Communion Liturgy - January 13, 2016

United Church Formation Worship

Atlantic School of Theology

Wednesday January 13, 2016

Scripture:  John 2:1-11 (The Wedding at Cana)

Service Themes:  Joy, Transformation

Sung Responses:  Kingsfold Communion Set (words by William S. Kervin and Paul Stott, Music traditional melody) found in More Voices, #203, #204, #205

Invitation

Voice 1:           God be with you.

All:                  And also with you.

Voice 1:           Lift up our hearts.

All:                  We lift them to God.

Voice 1:           Let us give thanks to God.

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

Voice 2:           We thank you, God of all creation

                        for when you created the world,

                                    you saw that it was good.

                        You made promises to your people,

                                    To Noah, to Abraham, to Sarah,

                                    to Jacob, to Naomi, to Samuel,

                        Promises that you would always be present –

                                    promises that your love would never end.

                        And when the people turned away,

                                    you send us prophets to remind us of your love,

                                    transforming fear into hope

                                                and despair into joy.

Voice 1:           And in the fullness of time,

                        You sent Jesus, the Word made Flesh,

                                    teaching and living a message of transformation.

                        He healed the sick,

challenged the authorities,

                                    turned water into wine,

                                    preached repentance,

                                    lived forgiveness,

                                    fed the hungry.

                        And yet people still turned away,

                                    and Jesus was put to death on the cross.

                        But then came the greatest transformation of all

                                    with resurrection and hope of new life.

Voice 2:           And so we join with the song of praise

                                    of all peoples and all times

                                    as we sing:

MV 203

O holy, holy holy God, O God of time and space.

All earth and sea and sky above bear witness to your grace.

Hosanna in the highest heav’n, creation sings your praise.

And blessed is the One who comes and bears your name always!

Voice 2:           As we gather here at this table,

we remember that Jesus,

                                    on the night before he died,

                        Gathered with his friends around a table.

                        We remember that Jesus took a loaf of bread

                                    and he blessed it,

                                    and he broke it,

                                    and he shared it with everyone who was gathered, saying:

                        “Take and eat.  This is my body, given for you.

                        Each time you do this, remember me.”

Voice 1:           We remember that after the meal,

                        Jesus took a cup of wine,

                                    and he blessed it

                                    and he shared it with everyone who was gathered, saying:

                        “Take and drink.  This is the cup of promise in my blood.

                        Each time you do this, remember me.”

                                   

Voice 2:           We remember Jesus’ life,

                                    and the love that he taught through words and actions.

                        We remember Jesus’ death,

                                    and the forgiveness that he embraced to the end.

                        We remember Jesus’ resurrection,

                                    and the hope of transformation it brings.

                        Help us to always remember the love, forgiveness, and hope of Jesus

                                    so that our lives will always reflect the faith we hold.

                        And with the church around the world, we proclaim the mystery of our faith,

                                    singing:

MV 204

Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again!

Sing Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again!

Voice 1:           Send, O God, your Holy Spirit

                                    upon this bread and this cup,

                                    and upon all of us who are gathered here today.

                        Transform us, through these gifts, into the Body of Christ

                                    so that we might bring Christ’s love to the world.

                        Transform our lives, through these gifts,

                                    so that we can live joyfully in relationship with you,

                                    and so that we can live joyfully in relationship with each other.

Voice 2:           Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ,

                        in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

                        all glory is yours, God most holy,

                        now and forever,

MV 205

Amen, amen, O Holy One! Hosanna and Amen!

Amen, amen, O Holy One, Hosanna and Amen!

Voice 1:           And now we join our voices together in the prayer that Jesus taught, saying:

Our father, who art in heaven,

hallowed by thy name…

Voice 1:           (while breaking the bread)

                        The body of Christ, broken for us.

                        Thanks be to God for the bread of life.

Voice 2:           (while pouring the juice)

                        The blood of Christ, poured out for us.

                        Thanks be to God for the cup of blessing.

Distribution

Prayer after Communion:

God of faithful love,

            we have remembered the stories of our faith,

            we have gathered around a table,

            we have shared the bread and the cup.

Help us to always be transformed by your love,

            so that we may share your hope and joy and peace

            with everyone that we meet.

We give thanks for all that you have given us,

            in the name of Jesus, the greatest gift of all.

Amen.

(May be reprinted if the following is included:  © Kate Jones 2016 http://katesnextgreatadventure.blogspot.ca )