Service of Communion – 26 April 2020

 

Welcome! Please click on the play button (the triangle) in the sound file above to listen to the service of Communion from St Andrew’s and St George’s West, Edinburgh. To participate in the Communion, you may wish to have ready a piece of bread or a cracker, and a glass of wine or juice.
You can download a PDF of the order of service here or just follow it below:

 

Welcome and Call to Worship

We need your presence on the long road, Lord.
The road between fear and hope,
the road between the place where all is lost
and the place of resurrection.
Like the disciples walking the road to Emmaus,
we are in need of your company.
Jesus, be among us, in your risen power.
Let us hallow this time in the worship of God.

 

Hymn 81:   I to the hills will lift mine eyes

I to the hills will lift mine eyes.
From whence doth come mine aid?
My safety cometh from the Lord,
who heaven and earth hath made.

Thy foot he’ll not let slide, nor will
he slumber that thee keeps.
Behold, he that keeps Israel,
he slumbers not, nor sleeps.

The Lord thee keeps, the Lord thy shade
on thy right hand doth stay:
the moon by night thee shall not smite,
nor yet the sun by day.

The Lord shall keep thy soul; he shall
preserve thee from all ill.
Henceforth they going out and in
God keep for ever will.
_____ Psalm 121, The Scottish Psalter, 1929

 

Opening Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer

Lord, we thank you for the gift of this day.
Whatever it may bring, you are with us and all who are not able to sit around the family table.
We thank you that we can be together at Your table.

From our homes, we bring before you those whose homes are places of violence rather than protection. We bring before you those who have no home and those who experience the impact of this disease most.
We bring before you all who suffer in mind, body and spirit this day and
thank You for all the hands that hold, and care, and bring healing.

Bless the spaces between us that make community, where bread breaks and wine spills with the joy of love wrapped up in its pain.
We thank you that in our failings and limitations and in our humanity,
the risen Christ is one with us;
which gives us confidence to pray the prayer our Lord taught saying:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us in the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen

New Testament Reading Luke 24:13-35 (NRSV)

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them,  but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.  And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.  But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.  Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

 

Meditation

 

Affirmation of Faith:   Dorothy McRae-McMahon

The people of God have a human face
We laugh,
we weep,
we wait in hope.
We lift our eyes,
and love
and struggle,
We fail
We stand
And always we stand on trembling ground.

But God is God
and Jesus is the Christ
and the Spirit
will lift up our feet.
Nothing lies beyond
the love of God in Christ.

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

 

Hymn 661:   Eat this bread drink this cup

Eat this bread, drink this cup,
Come to me and never be hungry.
Eat this bread, drink this cup,
Trust in me and you will not thirst.
_____ Taizé Community, from John 6

 

The Story and Prayer of Thanksgiving

At the Lord’s Table we remember God’s very real presence in the world, however troubled. We celebrate every sign of God’s desire to enfold us tenderly in love and to make a home with us. We share this meal as refreshment on our Christian journey, praying for courage of faith, to strengthen us and to sustain us whatever the future may hold.
Paul, the apostle, recalled how, on the dark night of Christ’s betrayal, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it and said, “This is my body, it is broken for you. Do this and let my memory come to life amongst you.” And later, he took a cup saying, “This is my blood of the new covenant between God and all humanity, it is poured out for you. Do this also and let my memory come to life amongst you.” For in this way, God’s very presence will be known in the world.
Gracious God, we come to this table with little to offer, but much to receive. Here, let us feed on the true bread; and here, let us drink of the true vine that is Jesus Christ our Lord.
We give you thanks, gracious God, for remarkable testimonies to your presence in the world through the ages, and for stories we now hear daily of faith, courage and sacrificial living. You are in the extraordinary beauty of all created things in every age. We remember the testimony of many disciples, witnesses to the surprise of Resurrection, and your living presence in a new-born church. We dare to believe you are as alive in our fellowship as once you were in the towns and villages of the first century world. And so we say:

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.

So come Lord Jesus, come in the power of the Spirit and make this story live again in us. Let us be renewed by this holy meal.

 

The Breaking of the Bread

Jesus took the bread: the bread we break is truly a sharing in the body of Christ. (The bread is broken)
Jesus took the cup: the cup we bless is truly a sharing in the blood of Christ.
(The wine is poured)
These are gifts of God – for all God’s people in every age.
Let us eat. Let us drink.

 

Hymn 661:   Eat this bread drink this cup

Eat this bread, drink this cup,
Come to me and never be hungry.
Eat this bread, drink this cup,
Trust in me and you will not thirst.
_____ Taizé Community, from John 6

 

The Peace

The risen Christ has been made known to us in the breaking of bread.
May we continue to recognise him on our journey and continue to share the peace of Christ in the world. The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

 

Benediction

May God hear and respond whenever you call;
may Christ Jesus make himself known to you in all things;
and may the Holy Spirit guide you and warm you with love. Amen.

Sung Blessing:   The Lord bless you and keep you

The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious unto you
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you
And give you peace.

 

 

Minister: Rosie Magee
Director of Music: Brigitte Harris
Reader: Jimmy Campbell
Musicians: Eleanor Cozens, Eleanor Wilson, Caitlin McGillivray, Drew Crichton, Andrew Carvel
Service edited by Andrew Carvel

Hymns used under licence from CCLI.

St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church of Scotland Edinburgh. Charity SC008990
www.edinburghnewtownchurch.org.uk