A Walk in the Dark: A Communion Liturgy

This communion liturgy was created to accompany the Advent sermon series “A Walk in the Dark.” The bold text is spoken by the whole 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

In the Jewish tradition, the Passover meal always begins at sunset. When Jesus took his seat in that upper room, the light was fading, and the shadows were long. And in those shadows he made promises: that no matter how dark the night got, there would always be, shining, grace upon grace. 

In the shadows, there is salvation and new life for us. 

So come to this table, as Christ’s own invited guest. Come, and know he has been waiting for you.

Great 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. 

Praise to you O God, who formed the mountains and filled the seas, who set the sun to rule the day and the moon to rule the night. You have been faithful to your ancient promises to your people, whom you guided out of slavery and into freedom through fire and cloud and law. When your people turned away from your paths, you gave your prophets courage to speak words of your righteousness and justice. You comforted your people in their time of suffering and oppression, promising us that you are Immanuel, God-with-us.

In time you visited your people with a new word, a living word, a word made flesh to live among us. We remember the life of that Christ-child: born in a manger amidst the poor and the outcast; driven from his homeland by cruel and frightened leaders; returning to grow into a teacher, a healer, and a friend. Jesus ate with sinners and brought sight to the blind, reclaiming a lost and scattered people in your name. Murdered by those he had come to save, Jesus rose again to prove that not fear, not sin, not even death can halt God’s plan of love.

Remembering how you sent the light of the world into our darkness, we take from your creation these gifts of bread and cup and joyfully celebrate his dying and rising as we await with hopeful hearts the day of his coming. With thanksgiving we offer all that we are to you as a holy sacrifice, to be your servants, your light to shine for all the world.

Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ. 

By your Spirit unite us with the living Christ and with all who are baptized in his name,
that we may be one in ministry in every place. As this bread is Christ’s body for us, send us out to be the body of Christ in the world. Teach us to sow hope where is despair; peace where there is violence; joy where there is mourning; and love where there is hatred. 

Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forevermore. Amen.

Let us now join together in the words that Jesus taught us to pray, 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.

Words of Institution

Truly Jesus showed God’s love to all, for while there was no room at the inn when he was born, he makes sure that there is room for all at his table, even for the one who would betray him.

For on the night before he died, Jesus took bread,
 and after giving thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat.
This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way he took the cup, saying: This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it,
 do this in remembrance of me.

Sharing of the Bread and Cup

Prayer After Communion

Holy One, we have met you at this table. Nourished by your holy food, send us out as one people, full of vision and courage, to prepare the way for your kingdom. Filled with your grace, show us how to live so that all may know your hope, your peace, your joy, and your love. We pray in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, child-king, divine Messiah, and Prince of Peace: Amen.