Holy Communion – Zoom – Sunday 30 October 2022, 6.00 pm

Join us this evening as Revd. Ernesto Lozada-Uzuriaga leads us in a service of Holy Communion.

Link to Zoom meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89022932747?pwd=aVNxMGZzOEN3NnlyY3dnZmtTL2p1QT09

Welcome

Gathering Prayer

God of friendship, you are our life’s companion – a guest in our homes and our host in this place and all the world. May we always be eager for your company and, as we meet you here today, may we be open to your transforming presence.

Amen.

Hymn

Bible Reading

Isaiah 1:10-18

¹⁰ Hear the word of the Lord,
you rulers of Sodom;
listen to the instruction of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!
¹¹ ‘The multitude of your sacrifices –
what are they to me?’ says the Lord.
‘I have more than enough of burnt offerings,
of rams and the fat of fattened animals;
I have no pleasure
in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
¹² When you come to appear before me,
who has asked this of you,
this trampling of my courts?
¹³ Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations –
I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
¹⁴ Your New Moon feasts and your appointed festivals
I hate with all my being.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.
¹⁵ When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.

Your hands are full of blood!

¹⁶ Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
¹⁷ Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.

¹⁸ ‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’
says the Lord.
‘Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

(© NIV)

Confession

Following you, Jesus, does not guarantee an easy life.

There are challenges and obstacles as the sinful life constantly fights with our Spirit-filled life. We are sorry when our human condition takes over and we fight using our own efforts. We’re sorry for the times we retaliate when others are hurtful to us.

We’re sorry for relying on our own ideas and neglecting the wisdom of the Spirit’s guidance. We’re sorry for all the excuses we offer to get out of things you ask us to do.

We’re sorry for letting you down, for our complacency.

We know some things can’t wait. And that you call for action.

Silence

Forgive us, Lord.

Help us to centre our life on you, heeding the urgency of your call.
Amen.

The Thanksgiving

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed be God for ever.

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink.
Blessed be God for ever.

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 thanks and praise.

Almighty God, good Father to us all, your face is turned towards your world. In love you gave us Jesus your Son to rescue us from sin and death.
Your Word goes out to call us home to the city where angels sing your praise. We join with

them in heaven’s song:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

We bless the name of Jesus, bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh whose brokenness and suffering makes love real, who on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples saying, Take, eat. This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.

After supper he took the cup saying, drink from this, all of you, this is my blood given for you. Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of me.

This is the mystery of our faith.
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.

Therefore, as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we acknowledge brokenness as a path to truth. We long for the bread of tomorrow: eternally broken and so able to nourish. We long for the new wine of the kingdom: continuously poured out that thirst may be quenched.

Send your Spirit on us now that by these gifts we may feed on Christ with opened eyes and hearts on fire. May we and all who share this food offer ourselves to live for you and be welcomed at your feast in heaven where all creation worships you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit:

Blessing and honour and glory and power Be yours forever and ever.
Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today 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 the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.

THE COMMUNION

We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.
Amen.

After Communion

Return to God with all your heart: remove the burdens of the poor, let the oppressed go free, and speak evil no more. Offer your food to the hungry and care for the afflicted, and your light will break forth like the dawn.

Amen

Hymn

Blessing

For each step that we might take
Be our guide, O Lord of life

For each load that we might bear
Be our strength, O Lord of life

For each mountain we might face
Be our power, O Lord of life

For each river that might impede
Be our safety, O Lord of life

For each place where we might rest
Be our peace, O Lord of life

For each sunrise and sunset
Be our joy, O Lord of life

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.

The Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ.
Amen