As we prepare for communion, I invite you to turn to page 13 in the United Methodist
hymnal. Two of the greatest sacraments that we celebrate are Holy Communion and baptism.
I will be praying and using the great Thanksgiving of reconciliation that was used in the opening
service for the World Methodist Conference. But you will continue with your responses
from the hymnal. Amen?
And it's funny when you look on this page, there's Korean written on here so I have
to sign the English line. Amen? The Lord be with you. Lift up your hearts. Let us give
thanks to the Lord our God. Almighty and eternal Father, we indeed offer you praise and thanks
for your presence in the world that you love. In every age you call your people to do justice,
to live kindness, and to walk humbly with you, dear God. When conflict and strife arise,
you turn our minds to consider the ways of peace. Your Spirit converts our hearts, calming
troubled consciousness, reconciling the alienated, enabling the conversation among adversaries,
and turning the swords of the nations into proud share. Your Spirit is at work when understanding
overcomes discord, when compassion extinguishes the flames of hatred, and when forgiveness
silences cries for vengeance. So we thank you and praise you with the faithful people
of every time and place, and joining the choirs of heaven and the whole nation in singing
with this unending hymn of glory.
Holy are you and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. We give thanks to you through your
Son Jesus Christ, who is the way that leads to peace. He is the true word that brings
forth salvation and the source of eternal life. He is the hand stretched out to sinners,
the one who became a servant, that we might learn to seek after heavenly things. And so
find our way to one another. Therefore we celebrate the reconciliation that Christ has
gained for us. When he was at supper on the night before he died for us, he took the bread
and gave thanks and praise. He broke the bread and gave it to his disciples and said,
Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. At the
end of the meal he took the cup. Again he offered up praise, gave the cup to his disciples
and said, Drink from this, all of you, this is my body, of the new and everlasting covenant
which is shared for you and for all people. Do this as often as you drink of it, for do
it in remembrance of me. And so in remembrance of these mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer
ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice in union with Christ's
offering for us as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make
them for us the body and blood of Christ that may be the world of the body of Christ redeemed
by his blood. Christ, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the Savior of
the world. Lord our God, your Son has entrusted this pledge of love to us. And so we celebrate
the memory of his death and resurrection. Accept us together with your Son. Fill us
with your Spirit as we share this meal so that all which divides us may be healed. Inspire
us to be the people of reconciliation. Make your church throughout the world to be a sign
of unity and an instrument of peace. Bring quickly that new world where the fullness
of your peace will be revealed. Keep us watchful for that day when people of every race, every
language, every way of life will gather in one eternal banquet with Jesus our Lord through
him and him and him alone. In the unity of the Holy Spirit all glory and honor is yours
Almighty Father now and forever.
And now with the confidence of the children of God let us pray the prayer that he taught
his disciples to pray. Our Father, Lord 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, the guile of the kingdom, the power and the
glory through him and him. Amen.
Eternal God, we give you thanks for this your Holy Mystery in which you have given
yourself unto us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit to
give ourselves for others in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord forever and ever. Amen.