Gathering at the table

Jesus sits down to teach – and blessing is spoken over the people.
We come to the table to receive grace, and to learn love’s way.

God asks a simple, demanding question: what does love require?
To do justice, to love kindness, to walk humbly.

This is Christ’s table.
Not a reward for the powerful,
but bread for the hungry.
Not a prize for the impressive,
but mercy for those who come as they are.

We come with longing and need.
We come for courage, for tenderness, for a clearer way.

The Peace

Peace is not weakness – it is strength shaped by love.
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 of justice and mercy.
You do not flatter the powerful.
You do not abandon the poor.
You do not confuse success with blessing.

You call us to lives that are honest, generous, and true –
to justice that is practical,
to kindness that is stubborn,
to humility that makes room for others.

You teach your people to seek integrity –
not perfection,
but a way of living that protects the vulnerable,
refuses harm,
and honours dignity.

In Jesus, you reveal your reign –
not through domination,
but through blessing spoken over the overlooked:
the poor in spirit,
the grieving,
the gentle,
the ones hungry for justice,
the merciful,
the pure in heart,
the peacemakers,
the persecuted.

And so, with angels and ancestors,
with all who long for a world made whole,
with all who practise kindness in hard places,
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.
You speak truth to us with love –
not to shame us,
but to change us.

Jesus climbed the hill and sat down among the people.
He spoke blessing – not as a slogan,
but as a promise of God’s nearness.

He did not call suffering good.
He called the wounded seen.
He called the excluded welcomed.
He called the peacemakers strong.
He called those who hunger for justice blessed –
because love is on their side.

He showed us wisdom that looks like mercy,
power that looks like service,
glory that looks like solidarity.

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 for the world the body of Christ:
humble in strength,
gentle in courage,
steadfast in kindness,
brave in justice.

Where we are tempted by pride, teach humility.
Where we are numbed by comfort, wake compassion.
Where we are tired of doing good, give perseverance.
Where we are afraid to speak, give courage.

Make us a people who do justice –
in our choices, our budgets, our politics, our workplaces, our worship.
Make us a people who love kindness –
with patience, with repair, with attention to what others need.
Make us a people who walk humbly –
listening, learning, making room.

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.)

Blessed are you – grace for you.
Strength for the journey.

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

Prayer after Communion

God of justice and mercy,
we thank you for meeting us at this table.
You have fed us with grace,
and strengthened us with hope.

When we feel small, remind us we are blessed.
When we feel powerful, teach us humility.

Send us out to live the blessing –
to do justice,
to love kindness,
to walk humbly,
to practise peace.
God of love,
now and forever. Amen.

Sending

Go in peace – not because the world is already fair,
but because love has shown us the way.
We will practise kindness. We will seek justice. We will make room.