PRAISE COMMUNION SERVICE

Praise and Worship Services are being celebrated more and more frequently in some congregations. Here is an alternative for the celebration of a Praise and Worship Communion Service, with some text adaptations and using contemporary music. The songs suggested are from Mil Voces Para Celebrar (MVPC), The Faith We Sing (FWS) and this resource, Fiesta Cristiana (FC). The words may be shown on a screen. It is suggested that musical instruments, symbols and other objects that reflect the culture of the people gathered be used.

It is hoped that this service may inspire the use of music, songs and message that are of a celebrative nature and that reflect the joy of a people that has experienced Christ's renewing grace.

ORDER OF WORSHIP

GATHERING SONGS – Suggested:

MVPC:
355 Dios está aquí
278 Miren que bueno
73 Sólo tu eres santo

FWS:
2049 God Is Here Today
2231 O Look and Wonder
2077 You Alone Are Holy
2272 Holy Ground

FC:
286 Santo, Santo, Santo / Holy, Holy, Holy

WELCOME AND GREETING

To all those who have come to praise God: Welcome to the Lord's Banquet!
Here is bread that satisfies and the cup that quenches our thirst for God.

Christ invites us to celebrate his name!
Let us praise joyfully!
As a redeemed people, let us make a feast and
remember the joy of our salvation. Amen.

PRAYER

A prayer invoking the blessing and guidance of God in the service.

SONGS OF THE PSALMS – Suggested:

MVPC:
44 Te alabarán (Sal. 138:4-6)
FC:
284 Jubilosos (Sal. 33, adapt.)
FWS:
2002 I Will Call Upon the Lord (Ps. 18:2-3)
2022 Great Is the Lord (Ps. 35:27b-28)
2023 How Majestic Is Your Name (Ps. 8:1)

SCRIPTURE READING(S)

Readings related to the sermon's topic

SERMON

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

A creed may be used (See AFIRMACIONES DE FE /AFFIRMATIONS OF FAITH, p. 265,) or a song related to the sermon may be used, or the congregation may offer testimonies of gratitude to God.

OFFERING

SPECIAL MUSIC

INVITATION

Christ's invitation to the table is for all. The Lord wants us to come without denying our faults and failures, and hungry and thirsty for new life.

CONFESSION AND PARDON

Let us open our hearts and confess to the Lord:

You know us, O God. We have not lived as you want us to live;
we have instead strayed from your path. Help us return to your ways.
We long for you to listen to us, to receive us and to pardon us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son and our Savior. Amen.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9.)
Brothers and sisters, believe the Lord when he offers pardon.

In the name of Jesus Christ you are forgiven!
In the name of Jesus Christ you are forgiven also!

While the congregation sings "La paz esté con nosotros," MVPC 350, signs of peace and reconciliation may be exchanged.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

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, God almighty. You alone are worthy of all honor and praise in heaven and on earth. You gave us the breath of life and formed us in your image to be your children, the family of your love. In love you invite us to receive the gifts and riches of your hand so that we may lack nothing, while you only desire gratitude from our hearts and praise from our lips.

Therefore, celebrating and announcing your glory, we join the heavenly choir and praise your name in the unending hymn:

“Holy, holy, holy, God of
power and might.
Heaven and earth of full
of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in
the name of the Lord. Hosanna,
hosanna, hosanna in the
highest.”

(*Para la versión musical, ver Música para la Comunion C, pág. 68).

Merciful God, you formed us to be yours, but in our sin we strayed. You sent your Son Jesus Christ to save us and, as the shepherd finds the lost sheep and returns it to the flock, he returned us to your flock. He suffered for us, was obedient to you even accepting death to offer us salvation and bring us back to you once more.

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." After supper 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 in remem­ brance of me."

We offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us so that our lives may proclaim the mystery of faith:

*Jesus Christ has died. Jesus Christ is risen. Jesus Christ will come again.

And now, O God, we celebrate again the redemption of our souls in the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ that we may be for the world the body of Christ as we serve in your kingdom on earth. Be with us and help us to be an obedient church until we are joined with your saints in heaven and are one with you. Through your Son, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory are yours, almighty God, now and for ever.

*Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

See The Lord's Prayer, p. 288. / MVPC: 130 Padre nuestro

GIVING THE BREAD AND THE CUP

The pastor breaks the bread in silence, or with appropriate words and lifts the cup in silence or with appropriate words. The bread and cup are given to the people. Appropriate songs may be sung during communion. Suggested:

UMH: MVPC:

637 Sheaves of Summer I MVPC: 319 Una espiga
317 El Señor nos ama hoy
322 Let Us Offer to the Father / Te ofrecemos, Padre nuestro
323 Arriba los corazones

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Thank you, O God, you that are worthy of all praise. You have forgiven us and offered us new life. We have experienced the reality of Christ in us as we have received the bread and cup. What more can we ask of you? Thank you, loving God. Guide our steps into service that is more worthy of your name, today and forever. Amen.

CLOSING SONG – Suggested:

MVPC:

307 Enviado soy de Dios / Sent out In Jesus' Name
346 El culto terminó

FWS:

2186 Song of Hope / Canto de Esperanza

BENEDICTION

(*Para la versión musical, ver Música para la Comunión C, pág. 68).

BAJAR AHORA