Celebrating the Great Communion
October 4, 2009

First Reading

Jesus and his followers were at the evening meal. The devil had already persuaded Judas Iscariot to turn against Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him power over everything. He also knew that he had come from God and was going back to God. So during the meal Jesus stood up and took off his outer clothing. Taking a towel, he wrapped it around his waist. Then he poured water into a bowl and began to wash the follower’s feet. He dried them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13:2-5)

Second Reading

P: In the evening Jesus was sitting at the table with his 12 followers. They were all eating. Then Jesus said:
L: ‘I tell you the truth. One of you 12 will turn against me.’
P: This made the followers very sad. Each one said to Jesus,
L: ‘Surely Lord, I am not the one who will turn against you. Am I?’
P: Jesus answered, ‘The man who has dipped his hand with me into the bowl is the one who will turn against me. The Son of Man will die. The Scriptures say this will happen. But how terrible it will be for the person who gives the Son of Man to be killed. It would be better for him if he had never been born.’
L: Then Judas said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, surely I am not the one. Am I?’
P: Jesus answered, ‘Yes, it is you.’ (Matthew 26:20-25)

Third Reading

Jesus told the followers, ‘Tonight you will lose your faith because of me. It is written in the Scriptures: I will kill the shepherd, and the sheep will scatter. But after I rise from death, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.’ Peter said, ‘All the other followers may lose their faith because of you. But I will never lose my faith.’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth. Tonight you will say you don’t know me. You will say this three times before the rooster crows.’ But Peter said, ‘I will never say that I don’t know you!’ And all the other followers said the same thing. (Matthew 26:31-35)

Fourth Reading—Unison

Jesus came to Simon Peter. But Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘You don’t understand what I am doing now. But you will understand later.’ Peter said, ‘No! You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘If I don’t wash your feet, then you are not one of my people.’ Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, after you wash my feet, wash my hands and my head, too!’ (John 13:6-9)

Fifth Reading

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread. He thanked God for it and broke it. Then he gave it to his followers and said, ‘Take this bread and eat it. This bread is my body.’ Then Jesus took a cup. He thanked God for it and gave it to the followers. He said, ‘Every one of you drink this. This is my blood which begins the new agreement that God makes with his people. This blood is poured out for many to forgive their sins. I tell you this: I will not drink of this fruit of the vine again until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’ (Matthew 26:26-29)

Sixth Reading

L: When the time came, Jesus and the apostles were sitting at the table. He said to them, ‘I wanted very much to eat this Passover meal with you before I die. I will never eat another Passover meal until it is given its true meaning in the kingdom of God.’
P: Then Jesus took a cup. He gave thanks to God for it and said, ‘Take this cup and give it to everyone here. I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until God’s kingdom comes.’
L: Then Jesus took some bread. He thanked God for it, broke it, and gave it to the apostles. Then Jesus said, ‘This bread is my body that I am giving for you. Do this to remember me.’
P: In the same way, after supper, Jesus took the cup and said, ‘This cup shows the new agreement that God makes with his people. This new agreement begins with my blood which is poured out for you.’ (Luke 22:14-20)

COMMUNION (BY INTINCTION)

Seventh Reading—Unison

Then Jesus went with his followers to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He told Peter and the two sons of Zebedee to come with him. Then Jesus began to be very sad and troubled. He said to Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, ‘My heart is full of sorrow and breaking with sadness. Stay here with me and watch.’ (Matthew 26:36-38)

Eighth Reading

While Jesus was still speaking, Judas came up. Judas was 1 of the 12 followers. Many people carrying swords and clubs came with him. They had been sent from the leading priests and the older leaders of the people. Judas had planned to give them a signal. He had said, ‘The man I kiss is Jesus. Arrest him.’ (Matthew 26:47-48)

Ninth Reading

L: When the followers of Jesus saw what was happening, they said, ‘Lord should we use our swords?’ And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. Jesus said, ‘Stop!’ Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. Those who came to arrest Jesus were the leading priests, the soldiers who guarded the Temple, and the older Jewish leaders. Jesus said to them:
P: ‘Why did you come out here with swords and sticks? Do you think I am a criminal? I was with you every day in the Temple. Why didn’t you try to arrest me there? But this is your time—the time when darkness rules.’
L: They arrested Jesus and took him away. (Luke 22:49-54)

DEPARTURE

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(All Scripture Readings from the New Century Version © Word Publishing)