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Call to Worship
Frank Schaefer

L: As we gather around the table of the LORD today,
P: we remember the peoples of the world divided into many nations and tongues.
L: We gather in the name of the Almighty, Creator of every man and woman, every plant and animal.
P: We join in the chorus of praise with sisters and brothers around the world to celebrate our LORD.
L: May Christ's church be strengthened and united through the sacrament of Holy Communion.

 

Call to Worship (mostly based on Psalm 137)

L: By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down
P: and there we wept when we remembered Zion.
L: On the willows there we hung up our harps.
P: How could we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land?
L: Have mercy on us, o Lord and save us from our enemies.
All: Seek the Lord, and worship God in the heavens.

 

Invocation

The rich presence of God, the beginning and end of all that is good, be with you now and always.

And also with you.

Let us pray. Our Lord Jesus, you have endured the doubts and foolish questions of every generation. Forgive us for trying to be judge over you, and grant us the confident faith to acknowledge you as Lord. Amen.

 

 

Prayer for Faithfulness
(reflecting the Epistle Lesson)
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)

Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

 

Prayer of Confession for World Communion Sunday
by Frank Schaefer

Lord, on this World Communion Sunday, help us examine our hearts so that we may pay proper respect to Christ's sacrifice on the cross.  Thank you for offering reconciliation to all of humankind, for the forgiveness of sins through Christ, our high priest.

Almighty and ever-present God, we confess our sins to you. We are truly sorry for our wrongdoings and shortcomings, for sins of commission and sins of omission.    Forgive us, we pray, in Christ's name.

Empower us to serve you fully, to share the resources we have with those who have less, to weep with those who weep, and to laugh with those who laugh. Help us to be good stewards over the earth you have placed in our care; help us to unite in love and concern for one another, not just in our local community, but with brothers and sisters in all the   world.

As we draw near to your holy table we thank you, Lord, for providing the Bread of Life for us.  As we partake, impart on us your grace and mercy, unite us with Christ, our Lord, and with one another.  May your kingdom be established in all the earth.   Amen.

 

Morning Prayer ( unison):

Most Holy God, you call us into community. Yet so often we fail to invite others into community with us. We are to be Christ's body working together and our entire world is our community. So often God, we forget that our country's borders are man made not God made. Help us to move our compassion and caring beyond man made borders and reach out to all in the world. As we celebrate communion worldwide, we remember how big the table is. We can see it full of people today, just like us, your children stretching around the world. Let us remember our common table in the years to come and seek to treat all our brothers and sisters as if they were sitting beside us. You include and invite all to your table and so must we. Help us O Lord to invite and welcome with open hearts, open minds so that our doors are open to all. In Christ's name, Amen.
 

 

"Your Sacred Table"
adapted from a prayer by St. Francis de Sales

Divine Savior,
we come to Your sacred table to nourish ourselves,
     not with bread but with Yourself, true Bread of eternal life.

Help us daily to make a good and perfect meal of your divine nourishment. Let us be continually refreshed by the perfume of Your kindness and goodness.

May the Holy Spirit fill us with His Love. Meanwhile, let us prepare a place for this holy food by emptying our hearts. Amen.
 

 

Prayer of Invocation

Remembering God's marvelous work and living in hope, let us pray for the church, the world, and all people according to their needs.

That God will pour out the Spirit of power, love, and self-discipline upon the church, so that confident of our salvation, we might live according to God's holy calling in the world, we pray: Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

that God will bring an end to destruction and violence in the world and make justice to shine like the noonday, we pray: Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

That God will strengthen the faith of all who suffer for the sake of the gospel and deliver them, that they might not be ashamed of their suffering but be powerful witnesses to God's grace, we pray: Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

That God will heal the sick (especially), uphold the dying, and that those who care for the sick and dying will gain strength from their faith, we pray: Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

That God will increase the faith of all in our congregation and so increase our love for and service to others, we pray: Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We remember with thanksgiving your saints Lois and Eunice, who nurtured in Timothy a living faith, and all parents and grandparents who nurtured in children and grandchildren that same faith in Jesus Christ. Give us a living faith to do the same until we are finally united with Christ and all the saints in light. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

God of faithfulness, encircled in your lovingkindness, we lift up to you all in need. Hear our prayers on behalf of others and sustain us as we await the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray.

Amen

 

Blessings Upon You
adapted from a prayer by Margaret A. Davidson

Blessings upon you, upon those you love
and those you shall never know.

Blessings upon your steps
and upon the vision of your eyes.

Blessings upon you in all circumstances;
joy and sorrow, for wisdom rests in them,
twin experiences with different faces.

Blessings be upon what lies before you,
the challenges and decisions,
the pain and the relief.

Blessings upon you, my friends in Christ.
 

 

Closing Prayer:
(traditional Gaelic)

May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind be always at your back,
may the sun shine warm upon your face,
may the rains fall soft upon your fields,
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Amen.