Gathering at the table

The child is named – and the promise takes a name among us.
We come to the table of Jesus – God-with-us.

In a world that labels and sorts,
this name speaks blessing, belonging, and peace.
Name us again in love – and teach us to name one another with care.

This is Christ’s table.
Not a reward for the approved,
but welcome for the overlooked.
Not a prize for the perfect,
but bread for those who come as they are.

We come with gratitude and need.
We come for blessing, courage, and mercy.

The Peace

Peace is spoken over us – and we are sent to speak peace to one another.
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.

(Share peace in ways that honour boundaries – words, a nod, a wave, a hand on heart.)

The Great Thanksgiving

The Spirit is here.
The Spirit is with us.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the God of love.

Let us give thanks to the Holy One.
It is right to give thanks and praise.

It is right, and a joyful thing,
to give you thanks, God who calls us by name.
You speak creation into being,
and you speak blessing over your people.
You do not reduce us to labels or roles –
you see us, you know us, you hold us.

In Jesus, you give us a name we can trust –
a name that means salvation,
a name that sounds like mercy,
a name that draws near to the wounded and the weary.

And so, with angels and ancestors,
with all who have learned to speak love in hard places,
with all who are discovering their true name in you,
we sing the song of heaven:

Holy, holy, holy One,
breath of all that lives, fire of all that loves,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes to heal and to set free.
Hosanna in the highest.

Thanksgiving and story

Blessed are you, Holy One.
In Jesus you made your home among us –
not with a name of domination,
but with a name of deliverance and tenderness.

Jesus welcomed the excluded.
Jesus honoured those who had been misnamed and diminished.
Jesus spoke blessing where others spoke shame.
Jesus called people into wholeness –
and made room for them to become fully themselves.

In him, we learn that naming can be healing:
truth spoken gently,
identity held with care,
belonging offered without conditions.

Words of Institution

On the night before he gave himself for us,
Jesus took bread;
he gave thanks, broke it, and said:
“Take, eat. This is my body, given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the meal was ended,
he took the cup;
he gave thanks, and said:
“Drink from this, all of you.
This is my blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many,
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me.”

Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

Prayer of the Spirit

Pour out your Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and cup.
Make them for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be  the body of Christ:
truthful in love,
gentle in strength,
steadfast in mercy,
generous in welcome.

Where people are misnamed, make us careful and kind.
Where people are unseen, make us attentive.
Where people are shamed, make us a blessing.
Where people are reduced, make us witnesses to dignity.

Teach us to speak names with reverence,
to honour chosen names,
to repair harm when we get it wrong,
and to practise belonging as holy work.

Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours,
God of promise and presence,
now and always.
Amen.

The Prayer Jesus taught

As Jesus taught us, we pray:
(Use your community’s preferred wording/version.)

Breaking the bread

We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.
Though we are many, we are one body,
because we all share in one bread.

The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

Sharing the bread and cup

(Words such as these may be used during the distribution.)

Jesus – the name that saves, for you.
Mercy for your journey.

(If people receive a blessing instead of the elements: “May Christ be close to you; may love hold you.”)

Prayer after Communion

God who calls us by name,
we thank you for meeting us at this table.
You have fed us with grace,
and spoken blessing over us again.

When we feel unseen, remind us we belong.
When we have harmed others with careless words, teach us repair.

Send us out to carry the holy work of naming –
to speak kindness,
to honour dignity,
to practise welcome,
to live mercy.
God-with-us,
now and forever. Amen.

Sending

Go in peace – not because everything is resolved,
but because love has named you and holds you.
We will bless. We will belong. We will make room.