Revelation 22:1-7
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true, for the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
“See, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
Invitation
The trees drip with gold,
a feast of early morning sunrises
stored up over a season,
now seeping out in every leaf across the land:
a thanksgiving, healing for the nations
And wheat,
a butterscotch carpet
caught in a dervish
of wind and rain and light
maturing into a feast of bread:
a thanksgiving, healing for the nations
And a table, ready
prepared for a banquet,
not of harvest grain,
but of the fruits of justice
where all are fed
from the harvest:
For the healing of the nations
The Lord of the harvest welcomes us
and bids us feast at this table
where love comes together
For the healing of the nations
Narrative
Jesus noticed the things around him
ripe fields, fruit out of season, harvest potential
He spoke of those things as he taught,
meeting people along the road, on the shore, in the town.
He used what he saw to turn our attention to God,
present in all things,
- the Lord of times and seasons
visible in everyday
On the night before he died, Jesus took bread,
forged from grain from the ripe fields
and wine, drawn from the fruit of the vine and, with these ordinary elements, he instituted this sacrament.
Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it and shared it among friends
He said: This is my body, broken for you. Do this to remember me.
Jesus took wine, poured it out and passed it around
He said: This is the new relationship with God made possible because of my death.
Eat this bread, drink this wine and remember me.
And so, today, we take common things that are special in God's eyes and, following Jesus' command, we share these to remember him.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
God you walk among us still,
noticing the ordinary,
uplifting the lowly,
investing all with significance and worth.
You give us so much
for which to be thankful.
You bestow great gifts of life, love and faith
more than we can imagine or believe.
As we embrace the abundance of your gifts,
may we be courageous and generous,
sharing and helping others through all you have given.
Help us to use your gifts
to sow the seeds of change and hope
wherever there is poverty, injustice, abuse, violence or racism.
Help us to use your gifts
to sow seeds of love and care
wherever there is hate, depression, loneliness, bereavement or sadness.
Help us to use your gifts
to sow seeds of comfort and compassion
wherever there is anxiety, stress, illness, intolerance or pain.
Help us to use your gifts to gather up the leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations
until all your children find roots
through which they can
grow and develop,
encouraging one another
finding ways to be seeds of change and hope in this world today.
Send your Spirit on these gifts that we use today
and as we share bread and wine,
as we remember you in this sacrament,
may we be renewed in our love and commitment,
your servants whose names are written on your forehead,
whose ways are held in your light
and may we find nourishment to allow us to continue on your path
for the healing of the nations
Amen
Fraction
(Taking bread)
This is the body of Christ, broken for you
Take, eat and know healing for the world.
(Taking wine)
This cup symbolises the new relationship made possible with God
Drink this, remember Christ, and be renewed in love and service
Prayer after Communion
In response to the generosity of God,
let us respond to the work of the harvest
Let us plant a word of peace,
a word that speaks truth into power and brings peace
Let us plant a word of justice
that will grow into a movement that will set people free.
Let us plant a word of plenty for the hungry and the poor
that will provide the feast that God ordains.
Let us plant a word of compassion
a word that grows through every policy every rule
every law and always seeks to bring life.
Let us plant a word of love
that offers a way of belonging and renewal
a place called home that carves for us a way
to the tree of life whose leaves are for the healing of the nations.
Amen
