Eucharist

In my pastoral days I was always fascinated by the “Supper Strife,” the ferocious debates about the meaning of the Lord’s Supper. For many years, I agreed with Jean Calvin. Now I think Heinrich Bullinger is more nearly correct. Some few years ago, I enjoyed a Sunday service, in Swiss German, in Zwingli’s and Bullinger’s parish (Grossmünster Cathedral in Zurich) before watching a delightful Swan Lake by the Swiss Ballet Company that had the distinction of employing more lovely swans (24!) than any other Swan Lake I have ever seen (including a truly transcendent rendition by the Bolshoi Ballet Company).

Moving past contemporary indifference, I think the disagreements about theory and practice of the Eucharist continue to the point that hardly anyone agrees with anyone else.  I would be interested in any thoughts out there.  Nevertheless, for the congregations I served I prepared three liturgies:  1) Every quarter we used a long (30 minute) service.  2) We used a shorter service for each month that was not on the quarter. And 3), this very short service for home use.

The Ascription

Blessing, and glory, and honor, and thanksgiving be unto Our God for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Confession

O Lord, grant to us true repentance, forgiveness of all our sins,  time for amendment, newness of life, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Thanksgiving

We thank and praise Thee for thy redeeming love revealed to us in Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Remembrance    

We remember before thy face his incarnation and holy life, his grievous suffering and precious death, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, his continual prayer and kingly session.

Invocation

Father of all mercies, vouchsafe to us thy gracious presence and by the effectual working of thy Holy Spirit set apart so much as we shall use of this bread and this wine that we may continue to be united to Him in whom we live, and move, and have our being.

The Bread

According to the Scripture, on the same night in which He was betrayed, Our Lord took bread and when He had blessed it and given thanks, He broke it and said,“Take, eat, this is my body, which is broken for you.  This do in remembrance of me.”

The Cup

After the same manner also He took the cup when He had supped saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for the remission of sins; this do as oft as you drink it in remembrance of me.”

Prayer

Almighty God, we thank Thee that we have been fed at thy table, assured that we belong to the blessed company of thy faithful people.  We beseech Thee to assist us with thy grace that we may live to thy glory through Jesus Christ Our Lord who liveth and reigneth, and is worshipped with Thee, O Father, and the Holy Spirit–world without end.

Benediction

The grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with us all.  Amen