Communion Liturgy for Palm Sunday, April 5th, 2020

The Great Thanksgiving During Times of Crisis
by Arlindall Burks
Adapted by Arlindall Burks from a Service of Word and Table II
Pastor:

The Lord be with you. And also with you. 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.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, Always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
You created a world that reflects your love and grace. Birds that have colors of the rainbow, Sunrises that wakens and reminds us or your gift of a new day, Sunsets that points to the need for rest and renewal. The beauty of your people created in your image.

And know Lord, we come with humble hearts in need of forgiveness for our failure to “listen to Him;” Our failure to live in ways that we are recognized how we love one another.
Forgive us Lord and set our feet on the path that follows you and points to the Kingdom of God.

We are in need of your mercy. We are in need of your courage. We are a people on our knees in need of deliverance from a world filled with fear… fear of the Coronavirus fear of being with family and friends, fear of not being with them, fear of an unknown future. We bow now, before the throne of your grace that offers peace that passes all understanding.

And so, with all your people on earth in every place that they gather, in living rooms and dens, in kitchens and dining rooms, on porches and patios, and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

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.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.
By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.
On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Pour out your Holy Spirit on your people wherever they are gathered and the elements for the feast you have provided. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honor and glory is yours, Almighty God, now and forever.
Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Instruct Congregation:
The Body of Christ broken for you
The Blood of Christ shed for you.
Eat, drink and be filled by His infinite love and amazing grace.