Holy Communion - 13th April 2008 - MS Black Watch

God led out his people like sheep,
and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. (Ps 78: 52)

God will feed his flock like a shepherd,
God will gather the lambs in his arms. (Is. 40: 11)

HYMN: The King of love my shepherd is

This is not just the Black Watch lounge:
This is where God is.
In this sacred moment and in this sacred place,
God meets us.

We celebrate God's presence.
We come as God's flock.
We come in worship.

We come, too, in sorrow,
because there are things about us that should be different.
We are not satisfied with ourselves. We are anxious about our lives.
We feel disjointed in our believing.
We need to share this with God, our loving Shepherd.

Christ among us, Partner and Saviour,
deliver us from the powers that kill body and spirit.
Give us new heart, new hope, and a new song.
Ease our tiredness, hold us in our pain and hurt,
and bring us from brokenness to wholeness,
by your power and in your name.

Receive and believe God's promise:
"Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners."
"I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Brothers and sisters in Christ, here is good news:
God loves and values us, and forgives what is past.

In Christ God reaches out to heal and renew us.
Trust in your heart the promise of new life,
and proclaim with your lips the goodness of God.

We are a forgiven people.
Thanks be to God

HYMN: In heavenly love abiding

Reading : John 10: 1-10

Reflection

HYMN: Church of the living Christ

To wake from sleep into this day is gift enough for thanks.
To meet again new friends is gift enough for thanks.
To see new places, or even the open sea is gift enough for thanks.

So now we pray for what is on our minds:

For those who work under the open sky, at sea, on the land -
and for those who never see the open sky,
living their days in offices, shops and factories,
that all of us may find ways of seeing the beauty of the world
and letting that beauty speak to our souls:
God, hear us,
And in your love, answer.

For people whose experience of life is sad or bitter,
for all suffering long-term illness,
for those damaged by neglect ill-treatment or abuse,
especially when at the hand of those who ought to care:
God, hear us,
And in your love, answer.

For those who are hungry where there is plenty,
or homeless through circumstances or disaster,
or exploited by those with ruthless power,
or refugees through persecution or oppression:
God, hear us,
And in your love, answer.

For others whom we can think of, known to us or unknown,
whose stories bring tears to our eyes
and for whom we can do little or nothing
except to link our hearts with theirs:
God, hear us,
And in your love, answer.

Lord, make us instruments of your peace;
where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

Mighty and tender God, in Jesus of Nazareth
we recognize the fullness of your grace:
light, life, and love, revealed in words
that confront and comfort us,
in teachings that challenge and change us,
in compassion that heals and frees us.

And now we gather at this table to remember
and to be filled with such longing for your realm,
that we may rise together to turn our worship into witness
and to follow in your way.

We remember that when Jesus ate with his friends,
he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it,
he broke it and gave it to them, saying:
"Take, eat.
This is my body, given for you.
Each time you do this,
remember me."
Later he took a cup, and after giving thanks,
passed it to his friends, saying:
"Drink.
This cup that is poured out for you
is the promise of God, made in my blood.
Whenever you drink it, remember me."

Eternal God,
we unite in this covenant of faith
as we break bread and share the cup,
giving thanks for your love in Jesus, the Christ.

We spread your table with these gifts of the earth and of human labour.
We present to you our very lives, committed to your service.

Holy God, we pray for your Spirit.
Make us, while many, one.
Make us, though broken, whole.
Make us, despite death, alive.

And so we pray: Come, Holy Spirit, come.

The bread that we break, and the cup for which we give thanks
are our sharing in the life of Christ.

So now, come. All things are now ready.

The Sharing of Bread and Wine

Life-giving God,
may we, who share Christ's body, live his risen life;
we, who drink his cup, bring new life to others;
we, whom the Spirit lights, give light to the world.

Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so that we and all your children shall be free,
and all creation will live to praise your name.
Amen.

May God,
who is the Shepherd of our souls,
watch over us, the flock of God, and keep us safe:
and may the blessing of God rest upon us,
upon those we love and upon those who love us,
now and always.
Amen



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