Crazyheart - thank you for opening this thread. I pray that you will take this bread and cup, knowing all that had gone into making it - the grains grown by the farmer, the grape seeds planted on the vineyard, God's love pouring down in sunshine, rain and snow to make these things grow so that we may share them today.

Take this bread - it is the bread of life.

Take this cup - it is the gift of the new covenant.

Amen.

We gather here, not because we are strong, but because here, we find strength.  We gather not because we are worthy, but because we are welcome.  We gather not because we are entitled, but because by grace we are invited.  Come, let us share in the meal.

The bread comes to us through the efforts of farmers, millers, bakers and others, each doing different tasks, yet all cooperating in this loaf.  Take this bread, in celebration and recognition of the lives and the Life it symbolizes.

The fruit of the vine, the work of human hands is in this cup.  Receive this cup in celebration and recognition of the vine of lfe that connects us all.

Thanks be to God.

Here at this table we share in a foretaste of the banquet of the Kingdom of God.

Here at this table we share in the community of all who have gone before

Here at this table we share in a worldwide community of faith-filled people striving to live as people of The Way.

Here at this table we share the bread of Life, we pour together the Cup of NEw Life.  Gifts of God for all of us to share with the people of GOd.

Taste and see the grace eternal, taste and see that God is good.

Amen. to GordW

As Jesus said  as often as you eat this bread and drink from this cup may you remember...

The bread of life

The cup of the new covenant

This bread and wine (and a bit of chansen's cheese) to strengthen and enrich us as community.  Mindful, always, that we are not as separate as we appear. 

Thanks be to God

Take this bread - it is the bread of life.

Take this cup - it is the gift of the new covenant.

Thanks be to God.

Take this bread, may you never hunger

Take this cup, may you never thirst.

okay, whatever i guess its secrect meeting in secret code for those who are 'in'.

later.

Amen to Witch.

* passes the basket to Witch *  . . . Bread for the journey.

* passes the cup to Witch * . . . The cup of blessing.

With humility and gratefulness I too take the bread and the wine.....

I too become part of the ONE.......

Rita

I am not sure who will be behind me, so I will try to type using language that is inviting and put my preferred words ( in parenthesis)

Open to all, we come to be one with each other and taste the essence of world and beyond (heaven/spirit) because the union of the two is complete wholeness and grace.

May we open not only our mouth, but our hearts (and souls) to deeply taste the offering on our plates and to offer all we can to others.

Let us see ourselves in all of humanity- in ourselves, in each other, known and unknown, friend and enemy
 

(Come, Holy Spirit, Come! Let our eyes be opened to recognize the Christ in our midst, in ourselves and in each other, known and unknown, friend and enemy. Amen!)

This is the bread of life...

This is the cup of blessing....

SG;

Take this bread, may you never hunger

Take this cup, may you never thirst.

Mike,

This is the body of Jesus, given for you.

This cup is the new covenant, in his blood.

Remember his death. Anticipate his return.

RAN, this is the table of new beginnings. Eat and drink your fill and then take the loaf and the cup and go to the world.

Thanks be to God.

The body of Christ, broken for you, Crazyheart.

The love of Christ, poured out for you.

An aside . You do not have to limit yourself to coming only once. Please come when you have the need

Is this gluten-free?

Absolutely - also dairy-free, egg-free and nut-free (although you might disagree with me on that one ).

And it tastes great!

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When Jesus said to his disciples "do this in remembrance of me" he was not instituting a solemn, exclusive ritual. What he gave us was a way to remember him at every meal -- every time we break bread and pour wine.

Every time we gather around the table, with family, with friends, we are to take a moment to consider the life and ministry of Jesus, and the instruction he gave to his disciles: go and do likewise.

Throughout history there hae been no other activity that has been shared by every person of every culture, or every socio-economic class than sharing a meal.

When we gather to share in this meal, to share in any meal, where two or more are gathered in God's name, giving thanks to God, we are continuing the tradition that Jesus started.

Take this bread and never hunger. Take this wine and never thirst.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.

At our church we have the option of alcoholic or non-alcoholic wine - bread or gluten free wafers........

What would Jesus say?

"What's gluten-free?"

I'm coming to the table late but I give thanks that it is here for me. 

Pilgrim, take this bread - eat and be nourished

Take this cup - drink and your thirst will be quenched.

I am thankful to come to this place of prayer and fellowship with the Spirit that surrounds me and nourishes me.  I am thankful for the great company who went before me, who stand beside me, who follow me.   Take this bread, take this cup, and be thankful.    Amen

Please Stephen. Would you please abide by the community's decision to leave this open as a Holy Space. Any questions can be asked on a different thread. Thank you

In other words---treat this thread as a worship service.   BTW, to in terrupt a worship service is illegal in Ontario (and possibly other provinces).

And now, the Peace of Christ be with you all.

Stephan, receive the gread of life, and the cup of blessing, share in the joy of the family of Christ, and be thankful.

I'm thinking a blessing is in order after the reference to the demon. This lovely thread has been tarnished.

Here is one I've borrowed from online, and have modified slightly for this purpose:

O God Our Creator, you have graced us with the gift of life and a world to live in. Empower and strengthen the witness of those gathered here that we may proclaim your radical and boundless love, in word and deed. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Body of Christ broken for you Stephen

Blood of Christ poured for you.

Peace be with you always.

She didn't wirte 'as Jesus taught it.'  She wrote 'as Jesus shared it.'  This is about sharing, not teaching.

Please stop putting words in people's mouths.

Thank you RB. Even if she did say "as Jesus taught it", there is still an issue here. Every student interprets teachings differently. Just because one person has declared that there is only one way to accept these teachings, does not make it so. Nor does it make the alternative views wrong. If anyone feels they are in the company of demons, then they probably ought not to hang out here.

Thank you, RedBaron.

I am so disappointed that a wonderful thing was happening in this thread and it disappoints me that it has been shanghied .

ah, northwind we were posting together.

But we digress... let's re-rail it.

Northwind and Crazyheart, receive the bread of life; share in the cup of hope.  As we have been blessed by the presence of Christ, may the Presence of Christ in us be a blessing to others.

Amen and Amen.

Take the cup and the loaf and offer blessings one to another.Thanks be to God.

As I participate in this virtual communion, I found myself humming....

Refrain:
Eat this bread and never hunger,
drink this cup and never thirst;
Christ invites us to the table
where the last become the first.

1 Asking for a cup of water,
Jesus touched forbidden ground;
and the woman, with a question,
told the world what she had found. [Refrain]

2 Walking down a desert highway,
Jesus healed a man born blind;
soon the man became a witness
to the truth we seek and find. [Refrain]

3 Weeping for his friend at graveside,
Jesus felt the pain of death;
yet he knew God's power to waken:
living water, living breath. [Refrain]

*** may the wisdom of Jesus whose stories still continue to give us nourishment, give you nourishment today.

Pinga, I too love that hymn.  And I offer to you the bread and the cup in followship and thanksgiving.

Take this bread and never hunger

Drink this cup and never thirst

Seeler, May the love of God and her creation fill you. Take  this bread of life and Drink this Wine

.

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Alex, may your hunger for justice never be stilled...for it is in the seeking that we learn.

Crazyheart, may the teacher in you, who has always remembered that all are welcome, always remain asking questions, as did the teacher whose stories we still learn from today.

Please, accept this meal, for all are welcome at the table and you are all good and faithful servants.

welcome

Everyone is welcome more than once.

Peace be with you.

I wonder if anyone feels the need to visit the Agape Feast as we enter the hot summer months of travelling and visiting and vacationing.

May God walk with you all as you take the bread and the wine into the world.

Thanks be to God.

To you Crazyheart - take this bread, and be fed - drink this cup and be refreshed.  Bread for the journey.  And the peace of Christ be with you.

seeler -- this bread represents the body of Christ broken for you. This blood represents the blood of Christ shed for you. Accept these and remember Christ's love for you.

Rich blessings.

---

MC jae

MCjae ~ take these grapes in remembrance of the love God showed to all creation ~ drink this honey in remembrance of the divine compassion that Jesus taught us

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Everyone welcome to the table

loona, take the bread and the grape  in rememberance of what Jesus taught us. May the peace of Christ be with you.

Thanks be to God.

Crazyheart,
First, thank you.
Because I am on the path I am and do pulpit supply, I have not sat in a pew more than 2-3 in two years. I cannot preside over communion. So... this is meaningful even if others fail to see that.

Take this bread and water as the blessings of God, the manna and living water, offered to all

SG -- as a lay worship leader I have sometimes felt that I would really like to have communion with the people I've worshiped with for four to six weeks.  Sometimes they will put on a luncheon on my last day - I think of it as an agape meal and, since I am the one who is usually invited to ask the blessing, I may refer to the many times Jesus shared the bread and wine (sandwiches and fruit drink) with his friends.

SG - take this bread, take this juice - eat, drink, and be thankful.

Amen. And thank you. 

Finally, communion I can partake in fully. Without worry or anxiety. Thank you.