We gather to worship and celebrate communion this week. Jesus said, “Drink my blood.” That’s gross! But, what does it mean? We’ll meditate on it and thank God for the life we receive through it this Sunday. All the words that we’ll be using in worship are below. Or, you can download a copy to print here.

PRELUDE                                                                          Come Let Us Worship

CALL TO WORSHIP – from Psalm 126

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
   we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
   and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
   ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’
The Lord has done great things for us,
   and we rejoiced.
Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
   like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears
   reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
   bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
   carrying their sheaves.

*HYMN #581                                                      Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Most High and holy God, unless you build the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless you guard the city, the guards labor in vain. Unless we join you in your efforts, our efforts in vain. You are laboring to build your kingdom. You are guarding the vulnerable and oppressed, turning sorrow into shouts of joy. Lord, transform us with your Spirit so that we might leave our will behind and share in yours; so that we might lay our labors down and take up yours. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

ANTHEM                                                                                              Deep River

please remain seated

ASSURANCE OF PARDON – from 1 Corinthians 15

For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled:
‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’
‘Where, O death, is your victory?
   Where, O death, is your sting?’
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

*HYMN #375                                                                                      Your Name

SCRIPTURE                                                                                       John 6:51-58

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’

SERMON                                  What’s In This?!                                                 

*HYMN #691                                                                               Amazing Grace

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.

AND ALSO WITH YOU.

Lift up your hearts.

WE LIFT THEM TO THE LORD.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE OUR THANKS AND PRAISE.

O Holy God… we lift our hearts in joyful praise:

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.

We praise you… until we feast together in your eternal Kingdom

THROUGH CHRIST, WITH CHRIST, IN CHRIST, IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, ALL GLORY AND HONOR ARE YOURS, ALMIGHTY GOD, NOW AND FOREVER.  AMEN

COMMUNION                                               There Is A Redeemer (see #833)

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION & THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

OFFERTORY                                                 Jesus Christ Is the Way (see #471)

*DOXOLOGY #965

Inclusive lyrics:                              Praise God, from whom all blessings flow

                                                                  Praise God, all creatures here below

                                                                   Praise God, above ye heavenly host

                                                                           Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost

*BENEDICTION