[Granville-Hough] 11 Apr 2009 - Lord's Supper Words

[Trustees for Granville W. Hough]

Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 06:11:13 -0700
From: Granville W Hough <gwhough at oakapple.net>
Subject: Lord's Supper Words - 11 April 2009


  I always thought the Episcopalian ritual had gotten so far away from
the original scripture that it was incomprehensible. The following is
what I used quite successfully today (in 2006). I would like your
comments as to what is missing. Dorothy understands the Episcopalian
viewpoint, and Jerry Miller may even have witnessed a foot-washing
communion, which I mention but do not recommend for Alzheimer's patients.

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LORDS SUPPER,COMMUNION

Communion music

Invocation;
OH LORD OUR GOD,
MAY THE MEDITATIONS OF OUR HEARTS,
AND THE WORDS OF OUR MOUTHS,
BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT, AMEN!!


ON THIS DAY AFTER MAUNDAY THURSDAY
ALMOST 2000 YEARS AGO,
JESUS CHRIST, THE TEACHER, GAVE US
ONE OF OUR SACRED EVENTS,
THE LORDS SUPPER, OR HOLY COMMUNION.

Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John each have separate elements of the story.
We pick up the narrative from Mathew 16:17.

Passover background.
[On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came
to Jesus and asked, Where do you want us to make preparations for you
to eat the Passover?]
Recall that the Passover was the Jewish celebration of their freedom
from slavery in Egypt, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover
lamb. Sometimes we forget that the Lords Supper is also a celebration
of mans freedom from slavery, as it combines a new covenant with the
old. The narrative continues:

The Arrangements.
[He replied, Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, The
Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the
Passover with my disciples at your house. So the disciples did as Jesus
had directed them and prepared the Passover.]
 From Mark and Luke we have additional information. The two disciples
sent were Peter and John. They were to go into the city of Jerusalem and
a man carrying a jar of water would meet them. They were to follow this
man to the owner of the house where he worked. Then they were to say to
the owner of the house: The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where
I may eat the Passover with my disciples? He will show you a large
upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.
We do not know the mans name, but we speak of The Upper Room as a holy
place. It may have been the place where the early Christians met for
worship and communion.

The Footwashing.
 From John we have the account that, after all were gathered, Jesus took
a basin of water and a towel, and washed the feet of each of his
disciples. When the disciples protested they were not worthy of such
honor, he said: You have called me Teacher and Lord and that is true.
Now I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is
a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these
things, you will be blessed if you do them. So we have the custom of
foot washing, which in some churches comes before the Lords Supper. Now
back to Mathew:

The Betrayal.
[Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were
eating, he said: I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me. They
were very sad and began to say to him, one after the other, Surely not
I, Lord.
Jesus replied: The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me
will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him.
(Here he is probably referring to the 53rd chapter of Isaiah.) He
continued, But woe is that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would
have been better for him if he had not been born.
Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, Surely not I, Rabbi?
Jesus answered, Yes, you yourself have said it.
(Now Judas had already arranged for thirty pieces of silver to betray
Jesus and was waiting for an opportunity. From the gospel of John, we
know that Jesus also said to Judas: What you are about to do, do
quickly. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out.)

Breaking of the Bread.
[While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and
gave it to his disciples, saying Take and eat, this is my body.]
(The bread wafers represent the body of Christ and have been blessed in
our church services, so that we, the visiting deacons can deliver them
to you.)

Sharing the Cup.
The narrative continues:
[Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and offered it to them, saying:
Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which
is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will
not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I
drink it anew with you in my Fathers kingdom.]

Communion, in tincture.
(Each receives the bread wafer dipped in wine, with the words, The body
and blood of Jesus Christ, given for you.

The Lords Prayer.
(When all have received communion, join hands for the Lords Prayer:
Our Father, which are in heaven 
Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from Evil.
For Thine is the kingdom,
And the Power,
And the Glory, Forever, Amen! )

Benediction:
And now, may the Lord bless us and keep us;
The Lord make his face to shine upon us;
And be gracious to us;
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon us
And give us peace! AMEN!!

Music: Breaking of the Bread.

P. S.  Note that this form of communion, in tincture, is much better for
aging Alzheimer's patients than little cups of wine or any other way to
do the wine. One person can also perform the ceremony with communion, in
tincture. I first observed Catholic priests doing it this way, and it
avoided all sorts of spillages and choking.