Way, Truth, Life: A Communion Liturgy

This communion liturgy was written to accompany the sermon series “Still With Us” The bolded words are spoken by the congregation. You are welcome to use or adapt these liturgies for worship, with credit. When printing these liturgies, please use the following credit line: “Prayer by Rev. Carol Holbrook Prickett.”

Invitation to the Table
Jesus said “I am the bread of life”
Jesus said, “I am the true vine.”
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

And so we come here, to this table, 
to experience, in bread and cup and prayer,
even the most infinitesimal, fractal glimpse 
of all that Jesus is to us. 

Whether you have much faith or little,
whether you have been to the table often
or are pulling up your chair for the first time,
this feast has been set for you. 

You are welcome here.

The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
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.

God, you have always shown us the way.
In Eden, you told us what was good,
to live in harmony with you and creation,
enjoying the garden and accepting your guidance. 
Yet we turned away, striking our own path. 

In Egypt, you showed your people the way to freedom,
a dry path through the red sea,
roads in the desert lit by a pillar of fire.
On Mt. Sinai, you gave them a new way,
not a road to walk but a set of laws to follow,
so that we could always walk in your ways.

When we were greedy, idolatrous, war-adoring,
you sent your prophets to call us back to you. 
Yet we turned away, striking our own path. 

And so in time you sent Jesus, to show us the truth
the truth of just how great your love for the world was,
the truth that religious people could be just as messed up
as the people they were hellbent on judging;
the truth that the kingdom of God is near
and is full of food and healing and justice and joy;
the truth that all of us are called 
to be children of God, loved and loving. 

On that third day after Jesus was crucified, 
he showed us that biggest truth of all:
life will win out over death,
despite all that human hatefulness can do.
Your life will always win out over death.

And so Jesus promised us the Spirit
to bring our lives to life.
Spirit to give us courage, Spirit to give us hope,
Spirit to give us a voice, Spirit to empower the church,
Spirit to make us one body, your body, on earth,
Spirit to bless this ordinary bread
and this ordinary grape juice
and this ordinary bunch of people
and sanctify them
so that in the bread,
the cup, 
and the neighbor
we may see the presence of Christ. 

And so Creator, Christ, and Spirit God,
you are our way, our truth, and our life,
now and for eternity. 
Keep us faithful to this table and to you
until you come again to make all things new. 

Until that day, we lift the prayer you taught your disciples, 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.

The Words of Institution

Sharing of the Bread and Cup

Closing Prayer

Jesus Christ, you have fed us:
send us out to feed the world. 

Jesus Christ, you have known us:
send us out to know your children. 

Jesus Christ, you have given us life:
send us out to live it. 

In your strong name we pray. Amen.