10-Follow

Entrance and Word

"We Will Follow," Worship & Song, 3160

Reading: John 21:19

"We Will Follow," Worship & Song, 3160

Reading : Mark 16:19-20

"We Will Follow," Worship & Song, 3160

Silence

Invitation, Confession, Pardon and Peace
Bishop:
This isn't my dining room or my table.
Imagine yourself having a meal
breaking bread with Jesus.
He invites you to bring something.

What are you bringing to the table?

Deacon: The sacrifice I bring is myself.
People: The sacrifice I bring is myself.

Bishop: Are you tired of eating alone?
Do you know that God is holy
and wants you to be holy, too?

Deacon: Yes, my plate is empty.
People: Yes, my plate is empty.

Deacon: and Jesus' table is full.
People: and Jesus' table is full.

Bishop: We come to this table broken
and we need to be made whole.

Silence

Deacon: Out on the street, we were just having fun.
People: Out on the street, we were just having fun.

Bishop: Did you know you were really betraying God?
Wait a minute. Think about the ways you betrayed him/God.

(Silence for personal confession as fits your setting)

Deacon: I'm so sorry for the things I've done.
People: I'm so sorry for the things I've done.

Deacon: I'm so sorry for the people I've hurt.
People: I'm so sorry for the people I've hurt.

Deacon: I'm so sorry for hurting you, God.
People: I'm so sorry for hurting you, God.

Bishop: Please forgive us, God.
You are the key to an open door.

Deacon: We praise you, God of the Open Door.
People: We praise you, God of the Open Door.

Deacon: God has forgiven us
and repairs everything that is broken.

People: God has forgiven us
and repairs everything that is broken.

Bishop: God wants us to be at peace.
Look at the people around you and say:

Deacon: I offer you the peace of God.
People: I offer you the peace of God.

The people offer peace to one another

Great Thanksgiving

Bishop: The Lord Jesus is with you.

Deacon: Jesus is with you, too.

People: Jesus is with you, too.

Bishop: Will you praise the Lord with joy in your heart?

Deacon: Yes, we will!

People: Yes, we will!

Bishop: If you can breathe, you can praise God.

Bishop and deacon continue to say this until the people enter into praise.
After praise has continued for a while, the bishop asks

Bishop: Isn't it good
to give our thanks and praise
to the Lord?

Deacon: Yes, it's really good
to give our thanks and praise
to the Lord.

People: Yes, it's really good
to give our thanks and praise
to the Lord.

Deacon: We join our praises with the hosts of heaven,
singing Hallelujah . . .

People: We join our praises with hosts of heaven,
singing Hallelujah . . .

(Sing Hallelujahs for a time . . . let the Spirit move and lead Halle Halle)

Bishop: You created us, and blessed us
and called us good.

Bishop: We are desperate for good news.
Deacon: You bring good news, God of mercy.
People: You bring good news, God of mercy.

Bishop: You heal us when we are sick in body
and sick in spirit.

Deacon: You sit at the table with sinners
and teach us your ways.

People: You sit at the table with sinners
and teach us your ways.

Bishop: We deserve death,
but you died so we could live.

Deacon: The power of God raised Jesus from the grave.
People: The power of God raised Jesus from the grave.

Bishop: The power of God lifts us from the pit of sin.
Deacon: God washes us clean and gives us new life.
People: God washes us clean and gives us new life.

Bishop takes the bread.

Bishop: On the night you were betrayed, Jesus,
you blessed and broke the bread.

Deacon: You said, "This is my body and I give it to you."
People: You said, "This is my body and I give it to you."

Deacon: You said, "Remember me."

People: "Remember me."

Bishop takes the cup.

Bishop: You did the same thing with the cup that was on the table
and said it was a new covenant you made with us,
a vow you would not break.

Bishop places bread and cup on the table.

Deacon: We remember it all,
People: We remember it all.

Deacon: All you have done to save us, Triune God.
People: All you have done to save us, Triune, God.

Deacon: And we bless your holy name!
People: And we bless your holy name!

Bishop: We don't belong to ourselves any more.
Deacon: We give ourselves to you.
People: We give ourselves to you.

Bishop: It's a mystery, but we believe
Deacon: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
People: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

Bishop: Pour out your Spirit on us.
Deacon: Pour out your Spirit on us.
People: Pour out your Spirit on us.

Bishop: Pour out your Spirit on these gifts
Deacon: Pour out your Spirit on these gifts
People: Pour out your Spirit on these gifts

Bishop: Make these gifts the body and blood of Christ.
Deacon: Through these gifts, make us Christ's body in the world.
People: Through these gifts, make us Christ's body in the world.

Bishop: Mighty Creator, let your kingdom come.
Deacon: Glory to you, Mighty Creator.
People: Glory to you, Mighty Creator.

Bishop: Come, Lord Jesus! Be our daily bread.
Deacon: Glory to you, Lord Jesus!
People: Glory to you, Lord Jesus!

Bishop: Holy Spirit, send us out as a light in the darkness.
Deacon: Glory to you, Holy Spirit!
People: Glory to you, Holy Spirit!

Bishop: Glory be to God the Father,
God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Deacon: God in three persons, blessed Trinity.
People: God in three persons, blessed Trinity.

Bishop: Amen
Deacon: And Amen
People: And Amen!

Breaking and Giving

Thanks and Sending

Deacon lines out the words.

Thank you God for what you've done.

Thank you God for what you've done.

You've given your only son.

You've given your only son .

I will give my life to you,

I will give my life to you,

I promise I will follow through.

I promise I will follow through.

Amen and Amen.

Amen and Amen.

Bishop offers a benediction.

Deacon sends the people forth in peace.

Download a pdf of this service.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Invitation, Confession, Pardon, Peace and Great Thanksgiving are from "A Great Thanksgiving for Use in Prisons" by the Prison Chaplains Writers Group of the Open Source Liturgy Project of Discipleship Ministries, 2010. Used by permission under a Creative Common License 3.0 (NA-ND-NC).