This communion liturgy was inspired by Matthew 18:22, when Jesus urges Peter to almost limitless levels of mercy.
Invitation to the Meal
How often have you been to this table? Seven times?
Seventy times seven? Seven hundred and more?
Whether this is your first time here or your thousandth,
the cup of forgiveness has not run dry. Jesus pours it out for you.
This table tests the church, because too often
we want to pick and choose who gets forgiven.
But Jesus never offered us a choice.
So whoever you are, and whatever you’ve done,
Christ welcomes you here.
Friends, the feast is ready, prepared for you.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
We praise you God, because you made us wisely and well.
As soon as you made one person, you made another,
because it was not good for him to be alone.
In time, you blessed families with your presence,
families that grew into a people, countless as the stars.
“My people,” you called us.
And it wasn’t because we were perfect.
You gave us freedom, and we demanded borders.
You gave us law, and we scavenged for loopholes.
You gave us neighbors, and we exploited them.
You gave us compassion, and we displayed cruelty.
And so you came down here, as Jesus the Christ,
anointed to show us the size of your heart, up close.
Jesus ate with sinners and called out hypocrites,
and he freed the woman caught in a faithless act.
He made mercy central to his mission,
and brought the unlikeliest of people into community.
Jesus’ forgiveness was not a weakness; it was strength.
He took that strength to the cross, when with a dying breath, he said,
“Father, forgive them.”
On the third day, God raised this Jesus from the dead,
freeing him from his captivity to death,
freeing us from every chain, and showing mercy everlasting.
On the fiftieth day,
the Spirit swept through your disciples,
creating a new body, a new people,
a new community called “the church,”
to carry on your mission,
to show forth your power,
to forgive and free all people.
And so we praise the name of Jesus,
and trust the Spirit’s power,
to make this meal more than bread and juice;
that, having tasted grace,
we might be more forgiving people,
until you return to this world you love,
and all harm shall cease, and hard-won forgiveness
will give way to perfect love.
Awaiting that day, we pray the prayer you taught us, saying
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
Sharing of the Bread and Cup
Closing Prayer
Jesus Christ,
we have taken the bread and juice,
receiving your forgiveness for our sins.
Teach us the openhanded way
of refusing to receive what we will not share.
As we have been forgiven, teach us to forgive.
Not just once, but as often as we think of it,
in remembrance of you.
Amen.
Deep Well Worship 