Minister:As We Prepare to Share Communion Together, Let Us First Bring to God Our Confession

An All Age Communion Service

We created a communion check-list to give to children on a clipboard with a pencil (see the end of this document and you can download it from the Kids Friendly website). It's good to have them sitting next to an adult who can help them follow the liturgy.

Explain to the children: Listen carefully, you'll recognise the words of the last supper from The Children’s Story Book Bible. Tick off the parts of our communion (last supper) service that you recognise.

INVITATION

Minister:Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never be hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35. This table does not belong to the Church, it belongs to the Lord. It is made ready for those who love him and want to love him more. So come, you who have much faith, and you have have little, you who have come often, and you who have not been for a long time, you who have tried to follow and you who have failed. Come, not because I invite you, but because our Lord does. He wants to meet you here.

CONFESSION:

Minister:As we prepare to share communion together, let us first bring to God our confession.

God of love, we confess that we are not always the people you have called us to be. We do not always love others as you want us to. We do not always love creation as you want us to. There are times where we are selfish. There are times where we aremean and angry. Forgive us and help us to live the lives you want us to live.

Silence

God of love, you know all our faults and have heard our prayers. God has forgiven us. Let us forgive each other in love and share the peace of Christ with each other.

Invite people to greet one another saying: Peace be with you.

Congregation: And also with you.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING:

Minister:Let us give thanksand praise to the Lord our God by praying together the age-old words of the Great Thanksgiving Prayer:

Minister:The Lord be with you

Congregation:And also with you

Minister:Lift up your hearts

Congregation:We lift them up to the Lord

Minister:Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

Congregation:It is right to give both thanks and praise

Minister:Loving God, as we gather at Your table, we give you thanks and praise for all the wonderful things you have done. All over the world your people praise you. In heaven the apostles and all the saints sing your praise. Now we join with them and with the angels to adore you as we sing: (iona version)

ALL:Holy holyholy Lord, God of power and might

Heaven and Earth are full our your glory

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he, o blessed is he.

Who comes in the name of the Lord

Hosanna in the Highest, hosanna in the highest.

Epiclesis

HOLY SPIRIT PRAYER:

Minister:Holy God, we thank you for these gifts of bread and wine. Send your Holy Spirit that these gifts of bread and wine which we receive may be the life of Christ in us. Amen.

THE STORY:

Minister:When we eat bread and drink grape juice together at the Lord’s table, we remember how, on the night before he died, Jesus met with his disciples for a meal. At that meal, Jesus picked up a cup of wine and thanked God for it. He poured it out and shared it. ‘My body is like this bread. It will break.’ Jesus told them. This cup of wine is like my blood. It will pour out.’ ‘But this is how God will rescue the whole world. My life will break and God’s broken world will mend. My heart will tear apart - and your hearts will heal. Just as the Passover lamb died, so now I will die instead of you. My blood will wash away all of your sins. And you’ll be clean on the inside – in your hearts. So, whenever you eat and drink, remember, this, Jesus died that we might live.’

DISTRIBUTION:

Minister:

Friends, Christ invites you to receive him here at his table.
He also invites you to share in him,in his life of love for the world.
If you would like to accept his invitation,then come as you’re ready,as we share this meal together.

Give directions for how we will share communion together

Thanks to KCML intern Mo Morgan for sharing this communion liturgy with us. Mo wrote this while serving at St James’ Presbyterian Church in Whanganui.