Sign of the Cross

Greeting  

'The Lord is near to all who call on him in truth.' (pause)
May the Lord be with you.

Introduction and Litany of Praise

Option A
As we come to the Lord's table to be nourished
by the Word and the Eucharist,
let us call to mind our sins. (pause)

Lord Jesus,
you were moved to pity for the hungry crowd
and you multiplied bread to feed them:
Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus,
in the Eucharist you nourish us
with your body and blood:
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus,
you have prepared a banquet for us
in your Father's kingdom:
Lord, have mercy.

Option B
Occasionally, we experience a hunger within us:
a hunger for a word from God,
a hunger for God's love… God's presence.
In this Eucharist we pray that God will speak a word to us,
show us true love, and offer us the bread of life. (pause)

You are just, Lord, in all your ways:
Lord, have mercy.

You are loving in all your deeds:
Christ, have mercy.

You are close to all who call on you:
Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Option A
Bountiful and compassionate God,
you place in the hands of your disciples the food of life.
Nourish us at your holy table,
that we may bear Christ to others
and share with them
the gifts we have so richly received.
We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. AMEN.

Option B
Loving God,
as a mother tenderly gathers her children
you nurture and nourish us,
feed us and heal us.
Let us, like the first disciples,
entrust what little we have
into the hands of Jesus,
knowing that, whenever we assemble,
he will take, bless, break
and give the bread of life
for us to share with others.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. AMEN.

Liturgy of the Word

Homily

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

P        Gathered like the crowd in the gospel,
           and hungry for the word of God,
           we turn now with confidence to our heavenly Father
           who never fails his people in their need.

             With confidence we pray:

CM     Nourish your people, Lord. (Please repeat)

1. For the church throughout the world;
   that it may witness in word
   and deed to God's love and concern
   for the hungry and needy.
   We pray:
   
2. For world leaders;
   that they help to re-distribute
   the world's resources in such a way
   that no country or people may be without food.
   We pray:
   
3. For those who feel weighed down with worry;
   that they may experience the liberating power
   of the love of Christ.
   We pray:
4. For all who hunger for food
   and for meaning in life;
   that their needs will not go unnoticed
   by those who gather in Jesus' name.
   We pray:

[The Presider may add a Petition that is local / relevant]

P     Heavenly Father,
       be mindful of us who are in need of your mercy.
       Fill our hearts with your love
       and never allow us to be separated from you.
       We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Prayer over the Gifts

God of mercy and compassion,
we give you thanks for bread and wine
and for making them the signs
of your Son's presence in our midst.
Through him, we bring before you
the miseries and the hopes of all humankind.
Grant us the bread of life to make us strong
and the wine of joy to give us hope.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

Let us pray to God for the bread that satisfies
and the forgiveness that heals:
Our Father ...

Deliver us Lord  

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
and grant us peace in our day.
In your mercy,
keep us free from trial, famine and danger.
Let nothing separate us from your love
as we wait in joyful hope
for the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles:
"Do not work for the food that perishes,
but for the food that endures for eternal life."
Look not on our sins,
but on the faith of your Church,
and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom
where you live for ever and ever. AMEN

Exchange of Peace
We are the family God has chosen as his own.
Let us recognize Christ in each other
as we offer a sign of his peace.

Optional Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’

P      On a hillside in Galilee,
        Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it,
        and gave it to his followers.
        We, in like manner,
        break the bread of the Lord
        as a sign of our desire
        to share in the Father's heavenly banquet.
A     LAMB OF GOD.....

Invitation to Communion

As Jesus fed the multitude,
so he now feeds us with his body and blood.
Blessed are they who 'thirst and come to the waters of life.
Lord, I am not worthy…

Prayer after Communion   

Our God and Father,
we have come to the banquet without paying … without cost.
We have eaten and have been filled.
Give us the strength to put into practice
the words spoken to us by your Son:
"You yourselves give them something to eat."
Help us to share with others our food and our compassion.
We ask all this in the name of Jesus the Lord. AMEN.

Solemn Blessing

Option A
May the Father's kindness be with you. AMEN

May the compassion of Jesus comfort you. AMEN.

May the love of the Spirit protect you. AMEN.

And may our generous God bless you,
+ Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Option B
"May neither death, nor life,
nor anything in all creation,
be able to separate you
from the love of God
in Christ Jesus our Lord." AMEN.

And may our compassionate God bless you,
+ Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.

Dismissal     

Strengthened by the living bread that Christ has given us,
go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.