YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO USE OR ADAPT ANY OF THESE LITURGIES.  Attribution is appreciated: “Written by Beth Merrill Neel on her blog, ‘Hold Fast to What Is Good’.  Used with permission.”

11. The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right and good to give you thanks and praise, O God, because from the beginning, you invited us on a journey with you, a journey of wonders and miracles, a journey of healing and joy, a journey of mystery, a journey full of life and love.

And so in thanks and praise we join our voices in the song of the angels and saints, who forever sing to you, as we say these words:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is your son, O God, our savior Jesus Christ, who joined us on our journey, who was so full of grace and truth that we cannot help but follow him. When his path went back to you, you sent us your Spirit to continue alongside us, to empower and inspire us to continue to be your people. Now we pray that that same Spirit will be among us, and among these elements of bread and cup, that our ordinary meal will become our sacred feast, to nourish us for the next part of the journey.

As we break bread together, as we drink from the same cup, unite us as people who are grateful for the journey, for each other’s company, and for your guiding presence. And hear us as we are bold to say together the prayer that Jesus taught….

10. The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right and our deep joy to give you all our gratitude, O God, because in love and with a creativity we cannot imagine you made the universe, and the planets, and our earth and seas and sky. You created life, and us. And you gave us free will, trusting that we would make mistakes and learn, trusting that we would do amazing things for you and for each other.

And so with praise and gratitude in our hearts and on our lips, we join our voices in the song of the angels and saints, who forever sing to you, as we say these words:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

You are blessed, O God, and Jesus is blessed, and the Holy Spirit is blessed, too. We ask now that you send us your Spirit, that by your power, this ordinary table will become a sacred banquet, and this bread and cup will become holy things that we can share.

As we break bread together, as we drink from the same cup, unite us as people who are grateful for all we have and share in that abundance. And hear us as we are bold to say together the prayer that Jesus taught….

9. GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is truly right and joy to give you thanks and praise, O God, for at creation you filled the Void with light and life, with planets and stars, with seas and mountains, with beasts of field and air and water, with women and men. You called those women and men to heed your voice, and at times they did and at times they did not. So in the fullness of time you came to us in the man Jesus, who called women and men to follow him.

We follow him this day and lift our voices in praise for all your generous and magnificent deeds. And so with all the saints, we sing a song of praise, joining our voices with the residents of Heaven, saying:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed are you, O Creator, and blessed is our Redeemer Jesus Christ, who led us on paths of truth and grace, compassion and justice, hope and peace. Blessed is your Holy Spirit, who hovers among us now, and who comes into this bread and this cup, changing these ordinary things into sacred and holy things, the bread of life and cup of salvation. For all these things, we give you thanks. And now hear us as we are bold to say together the prayer that Jesus taught….

8. The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

We give you thanks and praise, O God –
For the glory and joy of creation
For the work of reconciliation
For the promise of love eternal
And for those who walk with us.
So we offer you the words of a song
Sung by angels and saints
Joining our voices to the great cloud of witnesses as we say these words:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed are you, O God;
Blessed is your Son, Jesus, our host at this table.
Blessed is your Spirit, who settles in us and among us,
And within these gifts of bread and cup, transforming them,
Making them sacred, and filling not for our bodies but for our souls.

So with gratitude and praise we come to your table, ready to be filled, ready to be sent out, ready to be your people in the world.

7. The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is our deep joy to offer our gratitude, O God, for the gifts of creation: eager daffodils that appear in February, and the unexpected sunny sky, and crows that plot and caw above us. We offer gratitude for messengers you send our way: prophets that warn, friends that comfort, strangers who open our eyes to what we had not seen. We offer gratitude for the gift of the holy: prayer that comes from deep within, music that moves us to tears, and the promise of something more after this life.

And so with the whole company of heaven, we offer our gratitude in song, and this day join our voices with all the saints. Hear our words:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed are you, O God, and blessed is your son, Jesus, who revealed his glory on the mountain, and his love in acts of healing and mercy. Blessed, too, is your Spirit, who descends upon us and empowers us to do great things in your name.

With humility we now ask for the presence of the Holy Spirit among us and in these gifts of bread and cup, that the bread we break and the cup we bless would become for us the bread of life and cup of salvation. As we share in this meal, make us one with each other, with you, and with the world.

And hear us now as we say the prayer Jesus taught us:

6. GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

We offer our thanks and praise, O God, for the glories of creation: for the black velvet of the night sky that allows the stars to twinkle, and the moon to glow; for the sun that peeks over the horizon and paints the sky as it sets. We offer our thanks and praise for the heavens and the inhabitants of Heaven, for the cloud of witnesses. We on earth sing with them above as we say together these words:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed are you, Holy One, and blessed is your Son, Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. Born in the stillness of night, he knew the love of family and stranger alike. Threatened by evil, he fled to a distant land. Endowed with the spirit, he taught about grace and forgiveness, and he healed the sick, and confronted the powerful. In humility and trust, he lay down his life that he might rise again and bring new life to the world.

For the gifts of his life and presence, we give you thanks, and ask for one thing more: that your Spirit descend now upon us, upon this table, that the bread we break and the cup we share would be transformed from their ordinariness to sacred things. As we share one loaf and one cup, may we become one with the world, bringing good news to all. And hear us now as we are bold to say together the words Jesus taught:

And hear us now as we say the prayer Jesus taught us:

THE LORD’S PRAYER

5. Easter Communion Prayer

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Oh holy God, we give you thanks and praise for the gift of creation and for the gift of the new creation, made known to us in the resurrection of your Son, Jesus. We are humbled by this gift of life, by the hope and wonder this gift brings. And so in joy we join our voices to those of the saints who sing these words forever:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is Jesus, the Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lived as we lived; who suffered and died; whom you raised from the dead that we might fear death and sin no more. Blessed is your Spirit, who comes among us now and upon these gifts of bread and cup, that the bread we break will become for us the Bread of Life, and the cup we bless will become the Cup of Salvation. By your Spirit make us one with each other and with all who share in this feast you have prepared.

And hear us now as we say the prayer Jesus taught us:

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Prayer after communion:
We thank you once again for this meal, this day, this gift of resurrection. Send us out into your world to be the presence of love and hope to all who despair and fear, that all may life, and life abundant. Alleluia, alleluia, amen.

4. The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is our deep joy and our delight to give you thanks and praise, O God, for you made all that is: the blizzard and the snowflake, the comet and the firefly, the universe and the blade of grass. You made all things, great and small, and you made us, your children, mirrors of your image, your beloved. You have always loved us but we have not always loved you. You sent messengers to us to remind us of your love, but we did not listen. In the fullness of time you sent us your Beloved, Jesus, your son. He claimed us and forgave us; he taught us and healed us; he saved us and raises us to life eternal . And so for this, and for all your goodness, we join our voices to those of the saints who sing these words forever:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is Jesus, the One whom we follow, the One who calls us, the One whom we strive to imitate in our living. We give him our life and our death, and in return he gives us life again. Blessed is the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus unleashed upon the church, that we might be empowered to do your work in the work. In humility and with trust we ask you to send your Spirit upon us now, and upon these gifts of bread and cup, that the bread we break will become for us the Bread of Life, and the cup we bless will become the Cup of Salvation. By your Spirit make us one with each other and with all who share in this feast you have prepared. And hear us now as we say the prayer Jesus taught us:

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

O Jesus, our beloved, we give you thanks for inviting us to your table and sharing your feast. May we know that we have been fed with love and grace, and may we follow you out in the world, ambassadors of your hope and peace. Amen.

3. GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING FOR THE LORD’S SUPPER

The Lord be with you./And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. /We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to our God./ It is right to give our thanks and praise.

We do praise you, O God, because you made this beautiful world that we love, and you made the rhododendrons and the camellias that bloom, and the crows that squawk, and the sky full of clouds and blue. You made women and men and children, the people we love and depend on and admire. You made all this out of love, and we give you our thanks and praise. We have not always loved you back, but you are patient and persistent, helping us to turn back to you, sending us prophets to remind us of your word, sending your Son Jesus to us, to reach out to us and claim us and bring us back to you, our true home. And so in praise and thanksgiving we join our voices to those of the heavenly host, who sing to your glory, saying:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed are you, O God, and blessed is Jesus, our teacher and savior. He showed us the path of repentance that lays out the way of salvation. He walked that path with us, and beckons us on as we follow him to you. And so, trusting in him who leads us, and with humility before you our Creator, we give you thanks for the gift of bread and cup, and ask that by the power of your Spirit you transform them from their ordinary use to their sacred use today. Feed us, heal us, inspire us, encourage us with the bread of life and cup of salvation, that we will be empowered to be your people at work and ministry in the world. We give you thanks and praise, O God. We give you our lives, even as you give us life. And now hear us as we are bold to say together the prayer that Jesus taught….

2. FOR THE SUNDAY WHEN WE HEAR THE STORY OF LYDIA

The Lord be with you./And also with you.

Lift up your hearts./We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to our God./ It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is our joy to thank you and praise, O God; for once we were no people, but you have made us your people. Once we had not received mercy, but now we have received mercy. You made us all, men and women, fishermen and dealers in purple cloth; lawyers and teachers, parents, children, the flawed and beloved. You made us in love and clothe us with grace, and we give you thanks. And so in praise and thanksgiving we join our voices to those of the heavenly host who sing to your glory, saying:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

You are blessed, O God, as is Jesus our Christ, who came to us to teach us and heal us, to know what it is to be human, to show us the love of the divine. With grace and courage he gave us life eternal, that we might become the new community called together by you. As a community we pray for your Holy Spirit to weave among us and this bread and cup, to change them from ordinary things to holy vessels of forgiveness and grace. And as we partake, may we too be changed, filled with holy food so that we may go out and do holy things. For so much, we offer grateful hearts, and following the words of Jesus, we say together the prayer that he taught….

1.GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a privilege, and joy to praise you, O God, because you made Life: the universe, and this earth, and the flowers we love to water in the summer, and the berries we eat like candy. You made the dogs we walk in the morning, and the cats who sit on our laps even when it’s hot. You made us, men and women, tall and short, fat and thin, loveable and flawed. We praise you for all creation this day.

And so in praise and with great thanks we join our voices to those of the heavenly host who sing to your glory, saying:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

You are blessed, O God, as is Jesus our Christ, who invited all of us carrying heavy burdens to come to him. He bore our burdens; he healed us; and he saved us. He invited us to his table where we practice for the heavenly banquet that awaits us all.

And now, O God, we pray for your Spirit. We pray that your Spirit will descend upon our hearts and on these gifts of bread and cup, to transform them from their daily use into a sacred meal. By your Spirit may our hunger and thirst be sated, and may we be nourished to go out into the world to bear the burdens of others. For so much, we offer grateful hearts, and following the words of Jesus, we offer together the prayer that he taught….