A Service of Communion for Advent

This was our service of communion on Sunday.
I thought these words were so beautiful and timely.
It was nice to be able to get out of the routine of saying the normal UMC liturgy.

My pastor Sid at Trinity UMC and Christine Kraemer wrote this.

Let me know your thoughts on the words.

Call to Communion

Leader: Advent is the season of the longest night, the Solstice. We watch, we stir a little in anxiety; under the cover of darkness we await the rebirth of the sun, which after its long period of waning will begin to wax again. Though we shiver with the cold of winter, we rest easy in the knowledge that the light will return. We meet today to share a ritual of hope and peace, in Jesus Christ.

The Great Thanksgiving
Leader: The Creator is with us!

All: We open our hearts to God's Spirit. We rejoice to give thanks to our God.

Leader: Holy One, throughout the turn of the seasons you remain steadfast. In the depths of our suffering, you suffer with us; in the heights of our joy, you share in our pleasure. Creator of earth, air, fire, and water, we celebrate the creation that is your body. In the faces of those around us0 and in this season we especially look into the face of the stranger, who often has no place in the inn- in our own faces in the mirror, and in all living creatures, we see your face. By your power and presence, you transform us; we become prophets and makers of justice, bearers of your message of truth and beauty to all the world. And so, with all Being, we raise our voices in your praise:

All: Holy, Holy, Holy One, Source of Life and Love, all that is blazes with your glory. Your light breaks into the darkness, and darkness is as light to you.

Leader: Blessed are you, and blessed is the Child of Humanity, called Jesus, who came amongst us to proclaim liberation and wholeness. Jesus came to break all bonds, to shatter the chains of oppression that hold us in captivity; he healed the sick, gave food to the poor, and ate with those that society rejected to show that God's table is open to all. Through his suffering, death and resurrection he proclaimed the victory of love over death. O God, by your power of compassion and justice you gave birth to a new community to embody the continuing presence of Christ in the world. When we break the bread and share the cup, we do so to remember Jesus Christ, and to affirm that your acceptance is poured out for all.

Words of Institution

Leader: The seasons turn and the earth is chill and hard. the sun shines wanly in the sky, and we anxiously await the rebirth of the light. We take this meal, and remember the promise of transformation:

All: That which waxes must also wane; Christ has died. But that which wanes shall also wax again: Christ is risen and shall return!


Leader: Holy One, let your spirit well up in us and in these gifts of bread and wine. Together we pray in the words of St. Teresa of Avila:


All: Christ has no body now on earth but ours;
No hands but ours. Ours are the eyes
Through which Christ's compassion to the world looks out;
Ours are the feet with which Christ goes about doing good;
Ours are the hands with which Christ blesses now.

Sharing of the Bread and Cup

Prayer after communion
Leader: Mother God, we call to you out of winter.
All: The light is coming! The sun will be reborn!
Leader: Father God, we call to you out of stillness.
All: The light is coming! The sun will be reborn!
Leader: Creator God, we call to you with desperate hope.
All: The light is coming! The sun will be reborn!
Leader: O Holy One, we greet your Sun with gladness;
with how much more joy shall we greet you Child!
We come before you as your people of hope and peace.
All: Alleluia! Amen.