The Lord's Supper
A Meal of Remembrance

Friends in Christ Worship, August 5, 2001

A meal is a joyful experience. We take nourishment into our bodies and it becomes part of us. We are renewed. When we share the pleasure of nourishment with others, we forge deep communal connections.
This meal has spiritual meanings. May the foods we consume remind us of God's blessings and our need for these blessings. May spiritual nourishment renew us and bind us into a more loving community.

I. Time of Thanksgiving

How precious, O God, is your constant love!
We find protection under the shadove of your wings.
We feast on the abundant food you provide;
you let us drink from the river of your goodness.
You are the source of all life, and because of your light we see the light.

Psalm 36:7-9

[Responsive reading]
Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good;
his love is eternal.
Give thanks to the greatest of all gods;
his love is eternal.
Give thanks to the mightiest of all lords;
his love is eternal.
He alone performs great miracles;
his love is eternal.
By his wisdom he made the heavens;
his love is eternal;
he built the earth on the deep waters;
his love is eternal.
He made the sun and the moon;
his love is eternal;
the sun to rule over the day;
his love is eternal;
the moon and the stars to rule over night;
his love is eternal.
He gives food to every living creature;
his love is eternal.
Give thanks to the God of heaven;
his love is eternal.

Psalm 136:1-9, 25-26

[Sharing of cookies;
sweetness symbolizing thankfulness]

Silent meditation and prayer time.
Hold in your heart the aspects of your experience for which you are thankful.
Share a vocal message or thought if you feel called.

II. Time of Repentance

Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love.
Because of your great mercy wipe away my sins!
Wash away all my evil and make me clean from my sin!
Sincerity and truth are what you require;
fill my mind with your wisdom.
Remove my sin, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear the sounds of joy and gladness;
and though you have crushed me and broken me,
I will be happy once again.
Create a pure heart in me, O God,
and put a new and loyal spirit in me.
Do not banish me from your presence;
do not take your holy spirit away from me.
Give me again the joy that comes from your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.

Psalm 51:1-2, 6-8, 10-12

[Sharing of plain yogurt;
bitterness symbolizing repentance]

Silent meditation and prayer time.
Hold in your heart your deeds and omissions and thoughts for which you are sorry.
Turn again to God and accept forgiveness.
Share a vocal message or thought if you feel called.

III. Time to Remember Jesus

In the beginning was the Word,
and the word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God;
all things were made through him,
and without him was not anything made...
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
full of grace and truth;
we have beheld his glory...
And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace.
For the law was given through Moses;
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 1:1-5, 14, 16-17

All in Christ

Christ in my eyes, in my seeing;
Christ in my ears, in my hearing;
Christ in my voice, in my speaking;
Christ in my hands, in my touch.

Christ in my legs, in my walking;
Christ in my lungs, in my breathing;
Christ in my mind, in my thoughts;
Christ in my heart, my compassion.

Christ in all my being;
My being all in Christ.

Silent meditation and prayer time.
Hold in your heart thoughts and memories of Jesus for which you are thankful.
Share a vocal message or thought if you feel called.
During this time, the worship leaders will share the bread and wine:

When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table with the apostles.
He said to them: "I have wanted so much to eat this Passover meal with you..."
Then he took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it and gave it to them,
saying:
"This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me."

In the same way, he gave them the cup...
saying,
"This is God's new covenant sealed with my blood, which is poured out for you."

Luke 22:14-15, 19-20

IV. Closing

All creation waits with eager longing for God to reveal his children.
...all creation groans with pain, like the pain of childbirth.
...we who have the Spirit as the first of God's gifts also groan within ourselves as we wait for God to make us his children and set our whole being free.
We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him...
Those who God has already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, -so that the Son would be the first among many brothers and sisters.
And those whom God set apart, he called;
and those he called, he put right with himself,
and he shared his glory with them.

Romans 8:19, 22-23, 28-30