Community & Communion

We gathered together this afternoon/ evening for a meal together at the Tynant Inn.  Sadly the weather meant the kids weren’t able to make the most of the outdoor play area, but plenty of colouring in and amusements with each other helped. That and the fact that the Sunday Lunchtime rush was well and truly over by the time we arrived, so they could run around a little more without disturbing too many people!

We had some background music thoughtfully supplied by the pub (irony signpost here) that seemed oddly suited to our recent bereavement. First there was Daniel (1973) – sung by Elton John, then Knocking on Heaven’s Door (not sung by Guns n Roses, or Bob Dylan, on the pub CD), and finally the mix of Mad World (by tears for fears, but popular from the soundtrack to Donnie Darko).

After the meal we shared an intentional communion of bread and wine together. Thought in case anyone wanted, I’d put the liturgy we used up here. It’s taken from the Iona Community Worship book.

(3 Candles Lit)

I will light a light in the name of the Maker.Who lit the world and breathed the breath of life for me.

I will light a light in the name of the Son,Who saved the world and stretched out his hand to me.

I will light a light in the name of the SpiritWho encompassess the world and blesses my soul with yearning.

We will light three lights for the trinity of love:
God Above Us, God Beside Us, God Beneath Us:
The Beginning, The End, The Everlasting One.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Blessed is out brother Jesus,Who walks with us the road of our world’s suffering
And who is known to us in the breaking of bread.
On the night of his arrest Jesus took bread
And having blessed it
He broke the bread
And gave it to his disciples, saying,
“This is my body, given for you”.
In the same way he took wine
And having given thanks for it
He poured it out
And gave the cup to his disciples, saying,
“This cup is the new relationship with God,
Sealed with my blood.
Take this and share it.
I shall drink wine with you next
In the coming Kingdom of God.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Loving God,
It is through your goodness that we have
This bread and wine to offer,
Which earth has given and human hands have made.
In the sharing of this bread,
May we know your resurrection presence,
And may we know that, in touching all bread, all matter,
It is you that we touch.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

What we do here is celebrate the life that Jesus has shared
Among his community through the centuries
And shares with us now.
Made one with Christ
And thus one with each other,
Let us offer these gifts and with them ourselves,
a single, holy, living sacrifice.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

We offer you praise, dear God,
And hearts lifted high,
For in the communion of your love
Christ comes close to us
And we come close to Christ.

Therefore with the whole realm of nature around us,
with earth, sea and sky,
We sing to you.

With the angels of light whol envelop us,
with Michael and the host of heaven,
With all the saints before and beside us,
With Columba and Brigid, Patrick and Margaret,
With brothers and sisters, east and west,
We sing to you.

And with our loved ones,
Separate from us now,
Who yet in this mystery are close to us,
We join in the song of your unending greatness.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
Here us now, O Christ,
And breathe your spirit upon us
And upon this bread and wine.
May they become for us your body,
Vibrant with your life,
Healing, renewing and making us whole.
And as the bread and wine which we now eat and drink
Are changed into us,
May we be changed again into you,
Bone of your bone,
Flesh of your flesh,
Loving and caring in the world.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

(The Bread and Wine are shared around the table, passing from one person to the next.)

The Body of Christ, broken for you.
The Blood of Christ, shed for you.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

On our heart and on our houses,
The Blessing of God.
In our coming and our going,
The Peace of God.
In our life and our believing,
The Love of God.
At our end and new beginning,
The Arms of God to Welcome us and Bring us Home.

Amen.

 

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