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Greeting from the Congregation

A Brief Reading from Scripture

Suggested readings: John 6:46-51, Romans 8:31-39, Psalm 36:5-9, or other appropriate readings, or perhaps the text from the Sunday sermon.

[This may be followed by a brief personal meditation.]

Invitation to Communion

[One of the following or another appropriate invitation:]

  1. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
    happy are those who take refuge in him. —from Psalm 34
     
  2. Jesus said, “Come to me,
    all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,
    and I will give you rest.
    Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;
    for I am gentle and humble in heart,
    and you will find rest for your souls.” —from Matthew 11:28-29

  3. [Name], or, Brothers and sisters in Christ,
    the gospels tell us that on the first day of the week,
    the day on which our Lord rose from the dead,
    he appeared to some of his disciples
    and was made known to them
    in the breaking of bread.

Come, then, to the joyful feast of our Lord.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving

Leader: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them up to the Lord.

Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.

All: It is right for us to give thanks and praise.

Leader:
With joy we praise you, gracious Father,
     for you have created heaven and earth.

[The minister may offer in his or her own words a prayer of thanksgiving for the saving work of God in Jesus Christ.]

Therefore we join our voices
     with all the saints and angels and the whole creation
     to proclaim the glory of your name.

All:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

The Words of Institution

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, before he suffered, gave us this memorial of his sacrifice, until he comes again. At his last supper, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it [here the minister breaks the bread] and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup after supper [here the minister pours the wine] and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this in remembrance of me.”

Prayer of Consecration

Lord, our God, send your Holy Spirit so that this bread and cup may be for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we and all your saints be united with Christ and remain faithful in hope and love, and may this, the bread of life, bring healing of body, mind, and spirit. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen.

[Concluding with the Lord’s Prayer spoken together]

Our Father, who art in heaven,
     hallowed be thy name;
     thy kingdom come,
     thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts,
     as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation,
     but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power and glory,
     forever. Amen.

The Communion

[One of the following.]

  1. Take, eat! Remember and believe that the body of Christ is the bread of heaven for us. Take, drink! Remember and believe that the blood of Christ is the cup of our salvation.
     
  2. The body of Christ, given for you.
    The blood of Christ, shed for you.

Thanksgiving

All:
Eternal God, heavenly Father,
     you have graciously accepted us as living members
     of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ,
     and you have fed us with spiritual food
     in the sacrament of his body and blood.
May Christ’s love live in our hearts each day
and his victorious life sustain us in our weakness.
     Through Christ, our Lord, Amen.

Blessing

[The following or another appropriate blessing may be said—and, where appropriate, with laying on of hands.]

The blessing of almighty God—
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—
be with you now, and remain with you forever. Amen.