Sign of the Cross

Greeting  

May the Lord,
who nourishes us with the Bread of Life,
be always with you.

Introduction and Litany of Praise

Option A
We hunger for many things -
but it is only God who can satisfy our deepest hungers.
Let us prepare ourselves
to receive the nourishment God wants to give us. (pause)

Lord, you nourish our minds with the bread of life:
Lord, have mercy.

You nourish our spirits with the bread of hope::
Christ, have mercy.

You nourish our hearts with the bread of love:
Lord, have mercy.

Option B
We are gathered in God's house to celebrate the Eucharist,
the banquet God has provided for us - his pilgrim people.
Let us prepare ourselves
to receive the nourishment God wants to give us. (pause)

Jesus our Savior, you are the the Word of God
and the Bread of life::
Lord, have mercy.

Jesus our Redeemer, you fill us with good things:
Christ, have mercy.

Jesus our Life, in you we have all we need:
Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Option A
Wise and gracious God,
you spread a table before us
and nourish your people with the word of life
and the bread from heaven.
In these holy gifts,
you give us a taste of the life to come.

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
O God of life,
you have invited us to be guests at your table.
Behold your church assembled here,
and listen to us who sing to you
the psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
that proclaim our blessed hope of resurrection in the life to come.

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       Our Lord has nourished us with his words of life and invites us to his table. Let us bring to him all our cares and those of the people we love.

             With confidence we pray:

CM     Stay with us, Lord. (Please repeat)

1. For the Church: (pause)
   that the Eucharist may remain the source of its vitality and of its ability to witness to the presence of the Lord in the world:
   We pray:
   
2. That nations may look to Christ, the living bread, to satisfy their longing for a peace that will last and for a justice that will never fail:
   we pray:
   
3. That all who hunger for the bread of freedom may find it in the gospel of Jesus, in whom all ancient hungers are satisfied.
   we pray:
4. For all teachers: (pause)
   that they may lead their students to reverence truth, to desire goodness, and to drink at the fountain of wisdom:
   we pray:
5. That this eucharistic assembly may be filled with the Spirit and strengthened for witness as we sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. We pray:
   

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

P     Lord, hear the prayers of your people
       whom you nourish by your body and blood.
       Hear our petitions and grant us eternal life through Christ our Lord.. AMEN.

Prayer over the Gifts

God of Wisdom,
you prepare the table of your Son
for all who are willing to come.
Let our eating and drinking of his body and blood
strengthen us in the covenant of love
until we live in full communion with him.
We make our prayer through the same Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

Option A
With trust in God whose providence nourishes us,
we pray now as Jesus taught us:
Our Father ..

Option B
Nourished by the word of God we are enabled to say / sing:
Our Father ....

Deliver us Lord  

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil.
Gather us together and keep us united
that the world may recognize that your Son is alive in us
as we look forward in joyful hope
for the coming in glory
of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

Lord Jesus Christ, you say to us:
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven…
for the life of the world."
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 form a single body
by sharing in the one body and the one cup.
Let us now express the unity we have in Christ.

Optional Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’

P      May our breaking of this bread of life
        and our sharing of this meal
        bring us together,
        make us one,
        and enable us to give life to the world.

A     LAMB OF GOD.....

Invitation to Communion

Option A
This is the BREAD come down from heaven; [holds up BREAD]
whoever eats of it will never die.

This is the CUP of eternal life: [holds up CUP]
whoever drinks of it will live for ever.
Lord, I am not worthy…

Option B
This is Jesus who says to us today:
"Those who eat my bread and drink my blood
abide in me and I in them".
Blessed are we who have been invited to his table.
Lord, I am not worthy…

Prayer after Communion   

Provident Father,
you have nourished us with the Bread of Life.
May we be filled with your Spirit,
as we sing and make music to you in our hearts,
giving you thanks at all times
in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ." AMEN.

Solemn Blessing

May the love of the Lord draw you to himself. AMEN.

May the power of the Lord strengthen you in his service. AMEN.

May the bread of life nourish you always. 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
Our celebration is now ended.
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.