October 6, 2019
Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Proper 22
World Communion Sunday
Image:“The Best Supper” © Jan Richardson
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Call to Worship (from Lamentations 3:19-26)
One: Gather close!
We’ve come to declare the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases!
Many: God’s mercies are new every morning.
One: Great is God’s faithfulness!
Many: (singing, from CH 86) Great is thy faithfulness,
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided —
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Opening Prayer
Faithful God, you surround us from morning thru’ the night
with your love. Assure us that we’re held in your heart,
and receive our gratitude as we rejoice in your presence.
In the tough times, and in times filled with hope,
we turn to you, for your mercies never come to an end! AMEN
Moment for Stewardship (from II Timothy 1:7)
Each time we gather for worship, we both look back and look ahead.
On this World Communion Sunday, we look back to Jesus and his disciples in an upper room – and, we look ahead to a time when the resurrected Christ will welcome people from all times and all places to a banquet table of abundance.
We look back to the witness of scripture, when a young Timothy is encouraged by the older Paul (or someone writing in his name). And we look ahead, knowing the truth that God still is in the giving business.
It’s because God has given us a spirit of power and love and self-discipline that we’re able to respond with thanksgiving, as we bring our offering, our tithes and our gifts. It’s because God has given us Jesus that we respond with delight!
Looking back in your own life, think of the gift you’ve been given as a disciple (learner): following Jesus to life beyond life! Acting in love, let’s offer our gratitude.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
God of all good gifts, we offer our gifts back to you, grateful for the blessings of our lives. For the abundance of bread, the privilege of discipleship, the ocean of love, we give you thanks. So use these gifts and use each of us to proclaim Good News to a world hungry and yearning for hope. AMEN
Invitation to Communion (adapted from a litany written by Katherine Hawker in 1995 and found at http://liturgyoutside.net)
This invitation lends itself to people then coming forward to take bread. If you prefer, plates could be prepared in advance with all five breads on each bread tray, so people could take tastes as the tray is passed. Adapt as necessary, given what breads you can make or buy.
Leader:
These breads are symbols of many different peoples within the family of God. When you come to receive these gifts of bread and cup, feel free to take one, or many, of these varied types of bread.
Presenter 1, placing bread on communion table says:
I offer this Spicy Tea Bread in honor of the men and women in Ethiopia.
May we remember Africa’s first Christian people,
who today struggle with poverty, drought, famine, locusts, and civil war.
Presenter 2, placing bread on communion table says:
I offer this Pita Bread in honor of the people of the Middle East.
May we remember the people of Lebanon, Palestine, and Israel
still seeking to work together to find peace among and within their countries.
Presenter 3, placing bread on communion table says:
I offer this Banana Bread in honor of the people of Jamaica.
Remember! Beyond the tourism ads
there are hundreds of thousands of sisters and brothers
facing challenges of violence and poverty.
Presenter 4, placing bread on communion table says:
I offer this Corn Bread in honor of Native Americans.
May we remember people whose strength and perseverance has
enabled them to survive through centuries of persecution.
Presenter 5, placing bread on communion table says:
I offer this Honey Wheat Bread in honor of the people of Tipton.
May we remember as we live and work in this place,
we are called to live responsibly within God’s world
and in harmony with all God’s beloved people.