Minister: As we prepare to celebrate holy communion,
let us remember that Scripture calls us to examine ourselves
before God. We are taught that eating and drinking unworthily
brings judgment upon ourselves (1 Cor. 11:28-29). Let
us therefore ask God for the proper spirit in which to
celebrate the sacrament.
Almighty God, before whom can be neither secret
thought nor hidden deed, grant us your Spirit that we may know our hearts, our
lives, and our inmost thoughts as you know them.
Grant us your grace that we may repent sincerely
of all sin, find peace with you through our Lord Jesus Christ, and grow in assurance
of salvation in him.
May the celebration of our Savior's infinite love
in his redeeming death bring joy to us and glory to you.
All: We thank you, heavenly Father, for the atoning
power of our Savior's death and for our share in his
victory over sin. Open our hearts as we prepare for this
celebration, that it may strengthen us in our faith,
establish us in our hope, and confirm us in our love.
In his name, Amen.
Minister: Brothers and sisters, let us first examine
our faith. We all confess the truth of God as taught
by Scripture and summarized in the creeds of the church.
By this faith we take to ourselves Christ and all his
benefits, so that for us to live is Christ.
All: Lord God, author and finisher of all true
believing, confirm our faith as we prepare for the holy
sacrament.
Minister: Let us, further, examine our hope. All
Christian hope rests upon the finished work of Christ
as Savior. The holy gospel teaches that all our righteousness
is in him alone.
God's children rely wholly upon the merits of Christ,
find in him their strength and victory, and confidently expect his return in
glory. They look forward to celebrating this holy supper anew with him in the
kingdom. They will surely be received by God at his table.
All: Most merciful Father, fill us with all joy and peace
in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit
we may abound in hope.
Minister: Let us also examine our love, both for
God and our neighbors. Remember the great and first commandment
to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind,
and strength. Let us consciously determine to live a
life of loving service to him, through Christ our Lord.
Let us also search ourselves to determine whether
we love our neighbors as Christ commands. Do we unselfishly live for the welfare
of others? Do our lives reflect the godly virtues of obedience, fidelity, integrity,
justice, humility, and contentment? Do we seek reconciliation with our neighbors
in all cases of offense?
All: Dear Father, daily increase in us the greatest
gift of all, our Christian love.
Minister: If these marks of spiritual life are
not evident in us, we may not presume to approach his
table. Those, therefore, who live in self-righteousness,
who hope in works or virtues of their own, and who do
not show love to God and neighbor, have no true place
at the Lord's supper.
Yet we should not be deterred by any sin lingering
within against our will. As we find faith, hope, and love within us, we ought
gladly to obey our Lord's command and come with full expectation to God's open
house of mercy.
All: Gracious God, we love and adore you in Christ
our Lord. We thank you for reconciling us to yourself
in him. We rejoice in being received as your children.
Prepare us by your Holy Spirit for the sacrament.
Help us to come in the assurance that by it we shall be spiritually revived,
and strengthened in faith, hope, and love, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[An appropriate hymn may be sung.]
The Synod of 1981 approved this material as an option
to the preparatory sections of the forms for the
celebration of the Lord's Supper. It may be read
at the service prior to the Sunday on which communion
is celebrated.
