Recently, I had the pleasure of serving as visiting pastor at Holden Village in the north Cascade Mountains of Washington as they awaited the arrival of their new pastors.  During my time there, I publicly presided at the Eucharistic table for the first time.

During a hike on my first weekend there, I was inspired to write the following prayer to use in my inaugural liturgy of Holy Communion.

Eternal and Creator God,
all creation is full of your glory.
Your hands molded the mountains
and carved out the depths of the seas.
You formed the plants and creeks,
and breathed life into all creatures great and small.
You gave humanity your own beautiful and holy image,
and every one of your children bears your face.

We praise you for your creative work
and your established patterns of death and rebirth.
How from snows of winter,
you water the abundant life of the seasons.
How from the ashes of fire,
you bring forth rejuvenated ecosystems.
How from their cries of slavery,
you led your people, Israel, into the promised land.
How from Jesus’ death on the cross,
you have grafted us onto the Tree of Life
through Christ’s glorious resurrection.

In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples,
saying: Take and eat;
this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper,
he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people
for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

For in this meal of life,
we remember his death, resurrection,
and ascension,
as we await Christ’s return
with the fullness of your new creation.

Pour out your Holy Spirit of Life
on this bread and cup,
that all who partake in this heavenly meal,
may be joined in your community of life
filled with your vision and love for the world.

With Blessed Mary and all your people
united across every time and place,
with creation and all your creatures,
with the sun, moon, and stars,
we praise you, Most Blessed and Holy Trinity,
now and forever.

Amen.

© 2017 by Paul Eldred. All rights reserved. Use in worship settings with attribution is permitted – author notification requested.