Communion Liturgy

Micasa Hotel Apartments, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Sunday, 16 June 2002

By Kenneth Lau

Instructions:

1. Assembly sits in a semicircle around communion leader to symbolize community.
2. Communion leader will invite members of assembly to stand and praise God at two points marked "[Response]" during Thanksgiving Prayer.
3. After second response, the bread and wine are handed out. Communion leader continues the Thanksgiving Prayer, after which the bread and wine are consumed together.

Let us give thanks to God our Father.

[Response]

It is truly right always and everywhere to praise You, God our Father, giver of light.

For You made us and all things in a world of glory, and taught us to live together in love forever. And though we turned from You, wasting the gifts of Your creation, until we could not find a way out of the darkness, but began to die, and cried to You for release - even then You did not forsake us.

You called us on a journey of promise, brought us out of captivity and taught us the truth.

And in time a star appeared in the east. You sent Your Son Jesus Christ to forge a new covenant with us. In place of judgment, He gave us compassion; in place of condemnation, He healed our wounds.

At first, we were confused. We did not understand. We fled in fear when He died on the cross, and showed how much You loved us. But You raised Him again, and the truth was plain for all to see. And You have gathered us here today in love once more, to follow His example and share in everlasting life.

We remember that on the night He was handed over to the religious authorities to suffer and die for our sins, Your Son Jesus took bread, and when he had given to thanks, He broke it, gave it to His disciples and said:

"Take, eat: This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."

After supper He took the wine; and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them and said:

"This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

God our Father, we offer You this bread and this wine, and we give thanks for His death and resurrection. Because He died, we live. We praise You and honor You.

[Response]

Dear God, in You all things are possible. You understand us-help us understand You. Help us to give thanks to You with joy each day, not just when we need something from You. Bless our ministry, just as You have blessed this retreat and inspired us.

Send us Your loving Spirit, to make this bread and this wine the life-giving body and blood of Your Son Jesus Christ, and to make us one with Him in Your covenant of love.

We ask this humbly of You.

All: AMEN