A Communion Service in the Spirit of Taize

The Approach to God

Call to Worship

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Amen.

Opening Song of Praise

“Laudate Dominum/Sing, Praise and Bless the Lord” SNC 30, S&P 35, T 12

God’s Greeting

Sung Response

“In the Lord I’ll Be Ever Thankful” SNC 220, S&P 47, T 10, WR 448

Call to Confession

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

Prayer of Confession

Sung Response

“O Lord Hear My Prayer” SNC 203, vs. 1, S&P 20, WR 484

Kyrie 10 S&P 5

or choose another Kyrie such as SNC 52, 53, 54

Words of Assurance

Song of Assurance

“My Soul Is at Rest” S&P 38

or “In God Alone” SNC 187, S&P 19, T 8

The Law of God

Sung Response

“Where There Is Charity” T 25

or “Lord, Be Glorified” SNC 43, SFL 71, SWM 206, WR 465

Psalter (Psalm of the day, read responsively)

The Gloria

“Glory to God in the Highest” S&P 16

or another Gloria such as SNC 115 or 116

The Word of God in Proclamation and Sacrament

Prayer for Illumination

“Veni Lumen” (Choral) T 27

or “Come and Fill Our Hearts/Confitemini” SWM 162, S&P 28

Scripture Readings

Response to the Reading of God’s Word

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Sermon

Sung Response

“In the Lord I’ll Be Ever Thankful” SNC 220, S&P 47, WR 448

Sung Confession of Faith

Apostles’ Creed T 49

or “I Believe in God Almighty” SNC 175

The Peace

Offering

Song of Praise

“Sing Praises/Laudate Omnes Gentes” S&P 48

or “Holy, Holy, Holy, My Heart” SNC 19, SWM 27

The Meaning of the Sacrament

[From the liturgy of the Reformed Church in America; you may substitute your own denomination’s communion liturgy.]

Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ,

the holy Supper which we are about to celebrate

is a feast of remembrance, of communion, and of hope.

We come in remembrance

that our Lord Jesus Christ was sent of the Father

into the world to assume our flesh and blood

and to fulfill for us all obedience to the divine law,

even to the bitter and shameful death of the cross.

By his death, resurrection, and ascension

he established a new and eternal covenant of grace and reconciliation

that we might be accepted of God and never be forsaken by him.

We come to have communion with this same Christ

who has promised to be with us always, even to the end of the world.

In the breaking of the bread he makes himself known to us as the true heavenly Bread

that strengthens us into life eternal.

In the cup of blessing he comes to us as the Vine

in whom we must abide if we are to bear fruit.

We come in hope,

believing that this bread and this cup

are a pledge and foretaste of the feast of love

of which we shall partake when his kingdom has fully come, when with unveiled face we shall behold him,

made like him in his glory.

Since by his death, resurrection, and ascension

Christ has obtained for us the life-giving Spirit

who unites us all in one body,

so are we to receive this supper in true love,

mindful of the communion of saints.

Invitation

All who are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and who have expressed their love for Jesus within the fellowship of the church are welcome at the Lord’s Table. Come, for all things are now ready.

Communion Prayer (also found in SNC 250)

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts!

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Holy and right it is, and our joyful duty

to give thanks to you at all times and in all places,

O Lord our Creator,

almighty and everlasting God!

You created heaven with all its hosts and the earth with all its plenty.

You have given us life and being,

and preserve us by your providence.

But you have shown us the fullness of your love

in sending into the world your Son, Jesus Christ,

the eternal Word, made flesh for us and for our salvation.

For the precious gift of this mighty Savior who has reconciled us to you

we praise and bless you, O God.

With your whole Church on earth and with all the company of heaven

we worship and adore your glorious name.

Sung Response

“Sanctus Dominus Deus/Holy, Holy, Holy” T 50

or “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord” PH 568, SNC 252, WR 738

[a short period of silence]

Most righteous God,

we remember in this Supper

the perfect sacrifice offered once on the cross by our Lord Jesus Christ

for the sin of the whole world.

In the joy of his resurrection and in expectation of his coming again,

we offer ourselves to you as holy and living sacrifices.

Together we proclaim the mystery of the faith.

Sung Response

“Dying You Destroyed Our Death” T 51

or “Christ Has Died” SNC 250

Send your Holy Spirit upon us, we pray,

that the bread which we break

and the cup which we bless

may be to us the communion of the body and blood of Christ.

Grant that, being joined together in him,

we may attain to the unity of the faith

and grow up in all things into Christ our Lord.

And as this grain has been gathered from many fields into one loaf,

and these grapes from many hills into one cup,

grant, O Lord, that your whole Church

may soon be gathered from the ends of the earth

into your kingdom.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

The Words of Institution

The Lord Jesus, the same night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me.”

[The minister shall break the bread.]

After the same manner also, he took the cup when they had supped, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

[The minister shall lift the cup.]

The bread which we break is the communion of the body of Christ.

Sung Response

“Eat This Bread, Drink This Cup” PsH 312, SNC 254, T 9, WR 697

The cup of blessing which we bless is the communion of the blood of Christ.

Sung Response

“There Can Be No Greater Love” T 59

or “Taste and See” refrain SNC 255

The Response to God

Song of Thanksgiving

“Bless the Lord, My Soul” SNC 256, S&P 9, T3

Intercession

Sung Response

“Jesus, Remember Me” PH 599, PsH 217, SFL 168, SNC 143, T11, WR 285

The Lord’s Prayer in Song

“The Lord’s Prayer” T 53 or 54

or “Our Father in Heaven” SNC 196

Benediction

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

Closing Song

“Nunc Dimittis” T 16

or “Song of Simeon/Lord, Bid Your Servant” SNC 292

Excerpt

Note

This is not a “Taizé service,” nor has it been endorsed by the Taizé community in any way. The liturgy is from the Reformed Church in America (RCA) and may be used without further permission. If you plan to use the Taizé material, you should have permission from GIA music or Taizé, have a license from OneLicense.net, or own copies of the music yourself. In some instances another song in the spirit of Taizé has been suggested.

The two Taizé resources referred to in this service are: