3. Invitation to Worship: Welcome to this Holy moment, where we are gathered together to celebrate and encounter God. The ever-active Spirit is calling us together: in witness in celebration and in struggle Tonight, on this world communion Sunday, we gather with people from around the world to celebrate our living, holy God.
13. Communion May God be with you! And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Holy One. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
14. Blessed are you, God of all creation, Source of all mercies Fount of love beyond all measure Wondrously, you created the heavens and the earth, Hovering in gracious care over all that you have made. You formed us in your image of love in the world. Yet even more wondrously, when we distort that image of love, you call us back again and again, forgiving us, delivering us from captivity to anxiety, sin, and death and setting before us new paths which lead to life. Tonight, in this meal, we remember and celebrate these gifts we know through Jesus.
15. In the night in which he was betrayed Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying, “This is my life given for you.” Do this to remember me. After supper, he took the cup gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink saying “this cup is my life poured out for you and for all, for the forgiveness of sins.” Do this to remember me.
16. Remembering Christ’s life of ministry and service, his death and resurrection, his ascending to glory and his abiding presence through the Holy Spirit, we come in praise and thanksgiving. We pray for the gift of your Spirit: in our gathering, upon this bread and wine, among all your people, and throughout the world. With your Spirit: make us one with God, make us one with each other, make us one in ministry throughout the world, until we feast at your heavenly banquet.
17. Through Jesus Christ, and with the Holy Spirit, all honor and praises are yours, gracious God, now and forever. We now invite you to pray the prayer that Jesus taught us, in whatever language is most meaningful to you, saying, “Our…”
18. All are invited forward to share the bread and wine at Jesus’ table
21. Song Resources For the Beauty of the Earth Tune and Text: Conrad Kocher Reproduced with permission under license 1241996 LicenSing – Copyright cleared music for churches Santo Santo Santo Tune and Text: anon., Argentina Reproduced with permission under license 1241996 LicenSing – Copyright cleared music for churches Listen, God is Calling Text: Tanzanian traditional, Howard Olson Reproduced with permission under license 1241996 Tune: Tanzanian traditional, Austin Lovelace LicenSing – Copyright cleared music for churches This is My Song Text: Jean Sibelius Reproduced with permission under license 1241996 Tune: FINLANDIA LicenSing – Copyright cleared music for churches As We Gather At Your Table Text: Carl P. Daw Reproduced with permission under license 1241996 Tune: SPRING BEACH LicenSing – Copyright cleared music for churches Halleluiah, We Sing Your Praises! Text: South African Reproduced with permission under license 1241996 Tune: South African LicenSing – Copyright cleared music for churches Liturgical Resources Upper Room Worshipbook: Music and Liturgies for Spiritual Formation Pictorial Resources Mississippi River at Dusk Sara Klosterboer All other photos Brian Brandsmeier
