2021 Advent Communion (recorded)
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)
Welcome
The beginning of the Gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, a voice of one calling in the desert, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’
Reading Isaiah 40: 1-11
“Comfort my people,” says our God. “Comfort them!
Encourage the people of Jerusalem.
Tell them they have suffered long enough
and their sins are forgiven.
I have punished them in full for all their sins.”
A voice cries out,
“Prepare in the wilderness a road for the LORD!
Clear the way in the desert for our God!
Fill every valley;
level every mountain.
The hills will become a plain,
and the rough country will be made smooth.
Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all humankind will see it.
The LORD himself has promised this.”
A voice cries out, “Proclaim a message!”
“What message shall I proclaim?” I ask.
“Proclaim that all humanity are like grass;
they last no longer than wild flowers.
Grass withers and flowers fade,
when the LORD sends the wind blowing over them.
People are no more enduring than grass.
Yes, grass withers and flowers fade,
but the word of our God endures for ever.”
Jerusalem, go up on a high mountain
and proclaim the good news!
Call out with a loud voice, Zion;
announce the good news!
Speak out and do not be afraid.
Tell the towns of Judah
that their God is coming!
The sovereign LORD is coming to rule with power,
bringing with him the people he has rescued.
He will take care of his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs together
and carry them in his arms;
he will gently lead their mothers.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ
your world awaits you.
In the longing of the persecuted for justice;
in the longing of the poor for prosperity;
in the longing of the privileged
for riches greater than wealth;
in the longing of hearts for a better life;
and in the song of your church
expectation is ever present.
O come, Immanuel.
Communion
- INTRODUCTION
God says:
Come everyone who is thirsty – here is water!
Come you that have no money – buy corn and eat!
Buy wine and milk – it will cost you nothing!
Why spend money on what does not satisfy?
Why spend your wages and still be hungry?
Listen to me and do what I say
and you will enjoy the best food of all.
- 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
Living God, we acclaim you.
You spoke your word
to those whom you had chosen;
in disobedience they turned from your commands.
You came yourself
in Christ the Word made flesh;
but he was shunned, despised,
forsaken in the darkness of the cross.
You made the tree of death the tree of life,
the empty grave a sign of glorious hope.
You raised your Son
and brought him to your side again,
where he now lives to pray on our behalf.
Send down your Holy Spirit on us
and on these your gifts of bread and wine;
that they may become for us
the body and blood of your most dear Son,
and that we may become for you his living body,
loving and caring for the world
until the dawning of the perfect day.
Most gracious God
accept this our sacrifice
of praise and thanksgiving,
and receive the offering of ourselves
which now we make,
our thoughts and words, desires and deeds.
Gather into one in your Kingdom
all who share this one bread and this one cup,
that with the faithful of all ages,
we may with one voice and one heart
glorify your name;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
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
and give bread to those who are hungry
and hunger for justice to those who are fed.
God bless to us the body of his Son
broken for us
God bless to us this wine
for he gives us cause to rejoice
to celebrate in this season and every season
God bless to us the cup of the new covenant
shed that the sins of many might be forgiven
- 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
Blessing
Look forward in hope
to the coming of your Saviour
prepare the way for Christ your Lord
welcome him with love and faith
when he comes in glory
and the blessing of God Almighty
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
rest and remain with you,
today, and every day, and for ever. Amen