Worship
Notes
On World Communion Sunday, Christians from around the world gather in worship to partake of the elements of bread and wine in remembrance and celebration of the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is also the time to bear witness to the unity of Christians everywhere as we seek to live out Christ’s command to work for justice and peace in a world that is deeply divided in conflict and
war. As we gather on this Lord’s Day, let us remember and pray for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s 165 partner communions and other organizations worldwide who will be receiving Communion.
As you consider the Common Lectionary texts in conjunction with this year’s theme, “Justice and peace shall kiss each other” from Psalm 85:10, the Old Testament texts bears witness to God’s presence in the
midst of injustice. Job 1:1, 2:1–10 tells the beginning story of the Lord’s faithful servant who upon being afflicted by Satan continues to exhibit faithfulness to God in the midst of trials. The psalmist in Psalm 26
recognizes God’s sovereignty and expresses loyalty in the midst of seeking vindication from enemies. Both of these texts encourage the listeners of one’s hope in God for justice and peace in the presence of difficult times. The New Testament texts, while offering more of a challenge, speak of God in the person of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:1–4, 2:5–12 serves as a reminder that God has spoken to us through Jesus, the reflection of God’s glory and being, and is the One who walks with humanity in suffering as we seek justice and peace. Mark 10 challenges our human intentions for following the Law of God and setting preconditions for certain groups. Whether in theory or practice, Christ calls us into a new way of thinking and acting as we are called to work for justice and peace in the world. For as the writer in Isaiah 9:7 says,
“His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”
Order of Service
Call to Worship
Leader: Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity,
People: And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
Leader: Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind.
All: For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you.
Prayer of the Day
O Creator God, as we gather to worship you on this day, let your Holy Spirit fall upon this community of faith. As we celebrate and partake in Communion with other believers, we ask that you may fill us with the bread of heaven and the cup of salvation. Empower us through Word and
Sacrament that we may work for justice and peace for all people. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Hymn of Praise
Prayer of Confession
O God, we come to you today confessing that we have not followed in the ways of your Son, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. We have not loved and trusted in you. We have seen those who are treated without justice and have not offered to help. We hear and witness conflicts and disagreements that have led to acts of violence but have chosen to remain in the comfort of our own surroundings. Even when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances our faith wavers, and we rely on ourselves instead of waiting for you to come. Forgive us, Merciful
God. Create in us a clean heart and a desire to follow your ways so we may know and do what is right and pleasing to you. In the name of
Christ we pray. Amen.
Passing of the Peace of Christ
Old Testament Lesson
Hymn, Anthem or Spiritual
New Testament Lesson
Sermon
Offering and Receiving the Peacemaking Offering
Hymn
Prayers of the People
Collect to End the Prayers of the People
O great God who is our hope and stay, we thank you for hearing our joys and concerns. Your Son, Jesus Christ, told us, “Peace I give to you; my peace I give to you.” Help us not to be burdened by sin and concerns of the world but to trust in you. Guide us by your Holy Spirit that we may have the wisdom and strength to work for peace and reconciliation in the world. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Celebration of Communion
Invitation
On this day of World Communion Sunday, we are reminded that the
Scriptures tell us that “people will come from East and West, and from North and South, and sit at table in the Kingdom of God.” This table that is set before us is not in anyone’s possession but of the Lord. It is available to all who believe in God and trust in the Son, Jesus Christ. So come—
Those who are faithful and of little faith,
Those who are weak and strong,
Those who are hungry and satisfied,
Those who are lions and lambs,
Those who are doves and sword bearers,
Those who are afflicted and comfortable.
Come; partake of the meal that God has prepared
for you!
Prayer of Thanksgiving1
Leader: The peace of the Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give thanks and praise.
Leader: We give you thanks, O God, through your beloved Servant, Jesus Christ, he whom you sent to save us and redeem us, and be the messenger of your will.
People: He is your Word, inseparable from you, through whom you made all things and in whom you take delight.
Leader: We praise you, O Lord, for how you sent him from heaven into Mary’s womb, where he was conceived, and took flesh.
People: Born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin, he was revealed to us as your Son.
Leader: Jesus walked among the people, healing the sick, tending the brokenhearted and teaching others the kingdom of God.
People: He also taught us to liberate the oppressed, stand up for those who face injustice, and live in the ways of peace.
Leader: We thank you for how, in fulfillment of your will, he stretched out his hands in suffering to release from suffering those who place their hope in you.
People: In doing so he won for you a holy people.
Leader: We recall, O God, how of his own free choice Jesus was handed over to his passion in order to make an end of death, to shatter the chains of the evil one, and to trample underfoot the powers of hell.
People: We thank you for how he gave himself to lead us into your light, to establish the boundaries of death, and to manifest the resurrection.
Words of Institution2
Leader: So it is as we gather in praise and thanksgiving at this time, we
remember how on the night before his passion he took bread and gave you thanks, saying: “Take and eat; this is my body which will be broken for you.” We recall as well how, in the same way, when the meal was over, he took the cup, and gave it to his disciples, saying: “This is my blood, which will be shed for you. When you do this, you do it in memory
of me.”
People: Merciful and Compassionate One, as we have been commanded, and remembering the death and the resurrection of your Son, we offer you this bread and this cup, thankful that you
have counted us worthy to serve you.
Prayer after Communion
Holy God, thank you for this meal shared in the Spirit with your Son, Jesus Christ. As we are now fed with the bread of life and cup of salvation, empower us through the Holy Spirit to do your will. Strengthen us to work for bringing justice and peace into a hurting and broken world. May we be your living presence for others to see. We ask for these and other blessings in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen. |
