Lords supper prayers

Luke 22:17-20

And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”

1 Corinthians 11:26

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

1 Corinthians 10:21

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

1 Corinthians 11:20-21

Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk.

1 Corinthians 11:23

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;

1 Corinthians 11:25

In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Matthew 26:26-27

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you;

Matthew 26:27-28

for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

Mark 14:22-23

While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

Mark 14:23-24

And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

Luke 22:20

And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.

John 20:26

After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

Luke 24:30

When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them.

John 6:11

Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.

1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

John 11:50

nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.”

John 13:1

Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

Numbers 9:12

‘They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break a bone of it; according to all the statute of the Passover they shall observe it.

Mark 14:25

“Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 22:16

for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

1 Corinthians 11:27-32

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. read more.
But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

1 Corinthians 11:28

But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

bible.knowing-jesus.com

Today is widely regarded as the best Sunday of the month at Grace Fellowship Church. We gather in the morning for our regular morning service but afterward, instead of going our separate ways, we enjoy a potluck fellowship lunch. Following that, we have a brief second service that culminates in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. I thought this was an appropriate prayer for any of us who are preparing to enjoy Lord’s Supper on this Lord’s Day. It is drawn from The Valley of Vision.

God of all good,
I bless thee for the means of grace;
teach me to see in them thy loving purposes
and the joy and strength of my soul.

Thou hast prepared for me a feast;
and though I am unworthy to sit down as guest,
I wholly rest on the merits of Jesus,
and hide myself beneath his righteousness;
When I hear his tender invitation
and see his wondrous grace,
I cannot hesitate, but must come to thee in love.

By thy spirit enliven my faith rightly to discern
and spiritually to apprehend the Saviour.
While I gaze upon the emblems of my Saviour’s death,
may I ponder why he died, and hear him say,
‘I gave my life to purchase yours,
presented myself an offering to expiate your sin,
shed my blood to blot out your guilt,
opened my side to make you clean,
endured your curses to set you free,
bore your condemnation to satisfy divine justice.’

Oh may I rightly grasp the breadth and length of this design,
draw near, obey, extend the hand,
take the bread, receive the cup,
eat and drink, testify before all men
that I do for myself, gladly, in faith,
reverence and love, receive my Lord,
to be my life, strength, nourishment, joy, delight.

In the supper I remember his eternal love,
boundless grace, infinite compassion,
agony, cross, redemption,
and receive assurance of pardon, adoption, life, glory.
As the outward elements nourish my body,
so may thy indwelling Spirit invigorate my soul,
until that day when I hunger and thirst no more,
and sit with Jesus at his heavenly feast.

www.challies.com

A. Introductory notes

1. The Lord’s Supper is the other sacrament (besides baptism) accepted by the Christian Reformed Church, because it, too, was commanded and thus instituted by Christ himself, as Paul reports in 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 (see also Matt. 26:26-29 and parallel Gospel texts). In setting forth the meaning of this sacrament, the Reformed confessions, the writings of Reformed theologians, and recent ecumenical documents emphasize the following themes:

a. The Lord’s Supper is a thanksgiving to God (eucharist).
b. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Christ (anamnesis).
c. The Lord’s Supper is a participation in the body and the blood of Christ.
d. The Lord’s Supper signifies the work of the Spirit (epiclesis).
e. The Lord’s Supper symbolizes the unity of the church in all times and places.
f. The Lord’s Supper seals the present and coming kingdom of God.

2. As in the case of baptism, the history of the Lord’s Supper in the Christian church reveals both diversity in form and practice as well as common threads that continue to characterize this Christian sacrament. Some of the most important common and abiding features of the Lord’s Supper are the following:

a. The Lord’s Supper includes four actions:
–taking bread and wine
–giving thanks over them
–breaking the bread/pouring the wine
–sharing among God’s people.

b. The Lord’s Supper is normally and regularly part of a single liturgy of Word and table.
c. The memorial of Christ refers to his entire life and ministry, his death, resurrection, ascension, and return.

3. In drafting and compiling “shorter, more flexible” forms for the Lord’s Supper, the CRC Worship Committee researched various Reformed and ecumenical statements, confessions, and affirmations about this sacrament. In the light of synod’s encouragement to the churches “to adapt as needed all denominational liturgical forms” (Acts of Synod 1991, p. 707), we offer the following forms both as materials to be used directly and as resources that may shape local adaptations.

We achieved brevity in some of the forms by focusing strictly on the elements deemed essential to the sacrament:

a. The scriptural words of institution (with breaking/pouring).
b. The thanksgiving and consecration.
c. The communion with bread and cup.

Other elements could possibly be eliminated or certainly adapted, though we suggest that any local adaptations reflect the crucial themes of the Lord’s Supper given above in A, 1, a-f. We also suggest that the Apostles’ Creed or Nicene Creed be recited prior to the celebration of the sacrament as a response to the service of the Word.

B. Services of the Lord’s Supper

1. A revision of the Lord’s Supper section of the “Service of Word and Sacrament” (Psalter Hymnal, pp. 973-75). The revision draws on many classic elements of the Lord’s Supper liturgy and now includes thanksgiving prayers that are appropriate to specific seasons of the church year.

The Thanksgiving

Minister: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right for us to give thanks and praise.
Minister:

With joy we praise you, gracious God,
for you have created heaven and earth,
made us in your image, and kept covenant with us–
even when we fell into sin.
We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who by his life, death, and resurrection
opened to us the way of everlasting life.
Therefore we join our voices
with all the saints and angels and the whole creation
to proclaim the glory of your name.

With joy we praise you, gracious God,
for you have created heaven and earth,
made us in your image, and kept covenant with us–
even when we fell into sin.
We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord,
whose coming opened to us the way of salvation
and whose triumphant return we eagerly await.
Therefore we join our voices
with all the saints and angels and the whole creation
to proclaim the glory of your name.

With joy we praise you, gracious God,
for you have created heaven and earth,
made us in your image, and kept covenant with us–
even when we fell into sin.
We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who came among us as the Word made flesh
to show us your glory, full of grace and truth.
Therefore we join our voices
with all the saints and angels and the whole creation
to proclaim the glory of your name.

With joy we praise you, gracious God,
for you have created heaven and earth,
made us in your image, and kept covenant with us–
even when we fell into sin.
We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who came as the light of the world
to show us your way of truth in parables and miracles.
Therefore we join our voices
with all the saints and angels and the whole creation
to proclaim the glory of your name.

With joy we praise you, gracious God,
for you have created heaven and earth,
made us in your image, and kept covenant with us–
even when we fell into sin.
We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord,
by whose grace we may triumph over temptation,
be more fervent in prayer, and be more generous in love.
Therefore we join our voices
with all the saints and angels and the whole creation
to proclaim the glory of your name.

With joy we praise you, gracious God,
for you have created heaven and earth,
made us in your image, and kept covenant with us–
even when we fell into sin.
We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who became the true paschal Lamb
that was sacrificed for our salvation.
Therefore we join our voices
with all the saints and angels and the whole creation
to proclaim the glory of your name.

With joy we praise you, gracious God,
for you have created heaven and earth,
made us in your image, and kept covenant with us–
even when we fell into sin.
We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who by his glorious resurrection
overcame the power of sin and gave us new life.
Therefore we join our voices
with all the saints and angels and the whole creation
to proclaim the glory of your name.

With joy we praise you, gracious God,
for you have created heaven and earth,
made us in your image, and kept covenant with us–
even when we fell into sin.
We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who was exalted as King of the universe,
that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.
Therefore we join our voices
with all the saints and angels and the whole creation
to proclaim the glory of your name.

With joy we praise you, gracious God,
for you have created heaven and earth,
made us in your image, and kept covenant with us–
even when we fell into sin.
We give you thanks for Jesus Christ, our Lord,
and for the pouring forth of your Holy Spirit,
who equips us for service and leads us into your truth.
Therefore we join our voices
with all the saints and angels and the whole creation
to proclaim the glory of your name.

All:

The Institution

Minister: We give thanks to God the Father that our Savior, Jesus Christ, before he suffered, gave us this memorial of his sacrifice, until he comes again. At his last supper, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this in remembrance of me.” For whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Therefore we proclaim our faith as signed and sealed in this sacrament:
People: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Prayer of Consecration

Minister: Lord, our God, send your Holy Spirit so that this bread and cup may be for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we and all your saints be united with Christ and remain faithful in hope and love. Gather your whole church, O Lord, into the glory of your kingdom. We pray in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray,
All: “Our Father in heaven . . . Amen.”

The Invitation

Minister: Congregation of Jesus Christ, the Lord has prepared his table for all who love him and trust in him alone for their salvation. All who are truly sorry for their sins, who sincerely believe in the Lord Jesus as their Savior, and who desire to live in obedience to him as Lord, are now invited to come with gladness to the table of the Lord.

The gifts of God for the people of God!

The Communion

Minister: Take, eat, remember, and believe that the body of our Lord Jesus Christ was given for the complete forgiveness of all our sins.
Take, drink, remember, and believe that the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ was given for the complete forgiveness of all our sins.

Take, eat! Remember and believe that the body of Christ is the bread of heaven for us.
Take, drink! Remember and believe that the blood of Christ is the cup of our salvation.

The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.

2. A revision of the “Service of Word and Sacrament” (Psalter Hymnal, pp. 973-75). This form incorporates more congregational singing as part of The Thanksgiving and has notes with more suggestions of appropriate hymns.

The Institution

Minister: We give thanks to God the Father that our Savior, Jesus Christ, gave us this memorial of his sacrifice until he comes again. For the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this in remembrance of me.” For whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes (1 Cor. 11:23-26).

The Thanksgiving

All:
Minister:
Lord, our God, send your Holy Spirit upon us,
that all who eat and drink at this table
may be one body and one holy people,
a living sacrifice to the glory of Jesus Christ,
in whose name we pray. Amen.

All:

The Acclamation

Minister: In unity with Christians everywhere, let us proclaim the mystery of our faith.

People: Your death, O Christ, we proclaim.

Your resurrection we affirm with joy.
Your coming we await with hope.
Glory be to you, Lord Jesus!

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

The Invitation

Minister: Congregation of Jesus Christ, the Lord has prepared his table for true believers. If you are sorry for your sins and sincerely follow Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you are invited to come with gladness to this table of the Lord.

The Communion

Minister: Take, eat, remember, and believe that the precious body of our Lord Jesus Christ was given for the complete forgiveness of all our sins. Take, drink, remember, and believe that the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ was shed for the complete forgiveness of all our sins.

Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving. Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.

Thanksgiving Song

3. New forms: biblical models
   The set of new Lord’s Supper forms that we offer are short outlines or models that are all variants of each other: each focuses on one book of the Bible; all are structured by a period of preparation, followed by the Lord’s Supper, and concluded with thanksgiving; and all leave room for local adaptation. The formula “Take, eat! . . .” is consistent in each one.

a. From the Psalms

A Psalm of Preparation: Psalm 116

Our Praise: Psalm 103, sung from Psalter Hymnal 475
A Psalm of Prayer: Psalm 139
The Lord’s Supper
The Words of Institution: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Our Testimony: Psalter Hymnal 309, “Lift Up Your Hearts unto the Lord”
Prayer of Consecration
The Bread
Distribution of the bread, with singing of one or several communion songs
Call to Participation: “Take, eat! Remember and believe that the body of our Lord was given for the complete forgiveness of all our sins!”
The Cup
Distribution of the cup, with singing of one or several communion songs
Call to Participation: “Take, drink! Remember and believe that the blood of our Lord was given for the complete forgiveness of all our sins!”
The Thanksgiving: Psalm 23
A Psalm (or Hymn) of Joyful Thanksgiving

b. From the Prophecy of Isaiah

The Call of God: Isaiah 55:1-7

Our Testimony: Psalter Hymnal 500, “How Firm a Foundation”
The Way of the Suffering Servant: Isaiah 53
Our Confession: Psalter Hymnal 194, “Comfort, Comfort Now My People”
The Delight of Salvation: Isaiah 11:1-10
Our Celebration: Psalter Hymnal 198, “Arise, Shine, for Your Light Has Come”
The Lord’s Supper
The Words of Institution: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Our Testimony: Psalter Hymnal 309, “Lift Up Your Hearts unto the Lord”
Prayer of Consecration
The Bread
Distribution of the bread, with singing Psalter Hymnal 193, “Surely It Is God Who Saves Me”
Call to Participation: “Take, eat! . . .”
The Cup
Distribution of the cup, with singing Psalter Hymnal 616, “Isaiah the Prophet Has Written of Old”
Call to Participation: “Take, drink! . . .”
The Thanksgiving: Isaiah 61:1-3 , 10-11
Songs of Response: Psalter Hymnal 195, “Our God Reigns”; 197, “The Trees of the Field”

c. From the Gospel of Mark

An Act of Loving Devotion: Mark 14:1-9

Our Testimony of Devotion: Psalter Hymnal 284:2, “Jesus, I Adore You . . .”
An Act of Betrayal: Mark 14:10-11
Our Prayer of Confession
An Act of Preparation: Mark 14:12-16
Hymn of Preparation: Psalter Hymnal 307:1, 3-4; “O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts”
The Lord’s Supper
Prayer of Consecration
The Bread: Mark 14:17, 22
Distribution of the bread, with singing
Call to Participation: “Take, eat! . . .”
The Cup: Mark 14:23-25
Distribution of the cup, with singing
Call to Participation: “Take, drink! . . .”
A Hymn of Joyful Thanksgiving: Psalter Hymnal 306, “Now the Solemn Feast Is Done”

d. From the Gospel of Luke

The Gospel Story: Luke 15:11-24

Our Testimony: Psalter Hymnal 462, “Amazing Grace–How Sweet the Sound”
The Unfortunate Response: Luke 14:16-24
Our Prayer of Confession
The Table of Grace: Luke 19:1-9 
Our Song of Joy: Psalter Hymnal 571, “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know”
The Lord’s Supper
The Preparation of the Upper Room: Luke 22:7-16
Our Prayer: Psalter Hymnal 302, “In the Quiet Consecration”
Prayer of Consecration
The Bread: Luke 22:19
Distribution of the bread, with singing
Call to Participation: “Take, eat! . . .”
The Cup: Luke 22:20
Distribution of the cup, with singing
Call to Participation: “Take, drink! . . .”
The Thanksgiving: Luke 24:13-35
A Hymn of Joyful Thanksgiving: Psalter Hymnal 299, “As We Walk Along Beside You”

e. From the Writings of John

Finding Our Identity: 1 John 1:1-2:2

Bible Song: Psalter Hymnal 218, “In the Beginning Was the Word Eternal”
Forgiven in Christ: 1 John 3:4-5
Prayer of Confession
Following Our Lord: 1 John 3:7-10
Hymn of Testimony: Psalter Hymnal 301, “Taste and See”
The Lord’s Supper
Words of Institution: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Bible Song: Psalter Hymnal 231, “How Great Is the Love of the Father”
Prayer of Consecration
The Bread: John 6:35
Distribution of the bread, with singing from Psalter Hymnal 300, “Gift of Finest Wheat”
Call to Participation: “Take, eat! . . .”
The Cup: John 7:37-38
Distribution of the cup, with singing from Psalter Hymnal 311, “I Come with Joy to Meet My Lord,” and 219, “As Moses Raised the Serpent Up”
Call to Participation: “Take, drink! . . .”
The Thanksgiving: 1 John 3:16-24
A Hymn of Joyful Thanksgiving

f. From the Writings of Paul

Celebrating Christ: Ephesians 1:3-8

Testimony of Faith: Psalter Hymnal 479, “I Will Sing of My Redeemer”
Confessing Need: Ephesians 2:1-7
Prayer of Confession
Consecrating Ourselves: Romans 8:5-11
Hymn of Preparation: Psalter Hymnal 291, “May the Mind of Christ, My Savior”
The Lord’s Supper
Prayer of Consecration
The Bread: 1 Corinthians 11:23-24
Distribution of the bread, with singing
Call to Participation: “Take, eat! . . .”
The Cup: 1 Corinthians 11:25
Distribution of the cup, with singing
Call to Participation: “Take, drink! . . .”
The Thanksgiving: Romans 12, Ephesians 3:14-21, or Colossians 3:1-17, followed by a thanksgiving hymn

4. A form adapted from confessional documents and Reformation writings familiar to the CRC. It includes elements adapted from forms in the Psalter Hymnal.

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

We give thanks to God the Father that our Savior, Jesus Christ, before he suffered, gave us this memorial of his sacrifice, until he comes again: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (1 Cor. 11:23-26)

The Teaching of the Lord’s Supper

With these words our Lord commands all believers to eat this broken bread and to drink this cup in true faith and in the confident hope of his return in glory. In this Supper God declares to us that our sins have been completely forgiven through the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which he himself finished on the cross once for all. He also declares to us that the Holy Spirit grafts us into Christ, who with his very body is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father, where he wants us to worship him. (Adapted from the Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 75, 80)

The Invitation

Come, therefore, all of you who are truly sorry for your sins, who believe in the Lord Jesus as your Savior, have confessed his name, and desire to live in obedience to him. Come eagerly and joyfully, with assurance of faith, for Christ, our risen Lord, invites you as guests to fellowship with him at his table. (Adapted from Psalter Hymnal, p. 975)

Prayer of Consecration

Father, we give you thanks for your Son, Jesus Christ, for his willing obedience and suffering during his life on earth, and especially for his giving up of his body and blood on the cross. Give us assurance that our sins are pardoned through his blood. Let your perfect love drive out fear; make us perfect in your love. Fill our minds with your peace and turn our eyes to heaven, where Christ is at your right hand interceding for us. Enable us to offer up ourselves in service to Christ and to all your children. Let no trouble or sorrow distract us from this loving service, and unite us with each other through your Spirit so that we may continue in the living hope of our Savior’s coming in glory. Hear us now through our Lord Jesus, who taught us to pray, saying, “Our Father . . . .” (Adapted from Psalter Hymnal, p. 980)

The Communion

People of God, let us lift up our hearts to the Lord; let us lift them up to the God of our salvation.

The bread which we break is a communion of the body of Christ.

Take, eat, remember, and believe that the body of our Lord Jesus Christ was given for the complete forgiveness of all our sins.

The cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks is a communion of the blood of Christ.

Take, drink, remember, and believe that the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ was shed for the complete forgiveness of all our sins.

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits– who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. (Ps. 103:1-4) “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Rev. 5:12)

Prayer of Thanksgiving

With burning hearts we thank you, Father, for making Christ known to us in the breaking of bread and in the poured-out wine. Now may this meal enable us to increase in faith, persevere in hope, and grow up in love. May this witness to Christ’s death draw others into fellowship with him so that all your children will be gathered in to share with us the joy of your salvation. Send us out from this place by your Spirit, our ears open to your Word, our minds alert to the calling you give us, our hearts full of zeal for your coming kingdom, our voices confessing the name of Jesus, our Lord and our God. Amen.

Alternate Reading for The Teaching of the Lord’s Supper

God meets us in the sacraments, holy acts in which his deeds elicit our response. . . . In the supper our Lord offers the bread and cup to believers to guarantee our share in his death and resurrection, and to unite us to him and to each other. We take this food gladly, announcing as we eat that Jesus is our life and that he shall come again to call us to the Supper of the Lamb. (Contemporary Testimony, st. 40)

Alternate Prayer of Consecration

We thank you, O God, that you remembered your promise to reconcile the world to yourself, that you have come among us in Jesus Christ, the eternal Word made flesh. As our substitute, he suffered all his years on earth, especially in the horrible torture of the cross. We thank you that he carried your judgment on our sin; that his sacrifice removes our guilt; and that he walked out of the grave, the Lord of life, conqueror of sin and death. Lord Jesus, as both God and man, be our only Mediator between God and your people. You alone paid the debt of our sin; there is no other Savior! In you the Father chose those whom he would save. Now may your electing love sustain our hope: your grace is free to save us sinners, who offer nothing but our need for mercy. Stay with us in the Spirit to renew our hearts, move us to faith, lead us in the truth, stand by us in our need, and make our obedience fresh and vibrant. (Adapted from Contemporary Testimony, st. 24, 27-28, 31)

Alternate Prayer of Thanksgiving

We thank you, our Lord, for the hope this meal gives us, that Jesus will return as triumphant King, that the dead will be raised, and that all people will stand before his judgment. We face that day without fear, for you, our Judge, are our Savior. May our daily lives of service aim for the moment when the Son will present his people to the Father and God will be shown to be true, holy, and gracious. With the whole creation we wait for the purifying fire of judgment. For then we will see you face to face. You will heal our hurts, end our wars, and make the crooked straight. Then we will join in the new song to the Lamb without blemish, who made us a kingdom and priests. You, our God, will be all in all, righteousness and peace will flourish, everything will be made new, and every eye will see at last that our world belongs to God! Hallelujah! Come, Lord Jesus. Amen. (Adapted from Contemporary Testimony, st. 57-58)

C. Notes on Administering the Lord’s Supper

1. As in the case of baptism, it is important that the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper appeal to the senses of the congregation. The actions of taking and breaking bread and pouring wine should be clearly visible to the congregation. For this purpose, an uncut loaf of bread may be preferable to precut pieces. When possible, the bread and wine should be brought to the table at the beginning of the Lord’s Supper liturgy itself–for example, as part of the offertory.
2. In many congregations it is customary to distribute the elements to communicants in their seats. The alternative of having people go forward to receive the elements has much to commend it, since it invites them to respond actively and physically to the invitation to partake. (Those for whom walking is difficult would of course continue to be served in their places.) The old Dutch Reformed practice of going forward to sit at actual tables may not be feasible in many settings; an effective alternative may be for the people to form successive circles around the communion table and receive the elements (or pass them to each other) while standing. Yet another possibility, especially suitable for large congregations, is for people to process up the main aisle, receive the elements from persons at designated stations at the front of the sanctuary, and return to their places by way of the side aisles. In all cases, distribution can effectively be accompanied by singing.
3. While the elements are distributed or the people are coming forward to receive them, Scripture may be read or hymns may be sung. The Psalter Hymnal has a wide selection of communion hymns (297-314; many additional suggestions are given in the Topical Index under “Lord’s Supper,” pp. 1064-1065; see also “Easter,” p. 1058). Here are some additional choices: –161, 550–other settings of Psalm 23 –190, 193, 257 (Agnus Dei), 536 The following are more seasonal suggestions for Lord’s Supper songs: –Advent-Christmas: 302 (framed with 640), 341, 478 (Song of Mary) –after Epiphany: 34 (framed with refrain of 301), 72, 107 (st. 2) –Lent: 298, 310, 578 –Easter: 299, 398 (st. 5), 402 –Pentecost (and after): 104; 516 (st. 2); 523 (st. 3) There is, of course, much suitable choral music that may be sung during communion, and there are many organ preludes on communion hymns. For many Lord’s Supper services, however, we recommend congregational singing. Passion hymns are appropriate during Lent, and Easter hymns are appropriate on all Sundays of the church year (though some may want to limit the use of alleluias during Lent).
4. The Lord’s Supper should be celebrated regularly and frequently as part of a single liturgy of Word and table.

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Lord’s Prayer

 (prâr)n. Christianity

The prayer taught by Jesus to his disciples. Also called Our Father.

Lord’s Prayer

n

(Ecclesiastical Terms) the Lord’s Prayer the prayer taught by Jesus Christ to his disciples, as in Matthew 6:9–13, Luke 11:2–4. Also known as: Our Father or Paternoster (esp Latin version)

Lord’s′ Prayer′

(prɛər)
n.

the, the prayer given by Jesus to His disciples, beginning with the words Our Father. Matt. 6:9–13; Luke 11:2–4.

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Noun

1.

Lord’s Prayer – the prayer that Christ gave his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:9-13)Sermon on the Mount – the first major discourse delivered by Jesus (Matthew 5-7 and Luke 6:20-49)

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