GATHERING
ENTRANCE
REFLECTION
But we have this treasure in clay pots so that the awesome power belongs to God and doesn’t come from us. We are experiencing all kinds of trouble, but we aren’t crushed. We are confused, but we aren’t depressed. We are harassed, but we aren’t abandoned. We are knocked down, but we aren’t knocked out. We always carry Jesus’ death around in our bodies so that Jesus’ life can also be seen in our bodies. We who are alive are always being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake so that Jesus’ life can also be seen in our bodies that are dying.
2 Corinthians 4:7-11, Common English Bible
LIGHTING THE ALTAR CANDLE
CALL TO WORSHIP
People: Worn down by the cares of the world,
we carry Jesus’ death in our bodies,
and yearn for the wholeness of eternal life.
Leader: The Spirit breathes life and power
in us and around us and through us.
All: Together, our fragile, earthen vessels become
the universal, grace-filled body of Christ
poured out for the healing of the world.
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN
SILENCE
PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader: Like the apostle Paul, Holy One,
we find ourselves
in a world of conflict and chaos.
People: We are flooded by news
of rageful words and actions.
We can get lost within the maze
of our own hard judgments of others.
Leader: We are distressed
by all that has been lost—
lives, communities, values, trust.
People: Our thoughts fill up
with information and questions,
making it hard to stay aware
of your presence
within us and around us.
Leader: We lose track of our true identity
as your beloved people,
committed to living Jesus’ way
of justice, compassion, and peace.
All: Forgive us, Holy One.
Teach us new ways
to grow together
in mercy, wisdom, and resilience.
INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE
Leader: The Holy One never stops loving us.
The Holy One hears our voices,
listens to our prayers, makes us new,
and sends us out as light and hope to others.
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: Holy Creator of all,
we give thanks that you continue to
show your awesome power
by resurrecting and recreating
your Kindom in us and through us.
People: We give you thanks for Jesus, the Human One,
who lived and died and lives again in us.
Leader 2: We give you thanks for your Holy Spirit,
who comforts and encourages us
even as we experience all kinds of trouble.
All: We give you thanks for your Holy Church,
where together our fragile earthen vessels
become the universal grace-filled Body of Christ,
poured out for the healing of the world.
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 he gave himself up, 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 grain and grape,
and work of human hands
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
Leader 1: The body of Christ, broken for all of us.
Feed on Christ in your hearts with thanksgiving.
Leader 2: The cup of the new covenant, poured out for the healing of the world.
Drink deeply of it.
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. Amen.
SHARED REFLECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN
BENEDICTION
Leader: Now, embraced by the awesome power of God’s love,
let us go forward
to face trouble without being crushed,
to experience harassment without being abandoned,
to be knocked down but never knocked out,
so that Christ’s love will flow out
from us to a hurting world.
People: Amen.
