Lord’s Day 28: Q&A 75-77: United with Christ

One of the main aspects of both of the sacraments is participation in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we enter into a few weeks on The Lord’s Supper/Communion/Eucharist, we see that laid out in the text of the Catechism. This week we have prepared some elements of a Communion Liturgy based on the Q&As, notably prayers of Thanksgiving.

Q&A 75

THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORK OF GOD IN CREATION

God of abundance,

You created us in your beautiful image.

You care for us and sustain us by your loving hand.

All we have comes from you, loving Father.

We thank you for meeting our needs each day.

The gifts of your creation you use to care for us.

You nourish us by your creation

You nourish us by your word

You nourish us by the body and blood of your Son

Thank you for your complete nourishment.

Raised from death, and made alive 

by the nourishment of our Savior Jesus, 

we join our voices

with all the saints and angels and the whole creation

to proclaim the glory of your name.

Q&A 75-77

THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORK OF CHRIST

Gracious God,

While we were sinful and rebellious,

Your love for us never ceased.

While we were dead in sin,

You planned to bring us back to life.

Thank you God,

For the suffering and death of your Son, Jesus Christ.

That through his resurrection,

We are set free from sin and evil.

Through the offering of his body and blood,

We are truly nourished by Christ Jesus.

As real as the bread and wine we are about to eat,

We know how real Christ's love is for us.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

At his last supper, the Lord Jesus took bread,

and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,

“This is my body, which is for you;

do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way,

he took the cup after supper and said,

“This cup is the new covenant in my blood;

do this in remembrance of me.”

For whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup,

we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Q&A 76

PRAYER FOR THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Holy Spirit, who lives both in Christ and in us,

Unite us more and more to Christ’s blessed body.

Raise us into the heavenly presence

Of our divine host, our Savior Jesus.

As we eat this meal, 

Work in us and your church universal,

That we would grow more and more united.

By your power, Holy Spirit,

And through our Savior Jesus,

Remind us, that we are flesh of his flesh

And bone of his bone. 

Members of the body of Christ,

Which we are all nourished by forever.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

United in Christ and as one body,

Let us pray how our Savior taught us to pray.

[Lord’s prayer]