For Holy Communion Online

We practice two sacraments in the Lutheran tradition: baptism and communion. These are celebrated in community during public worship where we can all participate and remember together: God is known for using ordinary earthly things (like water, bread, and wine) to make extraordinary promises to creation (like forgiveness, salvation, healing and new life).

We don’t serve ourselves communion because there’s something holy about that promise coming from outside our own bodies, a perfect declaration from God spoken to us by our neighbor: This is the body of Christ, given for you. This is the blood of Christ, poured out for you. If you are gathered together with others from your household, speak these words aloud when you serve each other. If you do not have someone in the room with you while you receive the sacrament, hear my voice as the external word of grace and invitation.

Today is a good reminder that this simple meal nourishes God’s community across time and space - this is why we call it communion. We would rather be with you in person for the sacrament today, but we trust Jesus to show up beyond our limitations, to meet us in this separation with a Spirit that unites, to feed us with the bread of life who is our source and strength.

This is an altar, where we worship

the One who provides for creation,

where we remember we are so small

and also we matter so much.

And this is a dinner table, where we show up

honest and empty handed,

where there is more than enough

and everyone has a seat at the table.

Blessed are you, O God, the One

who plants gardens and rains manna,

who multiplies bread and fish for thousands,

who eats with outcasts and drinks with women,

who is sacred love and life made flesh.

< Words of Institution and The Lord’s Prayer >

Jesus has promised his full presence in this meal.

We don’t know how he does it, showing up

with the bread and wine so that we cannot pull them apart.

This love is impossible and irrational.

It is everything we need and cannot give ourselves.

And so we open ourselves to the mystery

and hold out our hands to receive the gifts of God.

Come, Lord Jesus. Be our guest.

And let these gifts to us be blessed.

And may there be enough to share

on every table everywhere.

If you are receiving the sacrament with others at home,

speak aloud these words when serving each other.

And if you are in solitude, hear my voice

as the external word of invitation and grace:

The body of Christ, given for you.

The blood of Christ, shed for you.

< Receive the Meal >

God of Abundance, we give you thanks for your promise to provide enough for creation. Make us stewards of your generosity, prophets of your plenty, and growers of your goodness so that the whole world might taste manna from heaven and bread broken in the name of Christ who is our salvation. Amen.