World Communion Sunday 2019
SERVICE PRAYERS
Call to Worship
Women/Girls: We worship our God in Christ this morning, mindful that we’re not alone.
Men/Boys: Old and young, near and far, different and the same, gather like this to sing, pray, listen, and commune.
Left-Side: God of unity and diversity, join us.
Right-Side: Christ of unity and diversity, love us.
Pastor: Spirit, of unity and diversity, inspire us.
Widening Prayer
Provincial. Sectarian. Narrow and small. We confess these words are part of our stories, part of our behaviors, part of us. God, in our worship this morning, and in our Holy Communion, expand us, lengthen us, open us to the vastness of your love, and leave us forever widened in you. AMEN.
Benediction
Christ’s table never leaves us, so let’s never leave the table: this week and always, feed and be fed; love and be loved; heal and be healed; change and be changed. AMEN.
COMMUNION LITURGY
Invitation
Dear ones, this table is bigger than it looks.
This table can’t be measured in meters, yards or cubits.
This table contains the wood of 10,000 forests and more.
This table has room enough for varied beliefs, differing convictions, and diverse experiences.
This table, Christ’s table, extends out of this sanctuary down the street, across the country, and around the world.
Today, come to this table that is way bigger than it looks.
Come, not because you must but because you may, and find the Christ whose love for you is even bigger than this table.
Communion Prayer
So many times we have gathered at this table.
So many tables throughout time and space.
So many grains of wheat and ripened grapes.
So many hopes and hurts, wants and needs, dreams and nightmares.
So many people, Christ, throughout the whole wide earth.
Come, Spirit, come. Breathe into our “so manys.”
Bless this bread and wine, and set it aside for your sacred used.
And bless us with a Holy Communion that binds us together with love, with justice, with a cross, an empty tomb and you, beloved Christ. AMEN.
Prayer of Thanksgiving Christ, we give you thanks for this table that is way bigger than it looks. Send us now to build it bigger, and bigger, and bigger, for the life of us all. AMEN.
© Rev. Kevin Goldenbogen, 2019
