We wrapped up LISTENING TO THE VOCIE OF GOD by weaving some of the major themes into our prayer for approaching the Lord’s Table. This liturgy is a combination of texts from the Book of Common Prayer, call-and-response reading of scripture, and custom-written words that connect to our series.
The intent of this service is to help us realize that holy communion is a two-way dialogue with God. We began by imagining God standing in the doorway of His house, scanning the horizon for our return home, much like in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). Not only does God welcome us into the house, however; He also beckons us to take a seat at His dining table, to sup with Him and share our thoughts and feelings. He also desires to share with us His deepest truths in such an intimate setting.
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Leader:
We come to the Table of God with an expectation for relationship - communion and communication.
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Leader:
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
Together:
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.
Leader:
We come to Your table, Father God, desiring a conversation.
Into this bread and this cup we pour all our joys and suffering, our hunger and satisfaction, our doubts and revelations, all beauty and all frustration. May these gifts sum up the whole human experience, all our extremes, offered to You for redemption in Christ Jesus.
Leader:
“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;
People:
all things have been created through him and for him.
Leader:
He is before all things,
People:
and in him all things hold together.
Leader:
And he is the head of the body, the church;
People:
he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Leader:
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,
People:
by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Col. 1:16-20)
Leader:
Now we ask Lord, that you would pour into this bread and this cup everything of Yourself we see in Your son Jesus as our eternal sustenance. Every word You speak is summed up in him, and spoken to the deepest part of the human experience by his Holy Spirit.
Together:
“What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” (1 Cor. 2:12,13)
Leader:
The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
People:
Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the Bread.