Leader: Jesus invited all to the Feast of Peace & New Life. Jesus risked
everything in compassion, Jesus promised to make himself known in the
breaking of the bread.
All: Thanks be to God.
Incense is lit, followed by the hymn –
Restless is the Heart CD Tr.12.
Bread of life, hope of the world, Jesus Christ our brother;
Feed us now, give us love. lead us to one another.
As we proclaim your death as we recall your life,
We remember your promise to return again. (refrain)
The bread we break and share was scattered once as grain:
Just as now it is gathered, make your people one. (refrain)
We eat this living bread, we drink this saving cup:
Sign of hope in our broken world, source of lasting love. (refrain)
Hold us unity, in love for all to see;
That the world may believe in you, God of all who live.(refrain)
You are the bread of peace, you are the wine of joy,
Broken now for your people, poured in endless love. (refrain)
Psalm 147 & its antiphon will be sung as indicated.
Cantors: The Lord has established peace for his church;
He feeds us with finest wheat.
Side 1: How good it is to sing praises to our God!
How pleasant it is to honour him with praise!
Side 2: The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem;
He gathers the exiles of Israel.
Side 1: He heals the broken-hearted
And binds up all their wounds.
Side 2: He counts the number of the stars
And calls them all by their names.
Side 1: Great is our Lord & mighty in power;
There is no limit to his wisdom.
Side 2: The Lord lifts up the lowly.
But casts the wicked to the ground.
Side 1: Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
Make music to our God upon the harp.
Side 2: He makes grass grow upon the mountains
And green plants to serve us all.
Side 1: He provides food for flocks & herds
And for the young ravens when they cry.
Side 2: He has established peace on your borders,
He satisfies you with the finest wheat.
Side 1: He sends out his command to the earth,
And his word runs very swiftly.
Side 2: He gives snow like wool;
He scatters hoar frost like ashes.
Side 1: He scatters his hail like bread crumbs;
Who can stand against his cold?
Side 2: He sends forth his word &: melts them;
He blows with his wind &: the waters flow.
Side 1: He declares his word to Jacob,
His statutes & judgements to Israel.
Side 2: He has not done so to any other nation;
To them he has not revealed his judgements.
Side 1: Great is our Lord
And mighty is his power.
All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son,
And to the Holy Spirit
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen.
All: The Lord has established peace for his church;
He feeds us with finest wheat.
We will listen to, or join in with the next psalm: The Blessing Cup Ps 115 Watermark Tr 2.
The blessing cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ.
How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me?
The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord’s name.
(Refrain)
O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful.
Your servant, Lord, your servant am I; you have loosened my bonds.
(Refrain)
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make, I will call on the Lord’s name.
My vows to the Lord I will fulfil before all his people.
(Refrain)
Reading:
Today’s feast focuses on a particular abiding presence of God in our midst. Christ’s gift to us – we see & hear of foreshadows of this in the Old & New Testaments, but it is at the Last Supper that the Body & Blood of Christ is given to the apostles who have passed it on to us – we celebrate that gift today. In St John’s account of the Last Supper, unlike the other three evangelists, we do not find a straightforward description of the institution of the eucharist. In its place we find the washing of the feet. Jesus is offering here a new understanding of the eucharist, namely that we only celebrate eucharist fully if we bring to it, or take from it, a commitment to service.
Silent reflection.
Please sing the Magnificat & its antiphon. as indicated.
Cantors: 0 sacred feast in which we partake of Christ; his sufferings
are remembered: our minds are filled with his grace,
And we receive a pledge of the glory that is to be ours, alleluia!
Side 1: My being proclaims your greatness,
And my spirit finds joy in you, God my Saviour,
Side 2: For you have looked upon me, your servant, in my lowliness;
All ages to come shall call me blessed.
Side 1: God, you who are mighty, have done great things for me.
Holy is your name.
Side 2: Your mercy is from age to age
Towards those who fear you.
Side 1: You have shown might with your arm,
And confused the proud in their inmost thoughts.
Side 2: You have deposed the mighty from their thrones
And raised the lowly to high places.
Side 1: The hungry you have given every good thing
While the rich you have sent away empty.
Side 2: You have upheld Israel, your servant,
Ever mindful of your mercy –
Side 1: Even as you promised our ancestors.
Promised Abraham, Sarah, and their descendants for ever.
All: Give praise to the Father Almighty,
To his Son Jesus Christ our Lord
To the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,
Both now and for ever, Amen.
All: 0 sacred feast in which we partake of Christ; his sufferings
are remembered; our minds are filled with his grace,
And we receive a pledge of the glory that is to be ours, alleluial
Intercessions:
Reader: We pray for all who are receiving their First Communion
around this time. We pray especially for those in our own
parishes and their families and catechists ….. pause …. we sing,
All: (sung) 0 Lord hear us, 0 Lord hear us, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Reader: We pray for all those who receive communion in their own
homes, in residential homes, in hospitals & hospices. We pray
for healing & peace for them ….. pause …. we sing,
All: (sung) 0 Lord hear us, 0 Lord hear us, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Reader: We give thanks for all who regularly take communion to people
in their own homes, in residential homes, in hospitals &
hospices – in thanksgiving for their generosity & commitment …. pause …. we sing,
All: (sung) 0 Lord hear us, 0 Lord hear us, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Reader: For the gift of the eucharist – we thank you, & ask that we
may come to understand more of what it is to live the
eucharist in our daily lives …. pause …. we sing,
All: (sung) 0 Lord hear us, 0 Lord hear us. in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Reader: We pray for people who have died today – for those
who will die tonight – and for those of our parish &
community whose anniversaries occur tomorrow,
remembering especially …………..
Pause for people to add silently or aloud any further intentions.
Leader begins the Our Father ….
Leader: Lord Jesus Christ, you gave your Church a wonderful
sacrament as an abiding memorial. Teach us to
understand more fully the commitment of service
that follows from this gift. We make our prayer
through Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Leader: The God we have met here is never confined to a
building. So, go, travel with the God who is found in
both ordinary & in surprising places.
All: Amen.
We will finish by singing the Taize chant, Ubi Caritas.
Ubi caritas & amor, ubi caritas Deus ibi est.
(Where there is love & loving kindness, God is there)