Communion Liturgy: Rejoice

Communion Liturgy: Rejoice In The Lord

Leader: The Lord is with you. 

All: And also with you. 

Leader: Lift up your hearts. 

All: We lift them up to the Lord. 

Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. 

All: It is right to give him thanks and praise. 

Leader 1: Lord Almighty, our king and our God. Today, our souls yearn, even faint for your presence. And even if our lips will not form the words, our hearts and our flesh will cry out for the living God.  The trees of the field clap their hands to applaud you. The mountain and hills burst forth in song to praise you.  The flowers of the field raise their blossoms in exaltation. The birds of the field soar and dive in pure joy in your presence. Some days, we who are your people are strangely silent. But today is not that day. We will rejoice! Hallelujah.  

Lord, your life pours into us and overflows to us. Like rain in the summer heat, you refresh us for the journey-a journey with your presence as its destination. Your nearness is our good. We are blessed to come close to you. We will rejoice! Hallelujah!

Therefore, we join our voices with the angels and all of creation and with all those you have redeemed from every time and place, who forever sing to the glory of your name:

All:

Holy, holy, holy, God of power and might,

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Faithful, Good and Worthy. Full of Grace and Truth.

Blessed be Your Name, Mighty God.

Leader 2: You are holy, O God of majesty and blessed is Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord.  At this table we celebrate that first Communion where Jesus said to his disciples, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.”  Your eager desire for unhindered fellowship with your disciples, which Jesus demonstrated on the cross, is unchanged. We are handfuls among billions in your care, yet you are mindful of us. You did not spare your own Son, but gave him up for us all and, along with him, graciously give us all things!  How incredible to think that your love moves you so much! We rejoice. Hallelujah!

Leader 1: On the night Jesus was betrayed, arrested and sentenced to death, he took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: "Take and eat; this is my body which is given for you."

Leader 2: When supper was over, he took the cup, and after giving thanks, gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take this and drink it; for this cup is the New Covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you and many, for the forgiveness of sins."  

As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we do proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes again. May our lives be resurrection-lives, always proclaiming the mystery of our faith:

All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. 

Leader 1: We rejoice. Hallelujah. Amen.