Although we cannot be together to share Communion, we invite you to join your voices and spirits with ours as we remember Christ’s last meal with His disciples. If you feel moved, prepare some elements of Communion in your own home to symbolically share with us and your loved ones, wherever we all are tonight.
Consecration of Holy Communion
By Rev. Dr. Ann Hagmann
As we gather around the Lord’s table during this uncertain time, we come seeking comfort, hope, and guidance. We come to receive that incredible and amazing grace that only God can provide us. We come knowing that our Savior has already endured the worst at the hands of people – betrayed, denied, harassed, beaten, crucified – He even knew and told His friends and disciples this would happen before it did. Yet nonetheless He moved forward through it to make covenant with all of us through the breaking of bread and the sharing of the cup.
And so it is truly right and just that we lift our hearts in praise to God, our Creator and Loving One, who has not only given us life but who is ever present with us as we go through it, to encourage and guide us.
We cry out “Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and Earth are full of Your glory, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!”
And blessed is the name of Jesus who freely came to live among us and love us, revealing the heart of God to us. On the night He had looked forward to celebrating the Passover with His disciples, Jesus took bread and said new and different words as He gave God thanks for it, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples saying, “Take this and eat this for this is My body being broken for you.”
And when the supper was over, Jesus took a cup, and again He gave thanks for it, blessed it and passed it to His friends saying, “Take this and drink from it, for this is the cup of my blood shed for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. As often as you do this, do it in remembrance of me.”
We ask that the Holy Spirit be poured out on us and on these gifts, that they may be for us the body and blood Christ. And that we might be empowered in our inner beings to be the Christians Christ has called us to be and needs us to be. That we may be empowered to be sources of comfort, hope, and guidance for others as the Spirit gives us opportunity. To these ends let us pray together the words our Savior taught: Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed by 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 again us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory now and forever. Amen
The body of Christ is given for you.
The blood of Christ is shed for you.
Communion Song
During Communion, we are pleased to sing with each. Please join us in singing “Eat This Bread” as you observe Communion with us and your loved ones.
Eat This Bread
Eat this bread, drink this cup,
come to Him and never go wanting.
Eat this bread, drink this cup.
Trust in Him and you will not thirst.
