bread of life.
You who come to me shall never hunger,
You who believe in me shall never thirst.
Leader 1: On the night of his arrest, Jesus took bread,
and after giving thanks to God, broke it and said,
This is my body,
broken for the healing of the world.
Whenever you eat it, do so remembering me.
Leader 2: After supper, Jesus took the cup and said,
This is the cup of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for all.
Whenever you drink it, do so remembering me.
All: O Holy One, send down your Spirit
that these gifts of bread and cup
may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Unite us with Christ forever
and bring us with the whole creation
to your eternal realm.
SHARE THE ELEMENTS
If you do not wish to receive the elements today you are welcome to join the circle and allow them to pass, or remain in your seat. We serve grape juice in our cups.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION
All: God of abundance and mercy,
we give joyful thanks
for your eternal love and healing presence
in our celebration of bread and cup.
Bless this body of Christ
that we may attend faithfully
to our call to be your servants,
with each other and throughout the world.
All: Amen.
SHARED REFLECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN
BENEDICTION
Leader: Despite missing the point entirely,
let us go forward in the knowledge
that the Holy One is with us,
nudging and encouraging
even as we blunder along.
Knowing that you are our signpost,
our mile-marker, and our way home,
let us greet one another with signs of peace.
All: Amen.
