Contemporary Service of Holy Communion

Note: This ritual presupposes that the Service of the Word (Entrance, Proclamation and Response, and Prayers) have preceded the Invitation to the Lord's Table.

Invitation to the Lord's Table

Come to the Lord's Table,
all you who love him.
Come to the Lord's Table,
confess your sin.
Come to the Lord's Table,
be at peace.

Confession of Sin

We have not believed you or trusted in your power.
Lord, help our unbelief.
Silence or testimony of belief.

We have stained our souls by our action and inaction.
Cleanse us, Lord.
Silence or testimony of cleansing.

We are broken by disease, bruised by the sins of others, weakened and unable to repair ourselves.
Heal us, Lord.
Silence or testimony of healing.

We ignore your call to center our lives in you, and so are deaf to the hopes and cries of the poor, the sick, the needy, and the earth.
Ground us, Lord!
Silence or testimony of centering.

When we confess our sinful ways, God abundantly pardons.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are all forgiven. Glory to God!

By one Spirit we are all baptized into the one body.
Let us then pursue the things that make for peace and build up our common life.

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be always with you!
And also with you.
Signs of peace may be offered and exchanged.

Thanksgiving and Communion

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to you, Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to praise you, Lord.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing,
Always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Holy Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
your name is praised among all peoples.

Therefore we praise you,
joining our voices with your people on earth
and all the company of heaven
who for ever sing this hymn to the glory of your name:

(Use a call and response version, such as Musical Setting B, UMH 18)

Holy, holy, holy, Lord,
God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full…
Full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes
In the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna in the highest!

You are holy, Almighty One!
Blessed are you, Jesus Christ!
In the power of the Spirit
you created all things, blessed them, and called them good.
You called to yourself a people
To make your mercy and truth known in all the world.
We betrayed your calling;
You were faithful.
We wandered from the way;
You called us to return, and led us home.

And still we turned from your ways,
abused your creatures,
and made ourselves slaves to sin and death.

At the right time
you came and dwelt among us,
as one of us,
bringing good news to the poor,
healing the sick, raising the dead,
sharing table with the unrighteous,
and teaching the way that leads to life.

By your incarnation, life, suffering, execution and resurrection
You gave birth to your church,
delivered us from slavery
and made a new covenant with us
by water and the Spirit.

On the night of your betrayal, Lord Jesus,
you took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to your disciples and said,
"This is my body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
You did the same with the cup after the supper, saying,
"This cup that is poured out is the new covenant in my blood."

Blessed Trinity, in remembrance of all you have done to save us,
we offer ourselves to you in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us,
as we sing (proclaim) the mystery of our faith:

Christ has come among us. Christ has died.
Christ has risen. Christ abides with us.
Christ will come again.

Pour out your Spirit on us
Pour out your Spirit on us
Pour out your Spirit on these gifts
Pour out your Spirit on these gifts
Make these gifts the body and blood of Christ
Make us, through them, Christ's body alive in the world.

Abba, Father!
Let your kingdom come!
Glory to you!
Glory to you!

Come, Lord Jesus!
Be our daily bread.
Glory to you!
Glory to you!

Holy Spirit!
Send us to the world.
Glory to you!
Glory to you!

Holy, Blessed Trinity!
One God forever!
Glory to you!
Glory to you!

Breaking the Bread

Giving the Bread and Cup

Giving Thanks

Lord, you now have set your servants free
to go in peace as you have promised.
For these eyes of ours have seen the Savior
whom you have prepared for all the world to see!
Blessing and honor and glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.

Sending Forth

You have seen the Savior. Go now in peace.
And the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
One in Three and Three in One,
Go with you.

Amen.

"A Contemporary Service of Holy Communion" Copyright © 2007 Discipleship Ministries, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Worship website: www.umcworship.org. This article may be reprinted and used for nonprofit local church and educational use with the inclusion of the complete copyright citation plus the words "Used by permission." It may not be sold, republished, altered, used for profit, or placed on another website.