A service of Communion, in which those who wish may share
(you may wish at this point to have bread and wine or water to hand)
Links to today’s hymns with music, singing and words:
- Hymn 510 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ModYoPReYYw
- Hymn 110 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paXKqdEsicM&list=PLZmlJDoSc9HEQ85fO5_L-W8swAxQwIW7I&index=3
This week’s main service can be found here: http://dumbartoncofs.org/2021/03/sunday-worship-7-march-2021/
Welcome
The LORD is in his holy temple;
Let all the earth be silent in his presence
Habakkuk 2: 20
Hymn 510 Jesus calls us here to meet him
Reading John 2: 13-22
Prayer
Loving God
We thank you for your great love
the love we see in the life of Jesus
he came from the glory of being your Son
to live a life like ours
to share our feelings and our experiences
ready to serve you and to serve others
even though that would cost him his life
We thank you that he was faithful to the end
and that on Easter Day you raised him to a new life that lasts for ever
so that we now have a new and solid hope for the future
that beyond this life there is a life that will never end
and that goodness, truth and love will have the last word
You love us so much
but we must admit that our love for you is so faint and poor
we forget to say ‘Thank you’
we don’t follow Jesus’ teaching about how we should live
we don’t follow his example about how to live
and we are sorry
Forgive us
Help us to love you as we should
Help us to live as we should
Help us to share your love and Good News with others
Through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen
Communion
INTRODUCTION
Jesus was baptised by John in the River Jordan.
He had committed no sins that needed forgiven or washed away, but in being baptised he identified with us, he shows us God sharing in our humanity and our pain.
For him, and for us, baptism is more than just a sign of sins forgiven. It is a sign of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross. His baptism speaks of his coming death and rising again. Our baptism speaks of our sharing with Jesus in his death and rising again.
After his baptism God confirmed his call, and empowered him with the Spirit to go out and proclaim the Good News.
He was tempted in the desert to turn away from God’s plan and go for something easier, but he resisted all temptations, because he knew that he had to do his Father’s will.
In the days before Good Friday he set his face resolutely towards Jerusalem: he knew what lay ahead, but still he went – so great was his love for us, and his commitment to his Father.
Today in this season of Lent we gather at his invitation to share in communion together –
we remember his great love for us
his readiness to do his Father’s will, whatever the cost to himself
his strength of will to resist all temptation
his commitment to proclaiming the Good News
As we do so we know that he is here, Risen and Glorified, the host of the feast, our Saviour and our Lord
NARRATIVE OF THE INSTITUTION
On the night of his arrest
the Lord Jesus took bread,
and after giving thanks to God broke it and said:
‘This is my body, which is for you;
do this in memory of me.’
In the same way,
he took the cup after supper and said,
‘This cup is the new covenant
sealed by my blood.
Whenever you drink it, do this in memory of me.’
TAKING THE BREAD AND WINE
As the Lord Jesus took bread,
we take this bread and wine
to be set apart for this holy use.
And as he gave thanks,
let us give our thanks and praise.
THANKSGIVING
Heavenly Father
In the face of your love and goodness
in the face of Jesus’ commitment
in the face of his suffering
what can we say?
No words are adequate
especially in the light of our own shortcomings
But how can we not want to repeat hymns and songs
words and shouts
of joy and praise to such a loving, caring God
to such a wonderful Saviour
We rejoice and celebrate
that Jesus, who suffered and died,
rose from the dead
and lives for ever
bringing new life, new hope
bringing the assurance that victory
lies with goodness, love and truth
not death, not hatred, not indifference
Send down your Spirit upon us now
and upon this bread and wine
so that as we eat together
we may know that Jesus is here with us
we may receive his new life
and remain his glad and faithful people
until we feast with him in glory
And we sum up our prayers in the words of the prayer Jesus gave us
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,
the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen
BREAKING OF BREAD
The Lord Jesus took bread
and after giving thanks to God,
he broke it
and said, ‘This is my body
which is broken for you;
do this in memory of me.’
In the same way he took the cup,
saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant
sealed by my blood.
Whenever you drink it, do this in memory of me.’
COMMUNION
God bless to us this bread
sign of his body broken on the cross for us
sign that each of us belongs to Christ
sign that we are made one in him
sign that he himself meets us and feed us here
God bless to us this wine
sign of the Lamb of God
whose blood was shed that the sins of many might be forgiven
He gives us cause to rejoice
and celebrate in this season and every season
God bless to us the cup of the new covenant
PEACE
Christ has died
Christ is risen
Christ will come again
The peace of Christ be with you
PRAYER
Lord we give you thanks
because around this table
our hearts have been fed
our thirst has been quenched
our strength is renewed
and we are filled
with a new longing for justice
and a new spirit of hope.
Around this table
we have been made one
with all your people in heaven and on earth
We look forward to the day
when all the earth is nourished by your bread.
We look forward to the day
when with all the company of your people
we eat and drink
in the glory of your eternal kingdom
through Jesus Christ our Lord
Hymn 110 Glory be to God the Father
Blessing
Be bold to share the life of Christ and show his love
and the blessing of God Almighty
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
rest and remain with you,
today, and every day, and for ever. Amen
This week’s main service can be found here: http://dumbartoncofs.org/2021/03/sunday-worship-7-march-2021/