Hungry For Justice

Amended from: Gathering For Worship - Patterns and Prayers for Community Disciples

INVITATION TO THE TABLE

Together, we are gathered by The Father, as we bear witness to a world full of suffering. The Father comforts those who mourn and calls them blessed. Those who weep, those whose burdens are heavy, those who yearn for an end to violence.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”

Luke 4:18

Together, we are scattered by the Son, into the world which is full of hate and greed. Christ commissions those who follow Him, to serve the broken and weary hearted. 

Together, we are empowered by the Spirit, to be witnesses in the world where hope is needed. The Spirit anoints his people to be Christ’s hands in a world that needs to be touched with the light and love of the Father. It is by Spirit we are able to bring offer the good news that Jesus has overcome sin and evil. 

The Story 

On the night on which Jesus was betrayed, he sat at supper with his disciples. While they were eating, he took a piece of bread, said a blessing, broke it, and gave it to them with the words, ‘This is my body. It is for you.

Do this to remember me.’ Later, he took a cup of wine, saying, ‘This cup is God’s new covenant, sealed with my blood. Drink from it, all of you, to remember me’.

So now, following Jesus’ example and command, we take this bread and this wine, the ordinary things of the world which Christ will make special. And as he said a prayer before sharing, let us do so too.

Time to ask for forgiveness

THANKSGIVING 

Let us Pray… For when we were nothing, you made us something.

When we lost our way or turned away, you did not abandon us.

Lord Jesus, as we come to share the richness of your table,

We cannot forget the rawness of the earth.

We cannot take bread and forget those who are hungry.

We cannot take bread and forget those who have lost loved ones because of COVID19 Lord, put our prosperity at the service of the poor.

We cannot take wine and forget those who are thirsty or the weary people who cry out for justice.

We cannot take the wine and forget those who’ve had their breathe taken away Lord, put our fullness at the service of the empty.

We cannot hear your words of peace and forget the world at war or, if not at war, then preparing for it. Show us quickly, Lord, how to turn weapons

into welcome signs and the lust for power and privilege into a desire for peace.

We cannot celebrate the feast of your family and forget our divisions.

We are one in spirit, but not in fact. History and hurt still dismember us.

Lord, heal our world in every brokenness. 

Amen.

SHARING THE BREAD 

Taking and breaking the bread

Among friends, gathered round a table, Jesus took bread, broke it and said,

‘This is my body, it is for you’.

SHARING THE WINE 

Taking the cup of wine

And later he took the cup of wine and said,

‘This is the new relationship with God, made possible because of my death.

Take this – all of you – to remember me’.

WORDS OF ACCLAMATION AND PRAYER 

Your death, O Lord, we commemorate. Your resurrection we confess. Your final coming we await. Glory be to you, O Christ. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.