Learning about our Christian Traditions:
Holy Communion / Eucharist / The Lord’s Supper

Led by: Revd George Mwaura
With Revd Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga

Welcome

Opening Prayer

Amazing God, we thank you for giving us the opportunity to gather here today as your people.
Thank you for protecting us as we travelled and providing an opportunity to meet, learn, and grow.

As we begin our service on this Sunday we have dedicated as a learning opportunity
of the sacrament commanded by our Lord,
we pray for your presence among us. Guide us by your Spirit
so we may have a fruitful learning time together.

Living God, you remind us how important it is to spend quiet time with you,
and in Psalm 46 you tell us:

‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’

As we begin our service, we give our cares and worries to you.
Our complete attention is on you now.
Cleanse and restore us as we praise your holy name and celebrate your goodness together.

Amen

Hymn: Be still, for the presence Of the Lord

Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.
Come, bow before him now, with reverence and fear.
In him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.

Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around;
he burns with holy fire, with splendour he is crowned.
How awesome is the sight, our radiant King of light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.

Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place,
he comes to cleanse and heal, to minister his grace.
No work too hard for him, in faith receive from him;
be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.

David J. Evans (b. 1957)
CCL31580

Introduction

Part One: The Lord’s Supper in the Bible

Luke 22: 14–22

Read by Nerys Steeds

¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵ And he said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfilment in the kingdom of God.’

¹⁷ After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, ‘Take this and divide it among you. ¹⁸ For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’

¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’

²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. ²¹ But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. ²² The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!’

NIV®

Matthew 26: 26–28

Read by Peter Steeds

²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’

²⁷ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

NIV®

Mark 14: 22–25

Read by Pat Kyd

²² While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body.’

²³ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.

²⁴ ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,’ he said to them. ²⁵ ‘Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’

NIV®

Acts 2: 42–47

Read by Robin Kyd

⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

NIV®

1 Corinthians 11: 23–26

Read by Revd George Mwaura

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ 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.’ ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

NIV®

Hymn: We come as guests invited

We come as guests invited
when Jesus bids us dine,
his friends on earth united
to share the bread and wine;
the bread of life is broken,
the wine is freely poured
for us in solemn token
of Christ our dying Lord.

We eat and drink, receiving
from Christ the grace we need,
and in our hearts believing
on him by faith we feed;
with wonder and thanksgiving
for love that knows no end,
we find in Jesus living
our ever-present friend.

One bread is ours for sharing,
one single fruitful vine,
our fellowship declaring
renewed in bread and wine:
renewed, sustained and given
by token, sign and word,
the pledge and seal of heaven,
the love of Christ our Lord.

Timothy Dudley-Smith (b. 1926)
CCL31580

Part 2: Holy Communion – Eucharist – The Lord’s Supper

The Elements: Bread and Wine

Different views: What do the Bread and Wine represent?

Consubstantiation

is the belief that the bread and wine contain Jesus’ spiritual presence,
but do not literally transform into his body and blood.

Transubstantiation

is the belief that during Mass, the bread and wine used for Communion
become (literally) the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Memorialism

is the belief that the elements of bread and wine (or grape juice) in the Eucharist are purely symbolic.

Conclusions

The Peace

Sisters and brothers: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be always with you.
and also with you.

Prayers and Intercessions

Led by Rosemary Kearsey

Notices

Christian Aid Collection

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to our recent Christian Aid Week collection. We received £751.50 in the envelopes, which along with gift-aid make £895. In addition to this several people also contributed directly to Christian Aid via their website – so our total donations will be well over £1000. This is wonderful! Very many thanks indeed!

MK Can!

Come along and find out more about MK Can

Alongside special guests and speakers MK Food Bank wants to invite as many businesses, community groups, charities and schools to learn about how we can work together to create MK Can, a World Record breaking attempt in Milton Keynes!

• Special guests and entertainment at the MK Rose
• How you can get involved
• MK Rose, Campbell Park 17:00 – 18:30

Details here: MK Can | Milton Keynes Food Bank (mkfoodbank.org.uk).

Church Picnic and Guided Walk

10.30 am Saturday, 15 July 2023 in Campbell Park

We are hoping to have a Church Picnic on 15 July 2023 from 10.30 am until about 1.30–2.00 pm in Campbell Park. It will include a Guided Walk through Campbell Park lasting about an hour. We need to have an idea of numbers so we can arrange enough stewards and helpers. The plan for the day is:

From 10.30 am: arrive in Campbell Park
11.00 am – 12.00 noon: Guided Walk
12.00 noon onwards: Picnic and fellowship

Please note: No children without a parent. There are no toilet facilities in the park.

On this occasion you would bring your own picnic lunch and drink.

If you would like to take part, please clearly print your name and mobile phone number on the sign-up sheet in Reception.

Cheryl Montgomery, Eco-Church Group

Collection

Hymn: Blessèd assurance, Jesus is mine

Blessèd assurance, Jesus is mine:
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God;
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I on my Saviour am happy and blest —
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.

Fanny Crosby (née Frances J. van Alstyne) (1820–1915)
CCL31580

Blessings

Friends, let us go forth into the world in peace and dedicated to God’s service.
Let us hold fast to that which is good,
render to no person evil for evil,
strengthen the faint-hearted,
support the weak, help the needy and the afflicted,
and honour all people

And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you today and always.

Amen

Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ,

Amen