Easter Communion: Words of Resurrection

Below are some elements of a simple liturgy for Holy Communion on Easter Sunday.  They are similar to the elements of our standard Communion liturgy (adapted from the United Church of Christ Book of Worship) except that the WORDS OF INSTITUTION have been replaced by WORDS OF RESURRECTION.

INVITATION – Dear ones, this isn’t my table. It’s not your table. It’s not our table. But it’s Christ’s table. And because it’s Christ’s table all of us are welcome here. At this table, you don’t have to look a certain way. You don’t have to worship a certain way, look a certain way, or love a certain way. You don’t have to believe what I believe, or what, the person sitting next to you believes. You just have to come, exactly as you are, seeking the one who is seeking you. So come, all of you, not because you must, but because you may, and here find healing and wholeness for your journey.

COMMUNION PRAYER – Christ, who was there before the universe was called into creation; Christ who was anticipated by the prophets and prepared for by the people; Christ, who was born in a manger, baptized in the Jordan, and who calmed storms on the sea of Galilee; Christ,who fed us all with word, with healing, with loaves and fishes; Christ who saved us with a cross and an empty tomb; Christ, who never faded, never abandoned, never truly left us; Christ, of love, it is with you, and because of you, and in celebration of you, that we gather around your table this morning. And gathered as we are, we pray: come…Holy Spirit…come. Consecrate this loaf and this fruit of the vine. Bless all of us in our eating and drinking at this table, that our eyes may be opened, that we may recognize the risen Christ in our midst, and in each other, and be united with all for whom Christ died. Amen.

WORDS OF RESURRECTION – And so, we remember that on the morning of Jesus’ resurrection, the women took spices that had been prepared and went to his tomb. There, they found that the stone had been rolled away and that his tomb was now empty. There, they found two men, with faces shining like lightning, who said to them: “why do you look for the living among the dead?” There, the women remembered Jesus’ words, that: “the Son of man must be crucified and on the third day be raised again.” And so, this morning, we remember the story of Jesus’ resurrection and the story leading up to it. And remembering this story, we gather around this table, and we break bread and pour wine, and we are made whole, and we give thanks that everything Jesus did was for love and for us.
With great joy this morning, I proclaim in Jesus’ name that these are the gifts of God, for the people of God. Come, for all things are ready.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND LORD’S PRAYERS – Christ, to this table we’ve come. At this table we’ve been fed. Because of this table we have been made whole. From this table we will sing your glory as Easter people, giving thanks for your saving love, and having prayed as you taught us to pray, saying, OUR FATHER…AMEN.

© Rev. Kevin Goldenbogen, 2016

Kevin Goldenbogen is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ serving an amazing congregation in the foothills of the Green Mountains of Vermont. He skis, climbs, runs, bakes bread, rides a red Vespa, and tries every day to follow Jesus. He is married to the perfect woman and has two boys who he loves beyond words.