1855 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402 USA
On the campus of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary
© 2024 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. This is the table of the Lord. He invites all who love him and trust in him alone for their salvation to sit with him and share in this joyful feast.
Child: Why do we come to this table?
Pastor: We come to this table because of Jesus’ command and invitation. In remembrance of him, Jesus tells us to eat this broken bread and to drink this cup in true faith and to keep doing so until he comes again.
Child: How is this meal different from all others?
Pastor: In this supper God tells us that our sins have been completely forgiven through the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross where his body was broken and his blood was shed. God also tells us that the Holy Spirit makes us one with Christ, and in Christ one with all other Christians.
Come, then, people of God, to the joyful feast of our Lord.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Loving God, You made this world marvelous for us to enjoy.
You gave Jesus to be our Savior, Lord, and friend, and to bring us to you.
You send your Spirit to make us one family in Christ.
For these gifts of love we thank you
and join with angels and saints in this joyful hymn of praise:
[Sung or spoken]
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
For your kindness to us and your goodness to all,
we give you thanks.
We thank you that you showed your love by sending your Son,
who gave his life for us,
and rose again from death,
and lives to pray for us forever.
We thank you that he has taken away all that separates us from you,
and has made us friends with you and with one another.
We thank you that he has brought us together at this table,
to strengthen us by his love.
Send your Holy Spirit
on us and these your gifts of bread and wine,
that we may know Christ’s presence,
real and true,
and be his faithful followers,
showing your love for the world.
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father,
now and forever. Amen.
Child: Why do we eat the bread?
Pastor: The bread which we break is a sharing in the body of Christ. We remember and believe that the body of our Lord Jesus Christ was given for the complete forgiveness of all our sins.
Child: Why do we drink the cup?
Pastor: The cup for which we give thanks is a sharing in the blood of Christ. We remember and believe that the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ was shed for the complete forgiveness of all our sins.
Come, for all is ready. The gifts of God for the people of God.
