Communion Prayers
Written for the Tekonsha Community service. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Holy God, we come to the table on the eve of Thanksgiving;
tempted to tell only our faith stories of triumph and victory,
tempted to move directly to the party with the table overflowing.
Hear us, Holy God, as we pray for remembrance.
Holy God, we come to the table scarred from the world;
bringing some vague awareness that all is not well,
bringing some distant memory that the costly cross looms in the distance.
Hear us, Holy God, as we pray for healing.
Holy God, we come to the table with a sense of defeat;
knowing that too many cupboards are empty even now,
knowing that too many secrets lie hidden under festive holiday table.
Hear us, Holy God, as we pray for new beginnings.
Proclaiming God’s continued presence in this broken world
we remember the night when Jesus was betrayed
when he took bread and, when he had given thanks,
he broke it, and said,
"This is my body which is broken for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
In the same way also he took the cup, after supper saying,
"This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
We give thanks for the days Jesus walked this earth.
We give thanks for the love of Jesus even as he died.
We give thanks for Jesus’ continued life even now.
Adapted from the Thanksgiving Communion Prayer written for the Tekonsha Community service. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Holy God, we come to the table as an Easter people;
tempted to tell only our faith stories of triumph and victory,
tempted to move directly to the party with flowers and balloons.
Hear us, Holy God, as we pray.
Holy God, we come to the table scarred from the world;
bringing some vague awareness that all is not well,
bringing some distant memory that the costly cross looms in the distance.
Hear us, Holy God, as we pray.
Holy God, we come to the table with a sense of defeat;
knowing that we too have silently witnessed crucifixions,
knowing that we too have failed to count the cost of following Christ.
Hear us, Holy God, as we pray.
(followed by words of institution and response)
Prayer of Thanksgiving/Dedication
Written for Evangelical United Church of Christ, 1997. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Holy God, we came to this table
tempted to deny the pain of life,
scarred from too many broken dreams,
knowing that we are not immune to evil's lure.
And you met us at this table;
embracing us I our brokenness,
naming us "beloved",
claiming us for an eternity.
We thank you,
living
loving
God.
Communion Prayer with Nicene and Biblical References
Written for the Missouri Conference FaithWorks 1998. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
In the beginning
when God created the heavens and the earth,
the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep,
while the breath of God swept over the face of the waters.
In the beginning
was the Word
and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
The Word was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through the Word,
and without the Word, not one thing came into being.
God from God,
Light from Light,
True God from true God,
We come to you in humble adoration.
We remember the covenant
You have made with your people in every time and place.
We remember Sarah’s laughter,
Moses’ burning bush,
and Milcah’s claim to the promise.
We rejoice that you call all of creation
to return to this table of broken wholeness.
We rejoice in Mary’s tears of love,
in Paul’s inspired thorn,
in Thecla’s costly obedience.
We remember that on the night of betrayal
Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it,
sharing it with his closest friends,
saying: "This is my body, given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
On that same night, in much the same way,
he lifted a cup after supper
saying: "This is the cup of the new covenant.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
Come, Holy Spirit!
Bless this bread
and bless this fruit of the vine.
Bless all who share at this table
that our eyes might be open
to see the risen Christ
in our midst
in each other.
The bread which we break is the communion of the body of Christ
The cup which we bless is the communion of the life blood of Christ.
The gifts of God for the people of God,
Come for all things are ready.
Sources: Genesis 1, John 1, Nicene Creed. Inspired by Genesis 18, Exodus 3, and Numbers 27:1, John 12, 2 Corinthians 12, and the "Acts of Thecla", A Christian novel of the second century C.E.
Communion Prayer with UCC Statement of Faith
Written for Evangelical United Church of Christ, 1998. Text juxtaposes the Nicene Creed with the Statement of Faith of the United Church of Christ, copyright 196?. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
We believe in you, O God, Eternal Spirit,
God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God,
and to your deeds we testify:
We believe in one God, the Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
You call the worlds into being,
create persons in your own image,
and set before us the ways of life and death.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
eternally begotten of the Creator,
God from God, light from light,
true God from true God, begotten not made,
of one Being with the Creator.
We remember that on the night of betrayal and desertion,
Jesus took bread, gave you thanks and broke the bread,
"This is my body, given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."
On that same night, in much the same way,
he lifted a cup after supper saying:
"This is the cup of the new covenant.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Creator and the Christ,
who has spoken through the prophets,
who is worshiped and glorified at this table.
You call us into your church
to accept the cost and joy of discipleship,
to be your servants in the service of others,
to proclaim the gospel and resist the powers of evil,
to share in Christ's baptism
and to eat at Christ's table.
Amen.