Acts 1:9-11
When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Invitation
The Risen Ascended Christ invites us to this table
Come
Find Jesus in the bread that is broken
Find Jesus in the wine that is poured
Find Jesus in each other
All are welcome
Come and eat with the Risen Ascended Christ
Narrative
In the days after the resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples in different places, in different ways. As he had done throughout his ministry, he unpacked for them all that he taught.
He explained the love of God in the darkness of death and in the light of the resurrection.
He forgave their betrayal and denial.
And he commissioned them to go into all the world and make disciples.
It is the Risen Ascended Christ who feeds us here today, who unpacks scripture for us and who send us into the world to be disciples today.
So as Christ taught, we take bread, symbol of his broken body.
We take wine, symbol of his blood poured out.
We feast together, remembering him.
Let us give thanks
Prayer of thanksgiving
Lord Jesus, as you gathered your disciples around the table on the night before you died, you knew they did not understand.
They did not understand your teaching.
They did not understand this memorial you set before them.
And, even in the light of all that has happened and all the ways you continue to teach us, often we do not understand.
But we thank you for the mystery of faith, that:
Christ has died
Christ is risen
Christ will come again.
Lord, in all our misunderstanding, help us to know that you are present with us.
Not just in this place but everywhere.
Not just in these people but in all people.
Not just in this meal but in every meal, be it at a table, on the street or in the dirt.
And so we bring to this table all those we have encountered this week, friends and strangers, near and far, those we acknowledged and those we walked on by and those in whom we failed to see your face.
Forgive our blindness and keep on confronting us with your love that knows no bounds, that makes no distinction, your love that meets us here.
As we remember you in bread and wine, may we remember that by your Ascension you commissioned us to reveal your presence in all the world.
Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts. May they become for us your body and your blood and may we become for you your risen presence in the world.
Fraction
Christ’s body is broken for the life of the world
Christ’s blood is poured out for the healing of all.
We do this to remember him.
Prayer after communion
As you have welcomed us to this table, may we go and be a welcome for others.
As you have taught us again of your love, may we go and be love for others.
As you have nourished our souls, may we go and be nourishment for others.
As you breathe your peace into us, may we take your peace into all the world.
Risen, ascended Christ, keep on nudging us in our everyday with the demands of discipleship and keep on calling us to recognise you and honour you in all.
