Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Come to the mountain of the Lord.
People: We come to see God’s glory.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere, to give thanks to you,almighty God, creator of all things in heaven and on earth.
When the earth was formless and void, you brought light to the darkness and order to the primordial chaos. From mere clay, you fashioned us in your image, and breathed into our lifeless bodies the breath of your life-giving Spirit. When we wandered off and lost our way, you sent prophets and teachers to show us where we had gone astray. In the fullness of time, you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, to become living water and heavenly food for our very souls.
Even at the moment of his darkest hour, when the forces of darkness conspired to end his life, and his disciples were about to fall away, Jesus offered himself as the bread of heaven and the cup of our salvation. And even when we fall away today, Christ continues to be for us the bread of heaven and the cup of our salvation.
And so, with your people on earth, and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn, saying:
People: 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.
Pastor: Holy are you, and blessed is the bread of heaven, Christ Jesus. When you sent Christ to be with us, he offered his very self, that we might have the strength to stand when all hope seems lost. Through the holy mystery of this table, we are invited into your presence, tended to in our brokenness, and strengthened in our weakness.
With joy and gratitude, we remember that night in which Jesus took the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
“Take, eat, this is the bread of life, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
After supper, Jesus took the cup, blessed it and gave it to his disciples, saying:
“Drink from this, all of you. This is my life in a new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
And so, in remembrance of these, your mighty acts of love and grace, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving. As your covenant people in union with Christ’s spirit, and as reflections of your glory, we proclaim the mystery of faith:
People: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again
