Body And Blood Of Christ Prayer Participant Handout

Body & Blood of Christ prayer: Handout

We Gather

Welcome & Introduction
Sign of the Cross
Song
Jesus, we embrace you and your vision. Teach us prayer, to see God’s presence here And to live out, a life of principle on our journey finding faith with you.

With fire in our minds, with fire through our hands, Catching fire in our hearts, we turn to you.

A person lights the ‘head’ candle as the song continues ...

In communion, we build with God and others, an accepting place of welcome for all. We see, with eyes that know no other way the sacredness of every face & moment.

With fire in our minds, etc.

We’re people of purpose and commitment faithful to all those who’ve gone before We’re challenged to be witness in your mission, to transform a world that’s free for all.

With fire in our minds, etc.

A person lights the ‘heart’ candle as the song continues ...

And we’re the ones, we are keepers of the flame. We are called to pass on this great story And your life we find deep in our hearts and souls. Oh how it changes everything for us.

With fire in our minds, etc.

Your spirit fire, draws us to your centre, it animates all that we say and do Together, we will journey with each other knowing we don’t walk the path alone

With fire in our minds, etc.

A person lights the ‘hands’ candle as the song continues ...

Leading us, Your guiding light shines through The gift we have to recognize and grow And we celebrate all the richness found among us. This power of our own transforming love

With fire in our minds, etc.

Opening Prayer

Leader: Let us pray ...

All: The bread you give, O God, is Christ’s flesh for the life of the world; the cup of his blood is your covenant for our salvation.

Grant that we who have been called into this holy mystery may reverence him in the needy of this world by lives poured out for the sake of that kingdom where he lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

We Listen

Scripture Reading

Reader: A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians (1Cor 10:16-17) The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

SHORT PAUSE ...

Another way of understanding ‘bread’

Reader: Unleavened bread, no matter how artfully prepared, will never look like the bread of those settled in comfort around the tables where they expect to dine night after night forever …

It will always be the bread given to strengthen and sustain a people setting out on a long journey from the familiar here to an imagined there.

Sr Genevieve Glen OSB

Sharing

Leader: What is the ‘bread’ that is feeding you in your life at present? What ‘bread’ do you long to give your students to eat?

We Respond

Leader: Let us bless and break bread together as a symbol of our unity in Christ ...

All: Blessed are you, God most high, Maker of heaven and earth, Whose covenant with Abraham and Sarah is a blessing of peace for all peoples of earth, And whose covenant in Jesus nourishes and sustains all who hunger for the bread of life.

As often as we eat the bread and drink the cup that proclaim the Lord’s death, let the love of Christ compel us to hand on to others, without judgement or measure, the blessings we ourselves have received so generously at your hand.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.

The Leader breaks off a piece of the bread, holds it and passes the plate to the next person who does likewise ... and so on, until all have broken bread. Then, all eat of the bread together.

Closing Prayer

Leader: Let us pray ...

All: Lord Jesus Christ, deepen in us the sense of reverence and awe at the mystery that we are called to be your Body in the world. May we always live consciously and generously enough to share your life with those in need of hope and healing. You live in the heart of the Father in the unity of the Hoy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

We Go Forth

Blessing / Dismissal / Sign of Peace