Jesus invites us to this table.
He comes to the table with humility;
he is a Saviour who washes our feet.
Jesus invites the people without power
and the people with power to sit side by side,
students in the school of love.
The table is wide and expansive,
encompassing the whole world;
we eat today with people from Indonesia, Ireland and Iraq,
from Kenya, Cuba and China.
We join with the cloud of witnesses who have come before us,
to share this holy meal
and learn of the great love God has for us.
Everyone is invited;
those who have made a commitment to Jesus
are welcome to take the bread & the juice,
while everyone, including the children,
can take the grapes as a sign of God’s love for you.
You are also welcome to participate just by listening.
On the night before Jesus died,
he had a meal with his friends.
He took the bread,
and blessed it and broke it, saying,
“This is my body broken for you,
as often as you eat it, remember me.”
Let’s pray: God of great gifts,
thank you for the gift of your son Jesus Christ.
Let this bread be a sign to us
of your love that created us,
saves us, and transforms us.
These grapes remind us of that love. Amen. [the bread is shared, along with the grapes]
At that same meal, Jesus took the cup,
and shared it with his friends, saying,
“This is my blood of the new covenant,
as often as you drink it, remember me.”
Let’s pray: Holy Wisdom, as we drink this wine,
fill us with your Spirit of truth.
Equip us to be your children
spreading love and hope to all we meet,
emissaries of a new kingdom come
on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. [the cup is shared]
On the journeys we take this week,
let us remember this meal.
God’s love to hold us,
Christ’s life to guide us
and Holy Wisdom as our strength. Amen.
I am a Mennonite pastor currently teaching theology at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario. I’ve served congregations in Ontario and most recently, Alberta.