Sign of the Cross

Greeting  

May Christ who loved us and gave himself up for us
be always with you.

Introduction and Litany of Praise

Option A
In the Eucharist, Jesus offers himself for the life of the world.
Let us call upon him for strength that we too offer our lives
in the service of others (pause)

Lord Jesus, you are the bread
that comes down from heaven.
Lord, have mercy.

You give us yourself to heal us and give us strength:
Christ, have mercy.

You feed us with your body and blood that we may have life in you:
Lord, have mercy.

Option B
We are God's people, journeying in faith towards the promised land
of abundant and eternal life.
The Lord, in whose name we gather,
is not only the goal of our journey
but our companion on the way. (pause)

Lord, you strengthen us when we are weak:
Lord, have mercy.

You raise us up when we fall:
Christ, have mercy.

You renew our hope when we grow discouraged:
Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Option A
God our Father and provider,
whose Son has given his flesh for the life of the world,
sustain your pilgrim Church
with the word of life
and the bread of heaven.

Draw us nearer to him in whose name we gather,
that, following his way of sacrificial love,
we may come to the banquet of eternal life.
Grant 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.

Option B
Guide your church, O God,
on its earthly pilgrimage;
sustain it with the food that does not perish
so that,
persevering in the faith to which Christ has called us,
we may come at last to your holy mountain
and gaze on the beauty of your face.

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

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

P       Let us now bring our needs before God, trusting that he will listen to our prayers
          as he listened to the prayer of his servant Elijah..

             With confidence we pray:

CM     Lord, be the strength of your people. (Please repeat)

1. For prophets, who, like Elijah, become depressed: [pause]
   that the Lord may send them messengers to encourage
   them to continue their journey in faith:
   We pray:
   
2. For our political and civil leaders: [pause]
   that they may work to create the kind of society
   in which people can live in freedom and dignity:
   we pray:
   
3. For those struggling to remain faithful to their commitment in marriage [pause]
   for those who seek but cannot find God: [pause]
   that they may encounter people who will inspire them to believe in the love of God.
   we pray:
4. For all of us gathered here [pause]
   that we may unite our struggles and our whole selves to Christ
   so that we too may become a fragrant offering to God.:
   we pray:
   

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

P     Father, look upon your children
       and draw us closer to the one whom you have sent -
       Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Prayer over the Gifts

Provident Father,
you draw us to yourself through Jesus,
whom you sent to us as the bread of life.
He loved us and gave himself up for us
as a fragrant offering and sacrifice.
May he satisfy our hunger
for the food that sustains us on the journey to eternal life.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Lord. AMEN.

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

Option A
In the words of Jesus, the son of Joseph,
let us pray to the Father for strength:
Our Father ..

Option B
No one has seen the Father except Jesus Christ his Son,
who has revealed Him to us
and has taught us to say / sing:
Our Father ....

Deliver us Lord  

Deliver us, Lord,
from all bitterness and anger,
slander and malice.
Give us the strength we need
while we wait in hope for the coming in glory
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your disciples:
"No one can come to me
unless drawn by the Father who sent me."
May we come to you in times of discouragement
and be sustained on the journey to your kingdom
where you live for ever and ever. AMEN

Exchange of Peace
As 'imitators of God '
let us reach out to the persons beside us
and offer them a sign of peace.

Optional Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’

P      Father, you once fed your people manna in the desert.
        You now feed us with Jesus - the bread of life.
        For in the partaking of this bread,
        we partake of his Spirit of love
        and his promise of everlasting life.

A     LAMB OF GOD.....

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus,
"the living bread that came down from heaven.
Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever."
Blessed are you who come forward to receive him.
Lord, I am not worthy…

Prayer after Communion   

Sustainer of life,
we have received from you the bread from heaven.
May we, your beloved children,
be kindhearted to one another,
forgiving one another
as you have forgiven us in Christ Jesus
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. AMEN.

Solemn Blessing

May you be imitators of God and live in love. AMEN.

May you be kind to one another,
forgiving one another as Christ has forgiven you. AMEN.

May the Holy Spirit of God who has marked you with a seal,
prepare you for the day of redemption. AMEN.

And may the blessings of our loving God,
+ Father, Son and Spirit,
come down upon you and remain with you for ever. AMEN.

Dismissal     

Option A
As imitators of God, as God's beloved children,
go and bring life to the world.
Thanks be to God.

Option B
In the strength of the living bread that Christ has given us,
go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.