Remembering Jesus, We Eat and Drink

Communion Liturgy for Maundy Thursday

 

INVITATION:

Jesus says: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty … and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away.”

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

ONE:  Living and loving God, we lift our hearts to you in gratitude and joy for all your gifts to us. You made us in your own image and set us in this world of contrasting beauty. In your great love you delivered your people of old from slavery and you have delivered us from the power of evil and death through the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ.

ALL:  We praise and honour you, holy God. Heaven and earth are surely full of your glory. Blessed is Jesus, whose supper we share this night, and blessed are we—renewed by his life.

ONE:  Before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come; and having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end; at supper with them, he washed the disciples’ feet and gave them the new commandment:

ALL:  “Love one another as I have loved you.”

ONE:  He took a loaf of bread and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” After supper, he took the cup, and again giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples, saying, “Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Upon these fruits of field and vine—and upon your people gathered here—send your Holy Spirit, O God. May Jesus break bread with us even as once he broke bread with his disciples in the upper room. This we ask in his precious name, as in the words he taught us, we pray together, saying:  Our Father …

FRACTION (BREAKING OF THE BREAD)

We remember … the Body of Christ was broken for us … (break bread)

And we remember … the Blood of Christ was shed for us … (raise chalice)

Now, we are his body. We are flesh of his flesh, and blood of his blood.

Now, we are his bride. And this is a foretaste of his wedding banquet.

Receive the bread of life, my friends. Take hold of this cup of blessing.

SHARING THE FRUITS OF FIELD & VINE

INVITATION TO PRAYER:

For the food we have eaten, and the drink we have tasted—but most of all for the life which he has given us—let us express our gratitude to the One whom we call our Saviour and our Lord. Let’s pray, one more time.

POST-COMMUNION PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, we give you thanks for refreshing and renewing us with this meal—and for nourishing our lives with the gracious gift of your life. Amen.

BENEDICTION:

Tonight, we sat with Jesus at the Table of Promise. We waited with him in the garden of prayer. And we witnessed his betrayal.

Tomorrow, we shall behold his passion; and on Sunday, we shall rejoice in his victory over death.

For now, let us go into the world in peace, blessed by the grace of God, and loving one another, just as Christ has loved us. As you go out from here:

• May the Lord bless you and keep you.
• May the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you.
• May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

Amen.