The Words of Institution

From This Far by Faith, Holy Communion Setting One

P   God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,
     you have brought us this far along the way.
In times of bitterness you did not abandon us,
     but guided us into the path of love and light.
In every age you sent prophets
     to make known your loving will for all humanity.
The cry of the poor has become your own cry;
     our hunger and thirst for justice is your own desire.
In the fullness of time, you sent your chosen servant
     to preach good news to the afflicted,
     to break bread with the outcast and despised,
     and to ransom those in bondage to prejudice and sin.

In the night in which he was betrayed,
     our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
     broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
     Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
     Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
     and gave it for all to drink, saying:
     This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
     shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
     Do this for the remembrance of me.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup
     we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

C   Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

P   Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection,
     we await the day when Jesus shall return to free all the earth
     from the bonds of slavery and death.
Come, Lord Jesus! And let the church say “Amen”!

C   Amen

P   Send your Holy Spirit, our advocate,
     to fill the hearts of all who share this bread and cup
     with courage and wisdom to pursue love and justice in all the world.

Come, Spirit of freedom! And let the church say “Amen”!

C   Amen

P   Join our prayers and praise with your prophets and martyrs of every age,
     that, rejoicing in the hope of the resurrection,
     we might live in the freedom and hope pf your Son.

C   Through him, with him, in him,
     in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
     all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father,
     now and forever. Amen

During Lent 2011, we are encouraging the St. Philip the Deacon community to reflect on the Sacrament of Holy Communion — recalling early memories, describing memorable celebrations of Communion, or reflecting on how Communion informs daily life. This post is part of that series. We invite your reflections about Communion, as well. If you would like to submit something for this series, please send it to Pastor Cheryl Mathison at cmathison@spdlc.org.

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