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Invitation to Serve by Rev Amy Fetterman
Feel free to use/edit. Credit to the original author (i.e. based on prayer/prayers written by Rev Amy Fetterman) appreciated.
Luke 22:1-27 and Psalm 34:8-10 or Psalm 34:8
Call to Worship
The One who serves has set the table,
And eagerly desires that we join him here.
As we seek and find the Lord in this joyful feast,
We shall taste and see that the Lord is good.
Prayer of Confession
As Jesus prepares a feast for us, let us prepare our hearts to receive his word. Let us offer our confession to God and before one another. Let us pray:
God of bread and vine, you redeem us from all sin. Yet, we forget that in you we find our refuge. We live into our fear rather than our faith. We strive to be great rather than follow in your servant steps. In our words, our actions, and our thoughts, we betray you. Deliver us from our fears, strengthen our hearts, and hear our cries, we pray… (silent confession followed by singing a Kyrie of your choice)
Assurance of Pardon
Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy, Lord, have mercy, we pray.
Though we may turn our faces away from God, God never turns away from us. The One who prepares a place for us at the table is the same One who forgives us our sins. Friends, believe the good news: in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God. Amen.
Communion Prayer
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Look to the Lord, We seek the Lord with our whole hearts.
Let us bless the Lord as we come to the table, Our souls praise God!
Our souls praise you, O God, for you created the heavens and the earth, all that is seen and unseen. You coaxed forth light and life where before there was only dark and nothingness. You are the source of the living water we seek. We rejoice that we have been made in your image, that the very breath we breathe comes from your Holy Spirit.
You tell us that those who seek you shall lack no good thing. When we turn away from you and towards the forces of hunger and want, you do not give up on us. You call out to us through the voices of the prophets and the poets. You come to us through the person of the Son. Humbled by your great love for us, we join our voices with the saints across the ages, ever singing:
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.
Blessed is Jesus the Christ, the one who came to us as a vulnerable child.
Blessed is Jesus the Christ, who taught and healed us, who laughed and wept with us, who fed us and gave us living water.
Blessed is Jesus the Christ, who gathered with his disciples, including the one who would deny him and the one who would betray him, to celebrate the Passover feast.
Blessed is Jesus the Christ, who broke the bread and shared the cup, who gave us this meal as a lasting remembrance and joyful celebration.
Blessed is Jesus the Christ, who gave himself to us and for us and invites us to live into the great mystery of faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon these gifts of bread and vine, we pray, O God. As we eat this bread may we remember your great love for all. As we drink from this cup may we be strengthened in our covenant with you. So nourished and so nurtured, may we go forth from this table with servant hearts and hands. By your Spirit, may we be made one, the body of Christ for the world.
We offer all of these prayers in the name of the Bread of Life, our Savior, who taught us to pray, saying: Our Father.
Offering Prayer/Prayer of Dedication
Holy God, you have shown us that to be great is to serve. We offer our tithes and offerings, the gifts of our hearts and hands, as our commitment to join with you in service. May all we do and say further the good work of your Kingdom until you come again. Amen.
Reblogged this on katyandtheword and commented:
#Prayers for #maundyThursday #lastsupper