1. Welcome and invitation
Leader: Friends, we gather at the table of the Lord. Christ himself is our host, and he calls to us: “Come to me, all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Historically, this table has been for those who are baptized into new life in Christ. If you belong to Christ but haven’t yet been baptized, you’re welcome to receive, and we’d love to talk with you about baptism afterward.
If you belong to Christ and are at peace with your neighbor, you are invited to come with faith and with honest hearts. Let us prepare ourselves to receive, and begin by confessing our sins before God.
2. Confession and pardon
Leader: With humble hearts, let us confess our sins to God, who is rich in mercy.
All: Merciful God, we’ve sinned against you in what we’ve thought, said, and done, and in the good we haven’t done. We’re sorry. Forgive us, renew us by your Spirit, and teach us to love you and each other the way Jesus loves. Amen.
Silence for personal confession.
Leader: Hear the good news: if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the sacrifice that takes away our sin. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
All: Thanks be to God. Amen.
3. Prayer of thanksgiving
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
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 to give him thanks and praise.
Leader: Father, we thank you. You made the world and called it good. When we wandered, you didn’t let us go. You sent your Son, Jesus, who lived among us, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again, victorious over death. At this table we remember the meal he gave us.
Takes the bread.
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat. This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Takes the cup.
After supper he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
And so we proclaim the mystery of faith:
All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Leader: Holy Spirit, come. Make this bread and this cup, for us, the body and blood of Christ. Make us one in him. Feed us, so that we who receive in faith will be strengthened to love and serve you, until we feast with your people from every nation at your table in the kingdom. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory are yours, Almighty Father, now and forever.
All: Amen.
4. The Lord’s Prayer, breaking, and giving
Leader: And now, as Jesus taught us, we’re bold to pray:
All: 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
The leader lifts the bread, breaks it in front of the group, and lifts the cup.
Leader: Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let’s keep the feast.
The leader receives first, then serves the person beside them. The bread and cup pass around the circle, each person serving the next. Or the leader serves everyone.
Server: The body of Christ, given for you.
Receiver: Amen.
Server: The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Receiver: Amen.
When everyone has received, the elements return to the table and are covered.
5. Prayer after communion and sending
Leader: Let us pray.
All: Father, thank you for feeding us with Christ himself. Now send us out in the power of your Spirit, to give our lives away as he gave his, and to love as we’ve been loved. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Leader: Go in peace. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
All: Amen.