Monday, September 12, 2016

Eucharistic Liturgy for Sunday, September 11, 2016



(adapted from the hymn, God of grace and God of glory)
 
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is a right and good and joyful thing
  always and everywhere to give you thanks,
  O God of grace and God of glory,
       for you pour your power upon your people,
       and nourish your Church to a glorious bloom
               that guided by your wisdom and filled with your courage
               we are equipped for the facing of any hour.

Therefore we praise you,
  joining our voices with people of faith
  from all times and in all places,
  in a song of unending praise to your Name:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
    Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    Hosanna in the highest.

We are especially mindful this day
  that the hosts of evil surround us
  and how in the cause of a radical faith
  some seek to visit us with death and destruction.
       From the fears that long have bound us
       free our hearts to faith and praise
       and give us grace for the living of these days.

On the night before he was betrayed,
knowing he was surrounded by evil,
  Jesus faced the fear of the moment by taking bread,
  offering a blessing, breaking the bread,
  and giving it to his friends, saying,
       “Take, eat:
               This is my Body, which is given for you.
               Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper, he took a cup of wine,
  gave thanks, and said,
       “Drink this, all of you:
               This is my Blood of the new Covenant,
               which is shed for you
               and for many for the forgiveness of sins.
               Whenever you drink it,
               do this for the remembrance of me.”

As we remember his death, resurrection, and ascension
  we offer you these gifts of bread and wine.
Send you Holy Spirit upon them
  that they may be for us
  the Body and Blood of Christ our Lord.

Send forth your Holy Spirit on all the people of the earth.
  Cure our warring madness
       by bending our pride to your control.
  Shame our selfish, wanton ways,
       for we are rich in things, but poor in soul.
  Bless us with your help
       so that we will not miss your kingdom’s goal.

And send your Holy Spirit upon us,
  that we may be delivered from weak resignation
       to the evils we deplore.
  Let the gift of your salvation.
       be our glory evermore.
  Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
       to serve you whom we adore.

Accept our prayers and praises, Father,
through Jesus Christ our great High Priest,
  to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
  your Church gives honor, glory, and worship,
       from generation to generation.  Amen.
(after communion)
Let us pray.
God of grace and God of glory,
we give you thanks for nourishing us
       with the spiritual food of Jesus’ own Body and Blood;
and for being our companion on this,
       our fifteen year journey, from the pain and horror of 9/11.
We thank you for calming our fears,  
   awakening our hope, and guiding us along the way.
May we leave this meal and this moment
   refreshed and renewed for the road ahead,
       and ready always to be instruments
       of your justice, your mercy, and your love.
We ask these things in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit,
be honor, glory, and praise, now and for ever. Amen.