The Lord be with you.
And also with you. Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right and good to give you thanks and praise, O God, because from the beginning, you invited us on a journey with you, a journey of wonders and miracles, a journey of healing and joy, a journey of mystery, a journey full of life and love.
And so in thanks and praise we join our voices in the song of the angels and saints, who forever sing to you, as we say these words:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is your son, O God, our savior Jesus Christ, who joined us on our journey, who was so full of grace and truth that we cannot help but follow him. When his path went back to you, you sent us your Spirit to continue alongside us, to empower and inspire us to continue to be your people. Now we pray that that same Spirit will be among us, and among these elements of bread and cup, that our ordinary meal will become our sacred feast, to nourish us for the next part of the journey.
As we break bread together, as we drink from the same cup, unite us as people who are grateful for the journey, for each other’s company, and for your guiding presence. And hear us as we are bold to say together the prayer that Jesus taught….
The Lord be with you.
And also with you. Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right and our deep joy to give you all our gratitude, O God, because in love and with a creativity we cannot imagine you made the universe, and the planets, and our earth and seas and sky. You created life, and us. And you gave us free will, trusting that we would make mistakes and learn, trusting that we would do amazing things for you and for each other.
And so with praise and gratitude in our hearts and on our lips, we join our voices in the song of the angels and saints, who forever sing to you, as we say these words:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
You are blessed, O God, and Jesus is blessed, and the Holy Spirit is blessed, too. We ask now that you send us your Spirit, that by your power, this ordinary table will become a sacred banquet, and this bread and cup will become holy things that we can share.
As we break bread together, as we drink from the same cup, unite us as people who are grateful for all we have and share in that abundance. And hear us as we are bold to say together the prayer that Jesus taught….
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is truly right and joy to give you thanks and praise, O God, for at creation you filled the Void with light and life, with planets and stars, with seas and mountains, with beasts of field and air and water, with women and men. You called those women and men to heed your voice, and at times they did and at times they did not. So in the fullness of time you came to us in the man Jesus, who called women and men to follow him.
We follow him this day and lift our voices in praise for all your generous and magnificent deeds. And so with all the saints, we sing a song of praise, joining our voices with the residents of Heaven, saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed are you, O Creator, and blessed is our Redeemer Jesus Christ, who led us on paths of truth and grace, compassion and justice, hope and peace. Blessed is your Holy Spirit, who hovers among us now, and who comes into this bread and this cup, changing these ordinary things into sacred and holy things, the bread of life and cup of salvation. For all these things, we give you thanks. And now hear us as we are bold to say together the prayer that Jesus taught….
The Lord be with you.
And also with you. Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
We give you thanks and praise, O God –
For the glory and joy of creation
For the work of reconciliation
For the promise of love eternal
And for those who walk with us.
So we offer you the words of a song
Sung by angels and saints
Joining our voices to the great cloud of witnesses as we say these words:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.Hosanna in the highest.Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed are you, O God;
Blessed is your Son, Jesus, our host at this table.
Blessed is your Spirit, who settles in us and among us,
And within these gifts of bread and cup, transforming them,
Making them sacred, and filling not for our bodies but for our souls.
So with gratitude and praise we come to your table, ready to be filled, ready to be sent out, ready to be your people in the world.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you. Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is our deep joy to offer our gratitude, O God, for the gifts of creation: eager daffodils that appear in February, and the unexpected sunny sky, and crows that plot and caw above us. We offer gratitude for messengers you send our way: prophets that warn, friends that comfort, strangers who open our eyes to what we had not seen. We offer gratitude for the gift of the holy: prayer that comes from deep within, music that moves us to tears, and the promise of something more after this life.
And so with the whole company of heaven, we offer our gratitude in song, and this day join our voices with all the saints. Hear our words:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.Hosanna in the highest.Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed are you, O God, and blessed is your son, Jesus, who revealed his glory on the mountain, and his love in acts of healing and mercy. Blessed, too, is your Spirit, who descends upon us and empowers us to do great things in your name.
With humility we now ask for the presence of the Holy Spirit among us and in these gifts of bread and cup, that the bread we break and the cup we bless would become for us the bread of life and cup of salvation. As we share in this meal, make us one with each other, with you, and with the world.
And hear us now as we say the prayer Jesus taught us:
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you. Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
We offer our thanks and praise, O God, for the glories of creation: for the black velvet of the night sky that allows the stars to twinkle, and the moon to glow; for the sun that peeks over the horizon and paints the sky as it sets. We offer our thanks and praise for the heavens and the inhabitants of Heaven, for the cloud of witnesses. We on earth sing with them above as we say together these words:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.Hosanna in the highest.Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed are you, Holy One, and blessed is your Son, Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Born in the stillness of night, he knew the love of family and stranger alike. Threatened by evil, he fled to a distant land. Endowed with the spirit, he taught about grace and forgiveness, and he healed the sick, and confronted the powerful. In humility and trust, he lay down his life that he might rise again and bring new life to the world.
For the gifts of his life and presence, we give you thanks, and ask for one thing more: that your Spirit descend now upon us, upon this table, that the bread we break and the cup we share would be transformed from their ordinariness to sacred things. As we share one loaf and one cup, may we become one with the world, bringing good news to all. And hear us now as we are bold to say together the words Jesus taught:
And hear us now as we say the prayer Jesus taught us:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Easter Communion Prayer
The Lord be with you.
And also with you. Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Oh holy God, we give you thanks and praise for the gift of creation and for the gift of the new creation, made known to us in the resurrection of your Son, Jesus. We are humbled by this gift of life, by the hope and wonder this gift brings. And so in joy we join our voices to those of the saints who sing these words forever:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.Hosanna in the highest.Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is Jesus, the Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lived as we lived; who suffered and died; whom you raised from the dead that we might fear death and sin no more. Blessed is your Spirit, who comes among us now and upon these gifts of bread and cup, that the bread we break will become for us the Bread of Life, and the cup we bless will become the Cup of Salvation. By your Spirit make us one with each other and with all who share in this feast you have prepared.
And hear us now as we say the prayer Jesus taught us:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Prayer after communion:
We thank you once again for this meal, this day, this gift of resurrection. Send us out into your world to be the presence of love and hope to all who despair and fear, that all may life, and life abundant. Alleluia, alleluia, amen.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is our deep joy and our delight to give you thanks and praise, O God, for you made all that is: the blizzard and the snowflake, the comet and the firefly, the universe and the blade of grass. You made all things, great and small, and you made us, your children, mirrors of your image, your beloved. You have always loved us but we have not always loved you. You sent messengers to us to remind us of your love, but we did not listen. In the fullness of time you sent us your Beloved, Jesus, your son. He claimed us and forgave us; he taught us and healed us; he saved us and raises us to life eternal . And so for this, and for all your goodness, we join our voices to those of the saints who sing these words forever:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is Jesus, the One whom we follow, the One who calls us, the One whom we strive to imitate in our living. We give him our life and our death, and in return he gives us life again. Blessed is the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus unleashed upon the church, that we might be empowered to do your work in the work. In humility and with trust we ask you to send your Spirit upon us now, and upon these gifts of bread and cup, that the bread we break will become for us the Bread of Life, and the cup we bless will become the Cup of Salvation. By your Spirit make us one with each other and with all who share in this feast you have prepared. And hear us now as we say the prayer Jesus taught us:
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
O Jesus, our beloved, we give you thanks for inviting us to your table and sharing your feast. May we know that we have been fed with love and grace, and may we follow you out in the world, ambassadors of your hope and peace. Amen.
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING FOR THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Lord be with you./And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. /We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God./ It is right to give our thanks and praise.
We do praise you, O God, because you made this beautiful world that we love, and you made the rhododendrons and the camellias that bloom, and the crows that squawk, and the sky full of clouds and blue. You made women and men and children, the people we love and depend on and admire. You made all this out of love, and we give you our thanks and praise. We have not always loved you back, but you are patient and persistent, helping us to turn back to you, sending us prophets to remind us of your word, sending your Son Jesus to us, to reach out to us and claim us and bring us back to you, our true home. And so in praise and thanksgiving we join our voices to those of the heavenly host, who sing to your glory, saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed are you, O God, and blessed is Jesus, our teacher and savior. He showed us the path of repentance that lays out the way of salvation. He walked that path with us, and beckons us on as we follow him to you. And so, trusting in him who leads us, and with humility before you our Creator, we give you thanks for the gift of bread and cup, and ask that by the power of your Spirit you transform them from their ordinary use to their sacred use today. Feed us, heal us, inspire us, encourage us with the bread of life and cup of salvation, that we will be empowered to be your people at work and ministry in the world. We give you thanks and praise, O God. We give you our lives, even as you give us life. And now hear us as we are bold to say together the prayer that Jesus taught….
ONE FOR THE SUNDAY WHEN WE HEAR THE STORY OF LYDIA
The Lord be with you./And also with you.
Lift up your hearts./We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God./ It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is our joy to thank you and praise, O God; for once we were no people, but you have made us your people. Once we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy. You made us all, men and women, fishermen and dealers in purple cloth; lawyers and teachers, parents, children, the flawed and beloved. You made us in love and clothe us with grace, and we give you thanks. And so in praise and thanksgiving we join our voices to those of the heavenly host who sing to your glory, saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
You are blessed, O God, as is Jesus our Christ, who came to us to teach us and heal us, to know what it is to be human, to show us the love of the divine. With grace and courage he gave us life eternal, that we might become the new community called together by you. As a community we pray for your Holy Spirit to weave among us and this bread and cup, to change them from ordinary things to holy vessels of forgiveness and grace. And as we partake, may we too be changed, filled with holy food so that we may go out and do holy things. For so much, we offer grateful hearts, and following the words of Jesus, we say together the prayer that he taught….
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right, and a privilege, and joy to praise you, O God, because you made Life: the universe, and this earth, and the flowers we love to water in the summer, and the berries we eat like candy. You made the dogs we walk in the morning, and the cats who sit on our laps even when it’s hot. You made us, men and women, tall and short, fat and thin, loveable and flawed. We praise you for all creation this day.
And so in praise and with great thanks we join our voices to those of the heavenly host who sing to your glory, saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
You are blessed, O God, as is Jesus our Christ, who invited all of us carrying heavy burdens to come to him. He bore our burdens; he healed us; and he saved us. He invited us to his table where we practice for the heavenly banquet that awaits us all.
And now, O God, we pray for your Spirit. We pray that your Spirit will descend upon our hearts and on these gifts of bread and cup, to transform them from their daily use into a sacred meal. By your Spirit may our hunger and thirst be sated, and may we be nourished to go out into the world to bear the burdens of others. For so much, we offer grateful hearts, and following the words of Jesus, we offer together the prayer that he taught….
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Millions of people for centuries have prayed this prayer just after receiving Communion. Amazing to think about that chorus of voices, isn’t it? Which petition speaks most to you right now?
Table of contents
PRAYER
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds, hide me.
Separated from Thee let me never be.
From the malignant enemy, defend me.
At the hour of death, call me.
To come to Thee, bid me,
That I may praise Thee in the company
Of Thy Saints, for all eternity. Amen.
And here’s a simple prayer from Padre Pio which is also wonderful to say to Christ as his Eucharistic Presence is nestled in your heart:
My past, O Lord, I entrust to your mercy. My presence to your love. My future to your providence.
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Here are five great prayers you can use before Communion or the Lord’s Supper.
Prayer for Humility
Father God,
Let us now bow humbly before You at this time, where we are about to receive Communion or the Lord’s Supper. We have no reason to have any pride Father, especially knowing that You resist those who are prideful (James 4:6). Help us to remain humble at the receiving of the bread and wine, because of what they symbolize, which gives significance to their meaning. Jesus, when we receive the bread and wine (juice), let us stay humble in recognizing that You paid such a high price that You did not owe, and shed your precious blood so that we might be saved. Righteous Father, let that sink deep into our hearts and make us grateful for the cost Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, paid. As we gaze upon Your beauty Jesus, let us receive the bread and wine with humility, knowing You are present with us, but also acknowledging that You made our redemption possible by your own precious blood and life, so we ask Your blessing on our Communion Lord, and to receive it for Your glory and in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.
Prayer for Examining
Father,
I do pray that those who have come to the Lord’s Supper have examined themselves beforehand so that they do not drink the wine (grape juice) or eat the bread in an unworthy manner, meaning that we don’t forget to esteem the precious body and blood of our Savior, and discerning it’s meaning for us today. I remember Jesus promising that the next time He partakes of Communion, it will be with those who dine with Him in the kingdom, as part of the celebration at the wedding feast of the Lamb of God with His bride, the church. That day we will partake of the meal in His presence is what we yearn for, and why Paul may have said that as long as we partake of the bread and wine, we proclaim His coming, so let us do just that, but do so with a heart that is willing to be examined to see if there is any unconfessed sin in our lives, and if there is Father, please forgive us so that we might have peace of mind when taking the bread and the wine, and we truly look forward to partaking of this meal in the very presence of Jesus Christ someday, and it is in His name we pray, Amen.
Prayer for Exalting
Great God in heaven,
Just to be able to fellowship with You and with Christ at Communion is such a privilege, that we cannot even express it in words. How grateful we are God, that You passed over our sins because of the shed blood of Christ, poured out for those who have trusted in Him. Help us to exalt You oh Lord in this service and to praise, honor, thank, and give You glory for our being able to commune with You because of Jesus Christ. If not for the precious blood of the Lamb of God, which has cleansed us from all unrighteousness (2nd Cor 5:21; 1 John 1:9), we would still be in our sins and only deserving Your wrath, but for some unknown reason God, You chose us to become a people for Your own self, and that You have said, “I will be your God, and you shall be my people.” What a glorious thing to contemplate, especially since not even one of us are good and not even one has ever sought you (Rom 3:10-11). You sought us and bought us, and now we give You thanks and ask Your blessing on the bread and wine, and we ask this in the name of and for the glory of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Prayer for Remembering
Father God in heaven,
Help us to remember the agony that Jesus endured before going to Calvary and not just on the cross. He knew beforehand that He would be bearing the sins of the world. How heavy that must have felt, we can only imagine how abandoned and forsaken He must have felt. I don’t think any of us can really know what our precious Savior endured for us on the cross. The shame, the beatings, the torture, and the agony of being crucified for something He didn’t do, and dying for us who were the ones that deserved this wrath. He grieved the sin that He bore so much that He sweat drops of blood. How hard was it for our sinless Savior to bare our sins? What price, what glory, what passion! Thank You Lord for this tremendous privilege. Great God, help us to keep sober minds and quiet spirits as we partake of the Lord’s Supper, understanding the suffering of the Savior’s passion for this meal to even be possible. Let this sink deep into our minds and cause our hearts to realize just how great a price He paid for those of us who had no hope outside of Christ. We know we should take stock of our lives well before Communion to see if there is any area in our life that is not right with You. Help us to see this as a somber, yet joyful occasion, but that every person should come with a clean conscience beforehand. And Father, help us all to remember the supreme cost that Jesus Christ paid, but as His Father, You too suffered greatly, and we can’t imagine what that was like for You Father, and so in the mighty name of Jesus, we ask a blessing on this Communion, and for Your glory, it is in Jesus Christ’s holy name we pray, Amen.
Prayer for Unity
Father God,
You have called us to be a people for Your own self, and so help us to unify in spirit and in purpose, to do the things You have appointed us to do (Eph 2:10), and this includes partaking and participating in the Lord’s Supper, as a body, which we are commanded to do. Since this is Your body, the church (Matt 25:34-40), we know that You are present with us, and that You are in each and every one of us; You are all and in all. Let us remain quiet in spirit and in movement God, showing deep reverence for such a sacrament. Help us stay focused on the bread and wine, and to think about these symbols, Lord. The body and the blood, both poured out as a drink offering, for a once-and-for-all sacrifice (Heb 10:10). We are overwhelmed by such amazing grace God, that I cannot even express it in a words or prayer! How wonderful are Your ways and awesome are Your blessings; we thank You Lord for the bread and wine and what these mean to us, and what they tell us about our eternity. But more so, what these meant for Christ (John 3:16), as there was no greater love ever shown Lord, in all of human history, and so in a spirit of unity we all now partake of the wine and the bread, and give You the glory for Your amazing grace, in Jesus’ most beloved name I pray, Amen.
Conclusion
Whatever prayer you pray before and/or after the Lord’s Supper or Communion, pray to God with a deep sense of humility, make it be a time of self-examination, and strive to live a life that glorifies God, by proclaiming to others, all of the marvelous things He has done for us, and finally, pray that you come together as a body, a community of believers, in fellowship with one another, having a relationship with one another, but most of all, to be in fellowship with the Living God, our Father; Jesus Christ, the Son of God; and God the Holy Spirit, for without which, we couldn’t even have a relationship with God.
Read more about Communion and the Lord’s Supper here: How to Prepare For Taking Communion
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A communion prayer is a reflective time when sitting at the table to invite all to share in the Banquet of Life. Bread and drink is shared just as that Jesus performed at the Last Supper with His apostles. Here is a look at some great communion prayers for elders to inspire you.
Prayer #1
I come to your table. Your painful sacrifice is on my mind. I look at the communion cracker. I see piercing. I see bruising. I see the brutality of the punishment that you endured for me. I see your everlasting love.
I gaze at the blood of redemption. I see your crimson mercy shimmering in this cup. I see your life being poured out for me. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.
In Jesus’ Name we celebrate this communion.
Amen.
Prayer #2
I come to your table to partake of intimate communion with you. I look at the bread. I see your suffering. I see the bruising, the stripes, and the piercing. Yet, the piercing of your body is nothing in comparison to the piercing of your heart. You made the ultimate sacrifice so that I could have everything I need to be right with you.
I look at the cup. This is the blood that oozed out of you as you suffered on the cross. Blood flowed out of your thorn-torn head as you not only bowed your human head but your mind, will, and emotions as well. I now bow my mind, will, and emotions to your will as I drink this cup.
Amen.
Prayer #3
Crucified God, we wear beautiful crosses around our necks, and hang them on our walls. We have made your “triumphant sign” of suffering decorative, when what it really needs to be is defining. So make us cruciform Lord, in our weekly remembrance of Christ’s death on the cross in our breaking of this bread.
Let us show by the offering of our hearts and hands the depth of our commitment to live for him who died for us.
In lives of sacrifice and service, empower our witness to Jesus Christ, whose cross so powerfully proclaims your love.
Amen.
Prayer #4
In lifting this cup of remembrance here this morning Oh God of sacrifice, we are lifting high the cross of Christ and proclaiming your great love. We partake, with gratitude, all the gifts that ours in Christ crucified – new life, real unity, eternal life, and a meaningful purpose.
Fill us now again with the power of your spirit that we might be bold in our witness to Jesus Christ,“till all the world adores his sacred name”.
Amen.
Prayer #5
Sweet Jesus, thank You for everything You have bestowed upon me. You have sacrificed Your life to save all of mankind from our sins. You have generously shared with us Your life when You could have chosen not to. Forgive me for the sins I have done against You and for the ones I will be making.
I promise that I will be a better person for you and for others. Bless the hands of the hard working, the hearts of the loving and the souls of those who help.
In Your name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer #6
Dear God, I come to You today to praise and glorify Your name. You have showered us with wonderful gifts. The best gift of all is giving Your son to save us from our sins.
There is no worse grief for a father than to lose his son. You have been unselfish and very giving even to those who have turned their backs on You. I pray that they come back to Your welcoming arms. I dedicate this prayer to those who need someone to call on to when the days get rough and the nights are worst.
Give them the strength and courage to come back to You, Father. Being with Jesus has ultimately changed my life. Let it be for them as well.
In Your glory always, I pray. Amen.
Prayer #7
Lord, as You enter my body, please cleanse me from all my sins.
Teach me to become as pure as You and Your mother Mary. I pray that I become a better person and be kinder to my neighbors. May Your presence in me make me a better person and do whatever is only on Your will.
Thank You for keeping me warm on those cold toasty nights and safe from harm. I pray that all my loved ones live in Your presence and that they always do what is right. I pray for the world to have peace especially in their hearts.
I pray this for Your glory, Lord. Amen.
Here is just one example of a communion prayer as it is given by an elder at the Church of God in Christ.
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