Please take a moment to be sure that you have a morsel of bread and a small cup of wine or grape juice handy. If you need to, now would be the time to take a moment and prepare these elements. If possible, find a quiet place and begin.
Let’s hear the Great Commandments, and examine our hearts. (Mark 12 NLT)
“The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind and all your strength.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” Amen. Lord, have mercy.
“The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” Amen. Lord, have mercy upon us and write these in our hearts.
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, and no secrets are hidden. Cleanse our hearts by your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and our neighbour, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NLT)
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NLT)
“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them all.” (1 Timothy 1:15 NLT)
“My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” (1 John 2:1-2 NLT)
Father in heaven, we have sinned in thought, word, deed and neglect. We repent of all our sins. For Jesus’ sake, who died for us, forgive us all our sins. Help us to overcome. Amen.
What do we believe?
I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit; born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From there he shall come to judge the quick [living] and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe in the holy catholic [universal] church; the communion of saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.
Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace. So, let us confess our sin before God and one another.
Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart, nor our neighbors. In rebellion, we have failed to obey you. Forgive us, we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, proving God's love toward us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! Glory to God. Amen.
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Thank you, heavenly Father! We failed you but, your love remained. You delivered us from our own stupidity, speaking to us through the prophets and apostles. So, with your people on earth and all heaven we praise you and sing this unending hymn:
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.
During his Last Supper, Jesus took bread, and GAVE THANKS. So we also call it the Eucharist (the Great Thanksgiving). He said, this IS my body. So we call it a sacrament or mystery. He said, DO this. So we call it an ordinance. He said in REMEMBRANCE. So we call it a memorial.
“In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.’ ” (1 Corinthians 11:25)
In remembrance of him, we also offer ourselves as a holy and living sacrifice, in communion with Christ's offering, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us, and on our prepared gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
Through your Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
As we eat the bread, let’s remember, it is the body of Christ, given for us. Amen. [Pause]
As we drink from the cup, let’s remember, it is the blood of the Lamb, given for us. Amen. [Pause]
Eternal God, thank you for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Go forth in peace. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
