God be with you.

And with you.

My Friends …

We gather around this holy table at the beckoning of Christ, an unconventional king.

and in company with generations past and yet to be.

Let us pray:

At your table, O God, we receive the gift of bread and cup, edible symbols of your love.

And we offer our own gifts of worship and willingness to be part of your unconventional reign of justice.

As we gather, in the name of Jesus,

We remember that on the night of betrayal and desertion,

He also gathered, for a final meal with his disciples.

When they were done, he took a piece of leftover bread, blessed it and broke it and said:

“This is my body which is broken for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.”

Then took a cup, probably one they’d being drinking from already,

added more wine,

and in the least kingly way possible told them that just as the wine was poured, his blood was about to be poured.

But, he said, “this cup is the new covenant in my blood,” a covenant of peace and justice, an unconventional reign.

Do this, he said, do this as often as you drink, in remembrance of me.”

Eternal God, as we stand in sacred community with all the faithful and before these gifts of your love,

we ask you to pour your spirit on this bread and wine, and on us.

Strengthen your universal church that it may be the doer of peace and righteousness in the world.

Restore the earth with your grace that is able to make all things new. Your reign come, your will be done, as Jesus taught us to pray…

All: Our parent in heaven…