Communion Liturgy I

As I mentioned in a previous post, JtM and I co-led worship for our Annual Conference's Covenant council. As part of that, we put together an order of worship with a communion liturgy. I'll post that liturgy over the next two days:

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

A Modern Affirmation from the United Methodist Hymnal

INVITATION

This very moment, God is in this room with us. God has searched us, known us. God knit us together from the moment of our creation. Before we think, God knows our thoughts. Before we speak, God knows our words. Our God, who knows all of our sins, invites us to turn from our sinful paths and join our creator at this table. Knowing our sins, God loves us with an unspeakable grace, a love strong enough to overcome sin and even death. As we turn toward God, let us confess our sins to our loving God, safe in the embrace of grace.

CONFESSION AND PARDON

Merciful creator, full of grace,
Hear our words of confession
Search us, O God, and know our hearts
Test us and know our thoughts.

We have heard your word that we should love you
and love our neighbors with all of our being, and yet,

We confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.

We have heard your word, studied your law, known your call to be faithful, and yet,

We confess that we have failed to be an obedient church.
We have not done your will,
We have broken your law.

We have heard your words of love, seen your actions of compassion, felt your saving grace.

We confess that we have rebelled against your love.
We have not loved our neighbors,
And we have not heard the cry of the needy.

Create in us a clean heart, put a right spirit within us.

Forgive us, we pray
Free us for joyful obedience,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Hear and believe this wonderful mystery. Hear the good news.
With a willing heart, Christ offered himself as a sacrifice,
Demonstrating to us the love and mercy of God, our creator.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
Glory to God. Amen.

Note: The bold indicates Congregational responses and are taken from a Service of Word and Table II from the United Methodist Hymnal. The non-bold sections are original. The first four bold lines from the Confession are original. There are lines from the invitation that were inspired by Psalm 139.